Game Thread Sugar Bowl: tOSU vs Arkansas, Tue, Jan 4th, 8:30 ET ESPN

[kobrakai]

This game will be high scoring IMO.

We are scoring 39.5 points a game and we've played some very good D's.

I'm not at all down playing Ohio State's D because I believe you guys are salty.

I am interested to see if you guys have played offenses like ours. I understand that Wisconsin can put the points on the board, they have a very efficient QB and a great running game but I don't know what type of vertical game they bring.

The hogs have running game that didn't show up until after the Alabama or Auburn game. Knile Davis is averaging 148 yards per game over the last 6 weeks and he carved up LSU.

Our dark spot is the D. They have played well since the Auburn game but Scam Newton had his way with us.

My prediction is the winner scores over 30

 

[Buckeye86]

This game will be high scoring IMO.

We are scoring 39.5 points a game and we've played some very good D's.

My prediction is the winner scores over 30

Ohio State has given up 30+ points five times and are averaging giving up 13 points per game in the last five years combined

Oregon thought their offense would run wild last year as well, no matter how good the team, Ohio State has a way of sucking offense out of games, particularly in close games against good opponents

 

[SmoovP]

Great to see all you "Razorbacks fans" coming aboard BP.

One of the most memorable game i ever saw was Arkansas and Texas in 1969 in a great ballgame and i think it was played in Arkansas and President Nixon called to congratulate the winning team which i think was Darryl Royal of Texas. It was a hell of a game.

The Game Of The Century.

#1 Texas vs #2 Arkansas. Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

As a buddy says, "My recurring nightmare. James Street to Randy Peschel on 4th and 3."

Thanks for bringing it up.

 

[rnclittlerock]

could be worse, LSU had outside hopes of a national title game appearance if the FBI were to come down on $*Auburn before the title game, until mallett burned them on 4th and 3 for a deep ball TD.

 

[Diego-Bucks]

I don't see this game getting into the 30's for Arkansas. I'm not trying to say your offense isn't potent, because it certainly passes the looks test. What I am saying is that all past indicators are that you will score well below your seasonal average in PPG. The Tressel-led Buckeyes have faced some mighty offenses and only a few teams have come out scoring 30+ points in a game.

Giving the Buckeyes 30 days to get healthy should be quite nice, we may get Christian Bryant back healthy, and the current injuries we have on our active roster ought to be well-mended by then. Rarely is Ohio State not prepared to defend well in our bowl games, especially with a chip on our shoulder.

The fact that we are even legitimately discussing whether the Buckeye front-4 can get pressure on Arkansas without blitzes is a huge concern for Petrino and his staff. If we do offer the blitz with any frequency, how well will Arkansas be able to block for Mallett? What I see it coming down to is this: Arkansas's offense is very good, Ohio State's offense is very good; Ohio State's defense is great, Arkansas' defense is...? Then factor in special teams which we've been getting much better with the last 4 games. I think that the battles will favor Ohio State, which isn't surprising.

The caveat is that Arkansas has been very-well tested this season facing Alabama, Auburn, LSU and the rest of the SEC slate. So I don't think that the Buckeye's will be throwing anything inherently unique at them. They've prepped for Pryor already when they faced Cam Newton, they've faced a power-I team with Bama. Their blitz pick-ups are good, but 'Bama's front-4 is not the same as our front-4. At least not in 2010. I hope we get a chance to see this match-up because it is quite intriguing.

 

[Coqui]

This game will be high scoring IMO.

We are scoring 39.5 points a game and we've played some very good D's.

I'm not at all down playing Ohio State's D because I believe you guys are salty.

I am interested to see if you guys have played offenses like ours. I understand that Wisconsin can put the points on the board, they have a very efficient QB and a great running game but I don't know what type of vertical game they bring.

The hogs have running game that didn't show up until after the Alabama or Auburn game. Knile Davis is averaging 148 yards per game over the last 6 weeks and he carved up LSU.

Our dark spot is the D. They have played well since the Auburn game but Scam Newton had his way with us.

My prediction is the winner scores over 30

It's already been stated what has happened in the past 5 years.

You mentioned Knile Davis. It's actually a strength of ours to go up against a single feature back.

Denard Robinson for Michigan didn't score a single TD. We were the only team to hold Oregon's James to 70 yards last season. When Wisconsin only had Clay last season, he was held to 60 yards.

I think the thing we pride our defense on the most, is the ability to stop the run without needing to crowd the box. Our front 7 should be able to contain Davis (he will still get yards and maybe even score) leaving our secondary to handle the pass attack until you become one dimensional (assuming our defense is doing what they should be doing)

 

[SmoovP]

Anytime we beat Michigan (no matter how bad or good they are) is our best win of the season.

If you're talking about talent level, I would have to say going away to Iowa and beating them in Iowa was good as it calmed our away game fears.

I guess that's what having a real rival does for y'all.

 

[EireHog]

I don't see this game getting into the 30's for Arkansas. I'm not trying to say your offense isn't potent, because it certainly passes the looks test. What I am saying is that all past indicators are that you will score well below your seasonal average in PPG. The Tressel-led Buckeyes have faced some mighty offenses and only a few teams have come out scoring 30+ points in a game.

Giving the Buckeyes 30 days to get healthy should be quite nice, we may get Christian Bryant back healthy, and the current injuries we have on our active roster ought to be well-mended by then. Rarely is Ohio State not prepared to defend well in our bowl games, especially with a chip on our shoulder.

The fact that we are even legitimately discussing whether the Buckeye front-4 can get pressure on Arkansas without blitzes is a huge concern for Petrino and his staff. If we do offer the blitz with any frequency, how well will Arkansas be able to block for Mallett? What I see it coming down to is this: Arkansas's offense is very good, Ohio State's offense is very good; Ohio State's defense is great, Arkansas' defense is...? Then factor in special teams which we've been getting much better with the last 4 games. I think that the battles will favor Ohio State, which isn't surprising.

The caveat is that Arkansas has been very-well tested this season facing Alabama, Auburn, LSU and the rest of the SEC slate. So I don't think that the Buckeye's will be throwing anything inherently unique at them. They've prepped for Pryor already when they faced Cam Newton, they've faced a power-I team with Bama. Their blitz pick-ups are good, but 'Bama's front-4 is not the same as our front-4. At least not in 2010. I hope we get a chance to see this match-up because it is quite intriguing.

I can understand where you're coming from, but I do believe you folks are pretty severely underestimating the Arkansas offense. In terms of being well rounded, it's probably one of the five best attacks at the collegiate level in the past 20 years. I'm saddened that Mallett will depart before we've seen him have a full year with the starting cast, because the scoring records set by 2008 Oklahoma would be imperiled.

We've all seen gimmick offenses that could do one thing very well, or that relied on simple power or excessive finesse, but the well-rounded teams have been relatively rare. Earlier in the year, the matchup would have been much different, and I would have given OSU a decided edge. Things have changed considerably, though, over time.

Many of us are also giving your offense the benefit of the doubt; I'm expecting Pryor to have an absolutely huge day, and for our defense to be utterly unable to stop you folks in 3rd and short situations. Most of us firmly believe that there has been a decided effort in Columbus to upgrade the overall team athleticism and speed in the wake of previous problems, and I really expect that to show in January. Barring turnovers, I don't see any way this game is a one-sided affair.

Special teams will be your route to a win, if it happens. To call Arkansas' KO coverage anything less than God-awful is sacrilegious.

 

[hawgfanintigerl]

It has been fun and entertaining reading around 5 pages of this forum that has been posted today. I'm not sure, but it sure looks like a good match of fan bases.

 

[357]

Longtime Arkansas fan

looking forward to interacting here in a civil manner. I have never seen Ohio State play in person but have always admired the program and the loyal fan base. I have visited the stadium a couple of times on my way through Columbus. Am looking forward to this game more than any bowl in a long long while, win or lose. I am assuming Auburn will win but it would not shock me if Spurrier pulls one out. Later. PS. Watch out for hawgfanintigerland

 

[SmoovP]

I'm probably going to ruffle a few feathers here

but I'm just not seeing any quality wins on y'alls schedule this year.

No disrespect intended, as you can't really control the quality of your opponents, but against the better couple of teams on your schedule, you haven't really scored a lot of points.

Y'all put 20 on a mediocre Iowa team, 38 on a well below average Penn State and 18 in your road loss to Wisconsin. The rest of your schedule is filled with cupcakes.

I'm just not seeing it.

Your defense looks stout, but I'm not seeing anything offensively to be that worried about.

 

[Thump]

but I'm just not seeing any quality wins on y'all schedule this year.

No disrespect intended, as you can't really control the quality of your opponents, but against the better couple of teams on your schedule, you haven't really scored a lot of points.

Y'all put 20 on a mediocre Iowa team, 38 on a well below average Penn State and 18 in your road loss to Wisconsin. The rest of your schedule is filled with cupcakes.

I'm just not seeing it.

Wow, they type like they talk.

 

[IronBuckI]

Special teams will be your route to a win, if it happens. To call Arkansas' KO coverage anything less than God-awful is sacrilegious.

If special teams is your weakness, then we might never see either team's offense or defense take the field. :tongue2:

Our coverage teams were downright awful for a good portion of the season, but less awful late in the season. Hopefully the improved results were due to actual improvement rather than just playing teams without any playmakers in the return game.

 

[357]

The Game Of The Century.

#1 Texas vs #2 Arkansas. Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

As a buddy says, "My recurring nightmare. James Street to Randy Peschel on 4th and 3."

Thanks for bringing it up.

Right, thanks for bringing up my recurring nightmare. And President Nixon was there and visited both dressing rooms after the game. This year, around five days before the Bama game, I decided, no more 69 Shootouts for me ever again. I just go with the flow. If we win we win. No regrets. Just enjoy the atmosphere and the game. No more 40 year nightmares.

 

[hawgfanintigerl]

So, the man known as 357 is telling people to watch out for me? I am a purely dangerous man.