Sorry I have been delinquent with this. Truthfully, I have not been that excited about the BCS game. Maybe it is because the Michigan game was SO HUGE. Maybe it is because it Ohio State last played 6 or 7 months ago. Maybe it is because the fairly recent 2003 win over Miami scratched the national championship itch that had lingered so long. Maybe it is because Florida isn't as sexy as some other teams.
Regardless, my head was out of it until Saturday afternoon. That is when I heard Saving Jane's version of "Hang On Sloopy" on the radio. It snapped me out of my fog. Add to that the fact that I'm sitting at work listening to a radio replay of the Michigan game, and I can safely state that: I. Am. Back.
Unlike most OSU games, you have been provided the offensive and defensive stats, so I had to look for new angles to give you. I have four:
1. Troy Smith. This is the most obvious. Troy Smith is this year's Vince Young, only the new and improved version with the Heisman Trophy. He is a leader. He wills his team to victory. Florida has some talented players, but I don't think they have a leader like Troy. His "story" will not end with a defeat. That would cause a rip in the time-space continuum. It would violate all natural laws. It will not happen.
2. Jim Tressel - what more can this guy do to add to his legend? He has had 50 days to scheme and plan. He's got his team in Arizona (again) where they are so used to the scene that it is like Columbus-west. Urban Meyer - very good. Jim Tressel - great.
3. Offense - Ohio State can score, Florida has great difficulty doing so. In 11 of Ohio State's 24 halves this year, the Buckeyes scored 20 or more points. Florida did in only 6 times out of 26 halves. Only 4 times the Bucks scored 10 or less in a half, Florida did so 10 times. Florida's season looks like this - score 14 in the first half, 7 in the second, and win 21-14. The Buckeyes' season looks like this - score 24 in the first, 14 in the second, win 38-10.
Now don't give me this SEC is great and Big Ten is overrated crap either. Both teams played 4 ranked teams, but only OSU played someone in the top 5 (No. 2 twice). Florida played 10 bowl teams, but Ohio State played 7. Florida got to play lowly Central Florida and 1-AA Western Carolina, and Penn State and Wisconsin have both beaten SEC teams in bowls this year.
4. White jerseys - Now, this is the one that gave me the most concern, because I figured we were wearing our home scarlet due to our No. 1 ranking. But during media day all of the Buckeyes were wearing white. A big relief to me.
2003 Fiesta v. Miami - white. 2004 Fiesta v. Kansas State - white. 2006 Fiesta v. ND - white. I think I did a study of this a year or two ago about how we have much more success in bowls wearing white v. scarlet. I can't imagine we wore white to media day and then will switch to scarlet, so this is a great relief to me.
Prediction - Most, if not all of the scoring, will occur in the first half. Both teams will make adjustments and the second half will become a field position battle. Florida will score on their first or second possession, as do most OSU opponents. The Buckeyes will strike repeatedly in the second quarter. Florida may score in the 2nd half, but will not have the fire power to overtake the Bucks. If they get close, Smith will drive the Buckeyes to an insurance score and remove all doubt. Pay no mind to those saying that this is 2003 v. Miami with the roles reversed. Not true. We are not Miami. Chris Leak is not Craig Krenzel. Plus, no one gave us a chance. All this talk about an upset is just to keep you interested.
MTB says:
Florida 7 0 0 7 - 14
Ohio State 3 17 0 7 - 27
