Northern Illinois

Sorry I’m a bit late with this but I’ve been at the Happiest Place on Earth.  No, not here.  I meant here.

In my rush to pack, get the dogs to the new kennel, and mow my yard, I forgot to set the DVR for Hawaii.  So, I missed watching the game, but followed the action via ESPN GameCast while stuck in line at Aerosmith’s Rock and Roller Coaster.   What I cannot understand is that we seemed to dominate the game statistically for the first 3 quarters, but could not score.  So, maybe conventional wisdom was right – maybe the players were groggy from the short week and had a VT hangover.   They still almost covered though and pitched a shutout.

So, do we overreact and think that this year’s Buckeye team is last year’s FSU?  A team that has superior talent but struggles every week to find their mojo and a way to win?  Or, does Urban Meyer kick this team’s collective a—and get the boys in the right frame of mind this week?

Northern Illinois has only played TOSU once before and that was in 2006 when we were No. 1.  I didn’t remember that we got up 28-0 early in that game.  What I remember was this on the 2^nd play of the game.  We ended up winning 35-12 and covered the 17 point spread, but RB Garrett Wolfe ran for 171 and caught 5 passes for 114 more.  He was scary and actually led 1-A football in rushing that year.   Fortunately, he graduated and they don’t have anyone nearly as talented.  What they have been is consistently good.  The Huskies have won 5 straight MAC West titles and have been either 12-2 or 11-3 in each of the last 5 years.   And thanks to this man, we all know how good the MAC is.

NIU is only 5-21 in road openers, but have won 3 straight including two against Iowa and Northwestern.   The Buckeyes are 67-1 at home against unranked non-conference opponents.    The current line is OSU by 34.5 with an over/under of 67.   Normally, I’d say that Urban gets the boys ready to play and we post 55 or so and win by 40.   However, T-storms are scheduled to run through Columbus just about kickoff.  I think that holds us back a bit.  Also, I’m not sure how Urban feels about our FG kicker so we may eschew a 3-point attempt and go for it again on 4^th in Husky territory, which may not be successful.  Northern Illinois will grind it out on the ground shortening the game as well.  So, I’m suggesting you take NIU and the points, and bet the under.   

Schaef says:  Ohio State 42, Northern Illinois 17.