Ohio St vs Okie St. Tons of helpful game stats!

[Stepintoliquid]

With distractions for both teams, it's hard to predict if or what effect it may have on the game. But look for The Ohio State University to ride it's defense, special teams advantage (Mike Nugent, Ted Gin, perhaps the best linebacking unit in college football with All American AJ Hawk, 2nd team Big Ten Rob Reynolds, and Anthony Schlegal, and emerging wideouts to win this game.
Plain and simple defense wins games and championships. Worth noting so far in this bowl season UCLA (106), Toldedo (92) Syracuse (91), North Texas (88), and UAB (84) are all ranked in the same ballpark defensively as Oklahome State defensively. Each of those teams listed above have lost their bowl games to teams with a statistically better defense. The only team with a statistically worse defense then Oklahoma St. that won it's bowl game was Hawaii.

Oklahoma St's defense:

74th in the nation in pass defense allowed 2,480 yards. 225.5 yard per game at 7 yards per attempt.

70th in the nation in run defense allowing 1,870 yards. 170 yards per game at 4.6 per attemt.

75th in the nation in total defense 4,350 yards. 395.5 yards per game allowed.

49th nationally in scoring defense at 24.4 points per game

Ohio State's defense:

36th in the country at 128.7 yards per game. (OK St is 8th in the country rusing at 245 yards per game with a pass offense ranked 111th at 140 yards per game)

The Big 12 has won only 3 times in 10 tries at the Alamo Bowl.

Ok St last played vs Purdue in the Alamo Bowl in '97 and lost.

Ohio St. hs won the past 12 game vs Big 12 teams. The latest being victory over Kansas St.

Ohio St. has a lifetime record of 26-3-1 vs the Big 12.

5 out of the 11 Alamo Bowls have been decided by 7 or fewer points. Where the average margin of victory in those games was 3.5 points.

Jim Tressel is 17-6 at OSU in close games. Les Miles is 6-6 at Ok. St.

The 2004 Alamo Bowl is the fourth sell out in bowl history and the first time it has sold out with a team from Texas as a participant.

In 1999, No. 13 Penn St. shut out TExas AM 24-0 in a sell out crows of 65,380. In 2001 Iowa beat Texas Tech 19-16 with 65,232 fans. In 1995 no. 19 Texas AM upset no. 14 Michigan, 22-20.

Also, I'd like to note Ohio St. has sold out there block of Alamo Bowl tickets. A crowd of 65,000 will not be a major factor for the Buckeyes compared to playing at home infront of 104,000 fans on Saturday and playing on the road at 2 of the other 4 largest stadiums in the country at Michigan (110,000) and at Penn St (108,000).

If Ohio St. shuts down the Ok. St running game things might get real bad for OK St. Ohio St has historically shut down top running games (Michigan this year, Kansas St in the Fiesta, Miami in the Fiesta) and one dimensional offenses. Giving Tressel a month to prepare for this team is a huge factor I believe. I like Ohio St. to win this game out right with their defense and special teams advantage. Playing in a dome with Mike Nugent kicking, don't be shocked to see a 60 yard field goal easily clear the goal post with this kid. Not to mention Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes.

Buckeyes win outright. +150 is a gift.

Best of luck to everyone!

 

[DeathEatsaCracker]

Don't you love it when the wrong team is favored? I'm all over Ohio State. The under looks pretty good also.

 

[Stepintoliquid]

Death, Ohio St. is up to +4 and +150 at Bodog right now. I'm not an avid fan or user of Bodog but +4 is damn nice! I got Ohio St. at +155 at Bodog late last night. Buying the hook to make it +4.5 is even sweeter!


Good luck today, Death! arty: Sooner Scooner! :howdy:

 

[newton0038]

Death, Ohio St. is up to +4 and +150 at Bodog right now. I'm not an avid fan or user of Bodog but +4 is damn nice! I got Ohio St. at +155 at Bodog late last night. Buying the hook to make it +4.5 is even sweeter!


Good luck today, Death! arty: Sooner Scooner! :howdy:

Death, why would you "buy" a hook on the 4? Might be the right call, but I just don't see 5 being a factor.

 

[Stepintoliquid]

Death, I just wanted to add that Ohio St. +11 and under 56 on a t2 team teaser might be a nice play as well.

Curious as to what you think about the early game and another Big 12 team in Colorado?

Personally I like The Buffs to win this game easily much like the Oregon St. and ND game last night. I've watched the Buffs and UTEP both play numerous times on tv this season and does not impress me the least bit. Carson Palmer's younger brother is not that good of a qb at all. UTEP has played a weak schedule and hasn't played near the qualtiy of teams that Colorado has. I also think Colorado's defense is much, much better when compared to UTEP. I think if you compare schedules, scores, and stats, this will clearly jump out at you.

Personally I feel the Buffs will win this game very easily.

 

[CedarCreaker]

Don't you love it when the wrong team is favored? I'm all over Ohio State. The under looks pretty good also.

I too like THE Ohio Stae Univ here but Death, aren't you just a little bit prejudiced???......but agree that Miles' team is not as good as Tressels and Buckeyes should win handly...wrong team favored....not understand how that can happen in a game like this????...when one would think the major $ would be on Ohio state???

 

[Stepintoliquid]

Newton, Ohio St at +4.5 would be a huge factor compared to +4. Teams usually win by 3, 7, 10, etc. Ohio St. +4.5 in other words would require Ok. St most likely to win by a td (7) points. With Mike Nugent kicking inside a dome, a 60 yard fg is very possible without any doubt. Therefore, Ohio St might be down 7 and with a kicker like All American Mike Nugent, the score would then be 7-3, etc. and the hook will make you winner.

That's just my philosophy on why. I hope this might have explained it better.

 

[sphincter]

after leaning heavily to ohio st leading up to this game,i`m cooling on the buckeyes a bit.....

i like step`s stats...i didn`t see ohio st offensive stats in there...

after looking closely at their rushing stats,they basically had NO ground game until qb smith started playing qb....he was there leading rusher in most of the games he started.....

without any ground game....and a qb that has not proven that he can get the job done,i`m losing interest in the buckeyes.....

wisky and northwestern were able to do some business vs ohio st on the ground....the 2 real run oriented games they played.....

i like tressel in this kind osf game....but,the bucks offense may be putrid here....even if okie st`s "d" isn`t all that....

and it`s tough to depend on ginn to make big plays to pull this out of the fire....

i loved it before...now,i`m not all that enthused...

 

[GoSooners]

Same here. I'm not real excited about this game. I believe that Ohio St. is really going to miss mobile QB Troy Smith more than people think. Ohio St. was a much better team averaging 27 ppg. than QB Zwick earlier in the year averaging 20 ppg. If i was going to play anything here i would play the under. Although that could be dangerous too with Ginn on the Ohio St. side. And Ok.St's speedy offense which like they've done with a lot of other teams this year, could take Ohio St. by surprise.
After OSU's last game with Texas Tech, they said they didn't pass enough in that game. Look for Okie State to come out firing the ball a little bit more than usual for this game. Also keep in mind that coach Miles was a tackle for Michigan. So you know he just hates Ohio St. and would like nothing more than to beat them in a bowl game. I look for Okie St. to pull out all the stops tonight. Will it be enough? I don't know.

 

[Stepintoliquid]

Sphincter,

Sorry, I hope this additional stats help:

Ohio St scoring offense is 80th at 24.5 ppg.

Ohio St's defense is 22nd in the country at 19.3 ppg

Ohio State's rushing offense is 73rd at 139.2 ypg

Ohio St is 96th in passing at 174.2 ypg

OK. St's pass defense is 75th and 225.5 ypg

Ohio St pass defense is 52nd at 207 ypg

Also, the emergence of the WR's for Ohio St the past 5 games is also noteable I feel. I like Smith over Zwick any day. But also in fairness Zwick didn't have the WR to go early in the season with Holmes, Ginn, and Gonzalez. He also did have the offensive line together like it has been in this time span as well.

Side note for everyone, Smith will be sitting out tonight obviously. Geiger has said it would be a 2 game suspension which would mean he will miss the opener next season vs Miami of Ohio and be ready for the Texas game the following week. However, they are saying most likely the NCAA will let him start next season and not have to serve the 2nd game of his suspension.

Good luck to everyone! :drink:

 

[T-Bone]

The QB who will be playing (Zwick) started the first 6 games of the season. He is not as mobile as Smith, but is a better passer. As a die-hard Buckeye fan, I think the key is the play calling. I think that when Zwick was the starter, Tressell's play calling was more conservative. It was so conservative that there was a lot of discussion in Columbus about how he needed to hire an Offensive Coordinator to do the play calling because he had become way too conservative. Since then, Tressell has opened things up a little bit and the offense has benefitted.

** One big reason the offense improved when Smith began starting is that is about when RB Lydell Ross got hurt. Sophomore Pittman started geting carries and that improved the rushing game. If Lydell Ross gets most of the carries, Oh St. will probably have less than 100 yards on the game and it will be up to Zwick to carry the load. If Pittman is getting the carries (he averages over 5 ypr) then this should open the passing game up for Zwick. I think it boils down to play calling and Tressell has shown in that he is not afraid to open it up in big games (Michigan, Miami and K-State).

If I am not mistaken, Zwick was Mr. Football in the state of Ohio. He got a full ride to Ohio State - he doesn't suck. Also, Teddy Ginn did not emerge as an offensive threat until Smith was starting. You can expected Ginn and Santonio Holmes to make things happen as long as Zwick can deliver.
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[sphincter]

step...you know i posted some reasoning why i thought ohio st was the way to go....i still lean lightly to ohio st....

but,if you subtract smith`s rushing stats from the stat mix,their running game is nearly non-existent...

and that scares me vs a club that`s seen the likes of morency and benson....

maybe oregon st with an experienced qb can get away without running the ball...but,ohio st`s offense may leave their defense on the field way to long....and may wear down as the game progresses...

zwick is still a ?.......

just saying i may have to downgrade to a small play....

 

[Stepintoliquid]

T-Bone, Zwick was the most highly recruited high school qb in the country his senior year out of Massilon, Ohio. The kid hasn't shown much but tonight is his big chance I believe. He does have tons of talent and potential. I agree 100% with you about not having Ginn, Holmes, and Gonzalez to throw the ball to when he was starting at qb. A note on the running back situation, look for Brandon Joe to most likely start at the rb position for Ohio St. Pittman will be 2nd. Ross has fallen off the radar screen since the Pure Platnium incident...lol.

Ohio St. has been the underdog now the past 3 bowl games. +14 vs Miami and the won outright. +10 vs Kanasa St. and they won outright. +4 vs Ok. St this time around and I strongly feel it will be the same result. Ohio St. will win this game outright.

 

[T-Bone]

I totally agree. I am also very happy that Ross is a senior.

Good Luck!

 

[Kegler]

One thing to remember is, Zwick doesn't have to be great for Ohio St. to win this game. The Okie St. secondary is VERY weak. So, if he can hit OPEN (wide open) receivers he will have success.

 

[Stilwell]

Tbone,
I am close to Ohio State
your write up re:Zwick, Pittman, Ginn is very accurate

 

[sphincter]

the thing that tempered my play was the fact that NONE of ohio st`s backs are any good.......a pedestrian bunch......

i took the 4....but offed a little...this was originally a large play for me......no more...just a medium play....i can see ohio st going 3 and out while okie st holds the ball....

and zwick is an unknown....at least,what we do know is he`s been benched once this year already....

g.l....i`m still on `em...just not on `em like i was...to many ????

but,if zwick has anything at all,watch out for ginn.......i expect him to break at least one punt return....or alter the way okie st approches their punt coverages.....


is there a prop on whether ginn scores a td?...

 

[bucbrowns31]

LOVE IT

 

[Stepintoliquid]

Buckeyes +4 and +150 is looking damn good thus far!

 

[sphincter]

i don`t like the conservatism...i know zwick is hurting....but,ohio st should have more points given the turnovers and field position....

you`ve got mismatches at wr vs their cb`s.....use it....

tressel`s playing way to conservative....