Buckeyes toughest/weakest test in title match

[smartone]

This thread could have been a poll. However, without providing some rationale that supports your answers, it would be a meaningless poll.

The approach and assumptions are as follows:

1. OSU is undefeated in the final season BCS rankings and earns a bid to the title match.

2. Michigan does not earn a bid to the title match after losing to the Buckeyes.

3. The thread does not request that you provide the team that would be ranked #2 in the final BCS rankings. Instead, it is requested that you provide OSU's most difficult and easiest opponents in the title match supported by your rationale. The reason behind this approach is, as an example, Louisville could end up ranked #2, however, they may not be OSU's toughest foe.

The two questions are:

1. Who do you think would give the Buckeyes the most difficult game?

2. Who do you think would give the Buckeyes the easiest game?

Thank you.

[iambrutus]

Originally Posted by smartone

This thread could have been a poll. However, without providing some rationale that supports your answers, it would be a meaningless poll.

The approach and assumptions are as follows:

1. OSU is undefeated in the final season BCS rankings and earns a bid to the title match.

2. Michigan does not earn a bid to the title match after losing to the Buckeyes.

3. The thread does not request that you provide the team that would be ranked #2 in the final BCS rankings. Instead, it is requested that you provide OSU's most difficult and easiest opponents in the title match supported by your rationale. The reason behind this approach is, as an example, Louisville could end up ranked #2, however, they may not be OSU's toughest foe.

The two questions are:

1. Who do you think would give the Buckeyes the most difficult game?

2. Who do you think would give the Buckeyes the easiest game?

Thank you.

#2 - Notre Dame - they dont play for four quarters our boys would mess them up

[ytownbuckeye]

1. a one loss SEC team would be tough
2. any Big East team would be weak

[JXC]

Why say that Michigan wouldn't be #2 still? If we beat Michigan...they are the one team, as far as strength is concerned, that I don't want to play in the NC. But it sure would be fun. But besides them as far as teams that have a chance to go to the championship game, I would say this is the order of teams that would give Ohio State it's toughest games....so 1 is the toughest, and 10 is the easiest.

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Auburn
5. Tennessee
6. West Virginia
7. California
8. Notre Dame
9. Clemson
10. Louisville

[BB73]

Following JXC's technique - 1 is toughest opponent for tOSU.

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Clemson
5. Auburn
6. Cal
7. Tennesse
7. West Virginia
9. Notre Dame
10. Louisville

[neomits]

Good thread. Like the 1-10 idea.

On the same sort of topic, which would you prefer, a weak matchup with a greater chance of tOSU winning, or a good matchup with a smaller chance of a win?

I think I'd actually prefer to see a matchup vs the most deserving #2, whoever that may be.

[smartone]

Originally Posted by JonathanXC

Why say that Michigan wouldn't be #2 still? If we beat Michigan...they are the one team, as far as strength is concerned, that I don't want to play in the NC. But it sure would be fun. But besides them as far as teams that have a chance to go to the championship game, I would say this is the order of teams that would give Ohio State it's toughest games....so 1 is the toughest, and 10 is the easiest.

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Auburn
5. Tennessee
6. West Virginia
7. California
8. Notre Dame
9. Clemson
10. Louisville

Perhaps I should've included Michigan! Had a hard time with that. I think it is improbable that Michigan would end up #2 once we beat them. I could be dead wrong on that. A lot of things with other matchups would need to occur before that occurs.

I also do not see either team beating the other twice in the same season. I could be dead wrong on that. I think we would beat Texas again in NC, but because of the intensity of the rivalry between us and Blue, along with the skill of their team this year, I have concluded that it is unlikely that either team would win twice this year.

Would I love to see it happen? No doubt. it would be awesome.

[JXC]

Personally right now...i'd rather see us play a undefeated Big East team, and kick their butts. Michigan is our national championship game.

[DaddyBigBucks]

In order of toughest matchup for the Buckeyes...

1. Florida...............The SEC's best with Meyer at the helm
2. USC...................If Booty gets hot...
3. Texas.................Better than they were in week 2
4. Auburn................Got caught looking ahead once
5. Clemson...............Not as good as they looked last week
6. Tennesse..............If Ainge gets hot...
7. Cal...................Great offense...
8. Louisville............Might lose to WVU, but tougher matchup for us
9. West Virginia.........Our Offense would annihilate them
10. Notre Dame...........Been There, Done That


In order of who I'd LIKE to see us play...

1. USC...................If you were alive in the 70s, you know why
2. Florida...............Wanna beat the SEC
3. Auburn................Wanna beat the SEC
4. Tennesse..............Wanna beat the SEC
5. Cal...................Meh
6. Louisville............Big East? Whatever!
7. West Virginia.........Big East? Whatever!
8. Clemson...............Reruns of Woody's last game for preview??
9. Texas.................Been There, Done That
10. Notre Dame...........Been There, Done That

[Zurp]

Originally Posted by smartone

2. Michigan does not earn a bid to the title match after losing to the Buckeyes.

What if I think that Michigan would be the toughest or easiest opponent?

Toughest: I have to agree with the crowd. Pretty much any of the one-loss SEC teams would give Ohio State (or anyone else, for that matter) a good run-for-the-money. I'd also put Texas in this category. And, since I think Michigan may be the second-best team in the country, I'll put them here, too, even though you said I couldn't. How many teams is that? 5? 6? I think I'll limit it to one: Texas. I know the Buckeyes already beat them, but they're using their "let's play this game NOW, and see how it turns out" argument. And, while the Buckeyes have gotten better since September 9, so has Texas. I think the game would be closer, if it was played today. Ohio State 33 - Texas 24.

Easiest: The Big East teams. The only way they can make it to the national championship game is if one of them finishes undefeated. That's very likely. I don't know which one, though, will make it. I'd also put Notre Dame in this category, and Boise State. Though, I don't think Boise State would be ranked that high. I'm going to go with Notre Dame. The voters are in love with Notre Dame being given a chance to win the national championship. They are, after all, college football. Plus, a match-up between the Heisman winner and the runner-up will give all the voters multiple orgasms, and the fact that it's a re-match of last year's Fiesta Bowl will make this a very easy team to pick #2. Notre Dame's secondary will again be shredded to pieces until they cry like little girls. And Ohio State's defensive line will leave Brady Quinn feeling like roadkill. Ohio State 40 - Notre Dame 14.

[daddyphatsacs]

2. USC...................If Booty gets hot...

There is plenty of hot booty in Southern California..........now from a QB perspective, who knows?

I think that Texas or Florida would give us the toughest game. I'd love to play Florida for all the marbles.

[BrutusMaximus]

Personally I think Texas would still be the toughest challenge. They have improved dramatically since the game in Austin. I really dont see any SEC team that is "scary" by any means. Tennessee looks awesome one week, horrible the next, same for Auburn, same for Florida. Hell Clemson looks better than all of them right now.

Big Least teams would be the easiest, no question there.

[smartone]

I do not agree on Texas. Yes, they have improved since week 2. Yes, their QB has the potential to be excellent in the coming years. But he is a Freshman. I believe we will shake him up so much early on that it will adversely affect him for the rest of the game. The game might be closer but Bucks by 10.

I do feel bad for the SEC teams. I believe that we and Michigan are the 2 best teams in the country. But if everyone except us have one loss, I think the SEC champion should get a shot at us. And besides Michigan, I thing the SEC champ would be our toughest match. I'm just not sure who is the best SEC team. The contenders are all impressive. It's funny because I watched Tennessee a lot the last 2 years, and thought they had the worst QB in major College Football. He has definitely improved, but I still see him make some amazing stupid judgment throws even when he's on. I still do not know what to think of Arkansas. Their halfback runs like a bat out of hell. But we'll find out in the coming weeks how real they are. I think Florida would give us a tougher match than Auburn because they have a better offense.

As for the easiest opponents, I think it's a toss up between Notre Dame and Louisville. I think we could have fun playing either.

West Virginia would run against us until we make the appropriate adjustments, which will slow them down a lot. Our offense would destroy them

USC is an enigma. I do think they will lose to Cal and/or Oregon. If not, I would love to play them. I think it would be a close game till middle of 3rd quarter. We win by at least 11.

[BuckeyePride]

If our offense gets going... they are all easy. No body can touch Troy and 7/11 boys.

[BrutusMaximus]

I do not agree on Texas.

I honestly think Michigan is the 2nd best team in the country, but that was ruled out of the equation