Obviously a different route than last year but it looks like the Buckeyes are heading back to the National Championship Game. The only question is who deserves to play them. There are about 5 teams that are possibilities and each comes with its own arguments for and against them. Each of these teams will probably also be favored in this game. This is fine with me, Ohio State did not play a very difficult schedule, and I'm not just talking about the trifecta of Akron, Kent, and Youngstown. The Big 10 (11), was weak this year anyone that argues otherwise is a blindly loyal homer. This however is not OSU's fault. NOr is it their fault that Washington was not very good this year. The Buckeyes have had the guts to go out and play great teams early, like the home & away with Texas, but these games are scheduled so many years in advance there's no guarantee that a program will be strong when the game is played.I have been saying all year this Buckeye team would get killed by last year's team. But I also believe a lot of the top ten teams from this year would meet a similar fate against their earlier selves. To defend OSU though they should have been undefeated, but in their one loss Coach Tressel chose not to challenge a fumble out of the back of the end zone which would have given the Buckeyes the ball rather than Illinois a touchdown. Making matters worse, and typical of the crap that only happens to my team, the Big 10 replay official was trying to get the play reviews but the communications system with the on field refs was on the fritz so the Bucks went on to lose by a TD.
The one thing that has really stuck in my craw recently though is the argument that it isn't fair that some conferences play a conference championship game. Everyone seems to agree that there is an advantage for the schools that are sitting at home. True this definitely helped OSU over the last two weeks, but it has certainly helped the teams playing too. Ask the 2006 Gators if they are upset that they got to have a Conference Championship game, if their season ended before getting the chance to play Arkansas, OSU is replaying Michigan in January. The same will probably be said for LSU, the favorites to play OSU at press time, these games give a team that seemed to have no chance an opportunity to get back into the mix.
Besides the Big 10 will never go to a Big 10 championship game. Why? they already have one, it's called "The Game." The powers that be will never schedule a game after Ohio State vs. Michigan. It is the end of the season, and more times than not it IS the Big 10 Championship game. That being said what do I know? With all the money that would be generated by adding a conference playoff game, I'm sure I'm just being naive about what really matters to big colleges and big time sports programs.
Anyway, GO BUCKS!!!
3 comments:
I agree Mr. Spence that this OSU team would get destroyed by last years team, which leads me to my next thought...unfortunately, I feel that this OSU team will not be able to handle it's SEC opponent any better than last years OSU team did. I do not mean to be all doom and gloom, and do not take that as any slight on the Bucks, I just feel that LSU has played tougher opponents overall and even though they do have 2 losses, they were hard fought, ridiculous OT affairs. I would love nothing more than to be wrong about that, and I hope I am...
They also had a handful of close games they barely won. While OSU was blowing everyone out save the Illini. But like your thinking, and I am glad they are getting disrespected by the national media and even some of their own fans. Maybe they'll actually focus on the game rather than awards, banquets, and getting a tan this time. They NEED to go in believing they have to prove themselves, which they most definitely must. Us against the world worked for the Scarlet and Grey against Miami and it worked against them last January.
And don't forget Les Miles, "is a Michigan man." Which he has proven by losing big games over and over.
The world "will hear again the Buckeye Battle Cry!"
And also Mr Spence, the Bucks play at USC next year as well. Let's see Notre Dame do that!... oh wait
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