I like Ohio St. for a few different reasons.
1. Ohio St. has great coaching. The team and coaches have something to prove tonight after the beat down they have taken in the recent National Championships.
2. Texas wishes it was playing on Thursday Night in Miami. They beat Oklahoma straight up and they flat out feel slated. History shows that teams that wish they were playing in a bigger bowl game, like the National Championship have played poorly in their bowl games.
3. Line movement. When the majority of the action is on one team (Texas) and the line moves to favor that team then a red flag goes up. The line opened at 10 or even 10.5 and has went down to as low as 8.
I also love Beanie Wells tonight. I think Chris Wells (against the #1 rush defense, statistically) will have a HUGE game.
Ohio St. will cover.
This is my second post on this forum with a play. I am 1-0 so far and the streak continues. Take the Buckeyes.
:toast:
You might want to check #2. The exact opposite is the case.
2000 - Miami smashed Florida and Washington handled Purdue
2001 - Oregon smashed Colorado
2002 - No one in that situation
2003 - USC beat Michigan
2004 - Auburn beat VTU (the only close game of those noted)
2005 - none
2006 - none
2007 - Not sure anyone really fit that criteria last year, USC buried Illinois, Georgia buried Hawaii, WVU buried OU, Kansas beat VTU and Missouri buried Arkansas. USC, Georgia, WVU, OU, Kansas, VTU and Missouri all had two or fewer losses (LSU had 2).
2008 - USC buried PSU, Utah beat Alabama
And, add to that that UT still has an outside shot at an AP National Title and they are plenty motivated.