Playing Wisconsin

[bigtenbadboy]

At this point in the season, with only one tough (at least on paper) match-up remaining, and an undefeated season on the line, are you glad that we are not playing Wisky this year, or do you wish the match-up was on the schedule to leave no doubt as to BigTen supremacy this year.

[NFBuck]

I'm all for a more challenging schedule, so I do wish we played them this year. I'd also like a chance for this team to destroy them to make up for the losses in '03 and '04. They're a solid team this year IMO, but not on the same level as tOSU & scUM.

[Bucklion]

I don't think they are on our level, but I have distinct nightmares of Al Toon killing us back in the day, and they were a LOT worse than we were then. I don't miss them at all...especially playing up there.

[Steve19]

I think if we play #2 three times, its pretty hard to say we we're challenged. We don't need to play Wisconsin to be #1, we also don't need to play Notre Dame, Florida, etc. There will always be pretenders and critics, I ignore them.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by bigtenbadboy

...or do you wish the match-up was on the schedule to leave no doubt as to BigTen supremacy this year.

I don't know about you, but I already have no doubt as to which is the best team in the conference--and the country.

[DaddyBigBucks]

I would have voted no, but voted yes instead because I cannot go along with the reason that the poll offers for voting no. Is this really the ONLY reason to vote NO??????


How about, "I'm NOT glad that Wisconsin is ofF the schedule this year because I would love to have beaten them when they are at their best. I want the Buckeyes to go unbeaten through the toughest schedule possilbe. It has nothing to do with doubt that others might have. It has nothing to do with sharing a championship, which we won't. It is all about how proud of these Buckeyes I am."

Yeah, something like that...

[CookyPuss]

They already lost to scUM, so you won't have those same questions as Iowa in '02. I am confident that tOSU is far superior to this version of Wisky, however the best team does not always win. If any team other than scUM has given us fits over the past decade, it's generally been the Badgers. When we stand on top on November 18, there will be no doubts, so why add the risk of playing these guys.

[Zurp]

In my idea of a kick-ass perfect world, everyone in the Big Ten would play everyone else in the Big Ten. I really don't care what people say about, "We would have beat you if we played you!!!" Those types of discussions are never ever going to be settled, anyway, so why put too much effort into them?

[IronBuckI]

I would like to have seen the Big Ten add another conference game to the schedule, when the 12 game schedule came out, rather than picking up a BGSU or YSU type of game. That would reduce the number of teams missed in any given year to one, and it would eliminate the potential for a team to miss the top two teams in the Big Ten also.

So. Yes. I wish we would have played Wisconsin this year.

[nwbuckeye]

Originally Posted by Zurp

In my idea of a kick-ass perfect world, everyone in the Big Ten would play everyone else in the Big Ten. I really don't care what people say about, "We would have beat you if we played you!!!" Those types of discussions are never ever going to be settled, anyway, so why put too much effort into them?

Agreed, it is absolutely assinine in this day and age of 12 game schedules for everybody in the Big Ten to not play every other team in the conference. How on earth can we say that team X is the best team in their conference when not everybody plays each other. Play your game or two outside, be it a patsy or challenge ala Texas, USC etc., then play EVERYBODY else in the BIG TEN. Nothing else is acceptable if you are gonna have a conference champion, let alone a national champ.

[Bleed S & G]

Originally Posted by bigtenbadboy

At this point in the season, with only one tough (at least on paper) match-up remaining, and an undefeated season on the line, are you glad that we are not playing Wisky this year, or do you wish the match-up was on the schedule to leave no doubt as to BigTen supremacy this year.

I have confidence in this team, but pre-season it was a good sign.. although Alvarez is gone now

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by nwbuckeye

Agreed, it is absolutely assinine in this day and age of 12 game schedules for everybody in the Big Ten to not play every other team in the conference. How on earth can we say that team X is the best team in their conference when not everybody plays each other. Play your game or two outside, be it a patsy or challenge ala Texas, USC etc., then play EVERYBODY else in the BIG TEN. Nothing else is acceptable if you are gonna have a conference champion, let alone a national champ.

this year? Beat scUM, who pulled away from Wisconsin for a relatively easy win...

[hiro24]

[hiro24]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

this year? Beat scUM, who pulled away from Wisconsin for a relatively easy win...

word

[Bernini]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

this year? Beat scUM, who pulled away from Wisconsin for a relatively easy win...

Eh, it really wasn't that easy. The game was tied at half and Michigan didn't deserve 7 of their 10 points. Those refs were all over Wisconsin as pointed out by Spielman. Plus, that game was on the road. Wisconsin has improved more than Michigan since then. The receivers especially. That was a really bad matchup for Wisconsin too. Their (Michigan's) defensive front four is phenominal, the best in the country, and Stocco is not one who handles front four pressure well. They managed to wear down the Wisconsin defense with their own defense forcing 6 consecutive 3 and outs. Without that, Michigan's point total is much lower. Ohio State is better than Wisconsin but you never know. Matchups, home crowd, less biased refs, etc. There are a lot of factors. But Ohio State has no apologies to make if they run the table. Nobody plays everybody.