Game Thread #1 Ohio State vs. #8 Wisconsin, 2019 B1G Championship Game (Lucas Oil Stadium Dec 7 8:00 PM Fox)

[cincibuck]

I feel like Dobbins is about to break out in a huge way..

Over a hundred yards in each half - four TDs - a 40 yard run followed up by a 20 yard catch the first two times he touches the ball, against Michigan. How much more of "breakout" do you want? I'll take those numbers in the next three games.

 

[Zurp]

I’m guessing that Wiscy sells out to stop Dobbins, especially on any read option plays. Gonna have to be sharp in the passing game.

If I were DC for the opposing team, that's my gameplan. Stop Dobbins. I know Fields can beat pretty much any team out there. But I like my chances against Fields a lot more than I do against Dobbins.

Don't get me wrong: if I'm DC of pretty much any team out there, I don't like my chances against this Ohio State offense. But I'd take a 35-point beat-down where I held Dobbins to under 75 yards over a 49-point beat-down where Dobbins ran for over 200 yards.

 

[MGMT]

Sucks to have fallen on hard times for a minute; we could have totally gone to this game. Haven’t been able to make it since 2013.

Love Lucas Oil and Indy for a weekend.

 

[Onebuckfan]

I think the OL May have been challenged by Day before PSU. It looks like JK and the OL are on a path to New Orleans. JK seems happiest in a 30 carry game.

 

[JCOSU86]

If I were DC for the opposing team, that's my gameplan. Stop Dobbins. I know Fields can beat pretty much any team out there. But I like my chances against Fields a lot more than I do against Dobbins.

Don't get me wrong: if I'm DC of pretty much any team out there, I don't like my chances against this Ohio State offense. But I'd take a 35-point beat-down where I held Dobbins to under 75 yards over a 49-point beat-down where Dobbins ran for over 200 yards.

If I'm an opposing DC, I'm not sleeping well. The only thing that can stop this team is themselves. Lose focus (like at the beginning of the Fredo game) and they are beatable. Of course, this is true for any team (save the Cleveland Browns)

 

[cincibuck]

If I were DC for the opposing team, that's my gameplan. Stop Dobbins. I know Fields can beat pretty much any team out there. But I like my chances against Fields a lot more than I do against Dobbins.

Don't get me wrong: if I'm DC of pretty much any team out there, I don't like my chances against this Ohio State offense. But I'd take a 35-point beat-down where I held Dobbins to under 75 yards over a 49-point beat-down where Dobbins ran for over 200 yards.

This got me interested in Dobbins in the three big games this season:

Wisconsin : 20 carries 163 yds 8.2 avg 2 TDs 3 rec 58 yds 19.3 avg
Penn State : 36 157 4.4 2 2 49 24.5
Michigan : 31 211 6.8 4 1 11 11
Season : 250 1,657 6.6 19 17 200 11.8

If those aren't "Breakout" level stats I don't know what is.

 

[brodybuck21]

FUCK bucky!

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

The Gopher... still rowing the boat
Li'l Red... floating

That's pretty good

That IS really good now that you point out the Gopher. Lol.

 

[Zander42]

The UW OL and DL were completely overmatched the first go around.

They can't run. They can't protect their QB. They can't stop the OSU run and they can't cover OSU athletes when required to play an even game on defense (can't cheat for run because of rain).

What exactly in the fuck are they going to do differently to mitigate being inferior along both lines?

Josh on College Football Nerds laid it out pretty well in their review. Basically, over-matched teams can either play straight up (i.e. with their normal tendencies), hope to keep the score manageable and hope the other team makes enough mistakes to win. Or, they can go off tendency and become very aggressive.

For Bucky, the script on playing tOSU straight up was written as 38-7. They know that won't work. Plus, they saw both PSU and TTUN moved the ball on us in the passing game, not consistently, but still enough to get some yards.

Finally, in their own game against Minnesota, Bucky did very well moving the ball through the air, including a few successful deep balls against a pretty good defense.

So I expect them to go the very aggressive route. It's really the only shot they have. A lot of deep balls, certainly some TE passes (duh!). On defense I expect a lot of stunts (which they did a lot last time) and more blitzing. Wouldn't be surprised at a fake punt or onside kick. They're only hope is to throw haymakers and hope to get tOSU in their heels.

But I don't think it will work. The down side of playing super aggressive is that it leaves you open to turnovers and bad field position and big plays if your blitzes don't get home, and you could end up getting blown out, obviously. It might work for a play or two, but this Ohio State team has actually played quite disciplined this year, they'll be ready for it. I expect to win the turnover margin by 2 with a defensive score in there.

I say 52-20 with the Chug and Teague show in the 4th.

 

[Zander42]

Didn't see this posted here. I've enjoyed watching their perspective this year.

 

[brodybuck21]

Didn't see this posted here. I've enjoyed watching their perspective this year.

Watched this yesterday and agreed. Lots of good info

 

[Jaxbuck]

Josh on College Football Nerds laid it out pretty well in their review. Basically, over-matched teams can either play straight up (i.e. with their normal tendencies), hope to keep the score manageable and hope the other team makes enough mistakes to win. Or, they can go off tendency and become very aggressive.

For Bucky, the script on playing tOSU straight up was written as 38-7. They know that won't work. Plus, they saw both PSU and TTUN moved the ball on us in the passing game, not consistently, but still enough to get some yards.

Finally, in their own game against Minnesota, Bucky did very well moving the ball through the air, including a few successful deep balls against a pretty good defense.

So I expect them to go the very aggressive route. It's really the only shot they have. A lot of deep balls, certainly some TE passes (duh!). On defense I expect a lot of stunts (which they did a lot last time) and more blitzing. Wouldn't be surprised at a fake punt or onside kick. They're only hope is to throw haymakers and hope to get tOSU in their heels.

But I don't think it will work. The down side of playing super aggressive is that it leaves you open to turnovers and bad field position and big plays if your blitzes don't get home, and you could end up getting blown out, obviously. It might work for a play or two, but this Ohio State team has actually played quite disciplined this year, they'll be ready for it. I expect to win the turnover margin by 2 with a defensive score in there.

Is say 52-20 with the Chug and Teague show in the 4th.

Agreed but the aggressive route is essentially the tsun gameplan minus the ability to protect their QB and with less talent at WR.

It's an all or nothing gamble that could either keep you in the game or get you totally blown out if you start having quick 3 and outs from all the passing and leave your defense on the field too long.

The fundamental problem for all of these top 10-15 range teams like Wisky is the OSU offense. You have to try and keep pace and given the talent on OSU's defense there is almost no chance for that to happen.

Your ST's point is spot on imo. They have to try and steal possessions. It's their only shot.

 

[JXC]

Josh on College Football Nerds laid it out pretty well in their review. Basically, over-matched teams can either play straight up (i.e. with their normal tendencies), hope to keep the score manageable and hope the other team makes enough mistakes to win. Or, they can go off tendency and become very aggressive.

For Bucky, the script on playing tOSU straight up was written as 38-7. They know that won't work. Plus, they saw both PSU and TTUN moved the ball on us in the passing game, not consistently, but still enough to get some yards.

Finally, in their own game against Minnesota, Bucky did very well moving the ball through the air, including a few successful deep balls against a pretty good defense.

So I expect them to go the very aggressive route. It's really the only shot they have. A lot of deep balls, certainly some TE passes (duh!). On defense I expect a lot of stunts (which they did a lot last time) and more blitzing. Wouldn't be surprised at a fake punt or onside kick. They're only hope is to throw haymakers and hope to get tOSU in their heels.

But I don't think it will work. The down side of playing super aggressive is that it leaves you open to turnovers and bad field position and big plays if your blitzes don't get home, and you could end up getting blown out, obviously. It might work for a play or two, but this Ohio State team has actually played quite disciplined this year, they'll be ready for it. I expect to win the turnover margin by 2 with a defensive score in there.

I say 52-20 with the Chug and Teague show in the 4th.

Say what? Penn State went 16/28 for 128 yards 0 TDs and 1 INT passing the ball. They couldn't pass the ball at all against our defense.

 

[Best Buckeye]

Bucky would have to find a turd to float their boat before they could win.

 

[exhawg]

I figured they would rip off their B1G top RB for 2.6 yards a carry all game. Playing aggressive might work for a series or two, but it will end up in points and TO's for tOSU. The offense was held in check (as much as it can be) by the crappy weather in Cbus in the first meeting. I have a feeling it will be a different story on the fast indoor turf in Indy. If playing aggressive goes off the rails from the beginning I wouldn't be shocked to see something similar to the game in 2014 minus the need to run up the score to make the playoff.