Scott Delaney another Lang
Pay-After-I-Win ...
10 DIME SOUTHERN CAL - The only thing Ohio State is one step-ahead of USC with is the Buckeyes are 2-0 and the Trojans are 1-0. Thing is, that one win for Southern Cal – in Virginia - is much larger than Ohio State’s two victories over Division I-AA Youngstown State and Mac-member Ohio U. This, quite honestly, is what separates the men from the boys, as top-ranked USC is going to put such a hurting on this Ohio State team, Jim Tressel will be dizzy from watching Tommy Trojan riding that horse around the Coliseum. Seriously, if you though Rashad Evans’ overhand slug caught Chuck Liddell off guard, wait until you see the offensive punch USC has for the Buckeyes.
Think about it this way: the Trojans finished 11-2 the past two seasons, and that was considered something of a disappointment. That's how high the standards are at USC these days. That’s not to say the Buckeyes don’t aim high, as they’re 75-16 under Tressel, who won a national title in 2002 and is trying to lead OSU to being the first team to win three straight outright Big Ten championships. But the negative side of things is a pair of lopsided losses in the last two national championship games. And if there were ever a game that resembled a BCS title game during the regular season, this is the one.
I’ve been asked all week who the biggest player Ohio State needs to stop in this one, and I keep telling people it’s whomever steps on the field to play offense for the Trojans, it’s not just one. Sure, it’s easy to say Mark Sanchez, but the Trojans boast a stable of six thoroughbred running backs who do nothing less than trample folks.
On defense, the Trojans get to manhandle Ohio State’s offense, which has struggled with just four touchdowns by the first stringers in the first two games. I know Beanie Wells and his toe are expected to return after sitting out last week, but that means nothing to me when you’re talking about a Southern Cal frontline that might be renamed The Great Wall of Trojan.
Saturday ...
30 DIME GEORGIA - The Ol’ Ball Coach showed us the vulnerability last week, and will have his hands full once again this week. I know the Bulldogs have had a pair of fluffy games to warm up to, but believe me when I tell you no-nonsense coach Mark Richt has had his troops ready for this part of the schedule since Day 1 of camp. This is where that killer schedule kicks in, as the Bulldogs hit the road for the first time and must play Steve Spurrier’s bunch at home.
Problem for the Gamecocks is, Richt always has the Dawgs prepared outside the hedges, and so far this season, you have to admit, they've been awfully impressive offensively. Knowshon Moreno is playing at another level, and the defense is most definitely one of the most underrated in the nation. South Carolina’s defense was good in the first game, but weaknesses were exposed last week and I don’t see the roosters having any kind of chance against these Dawgs.
And if you don’t think 17 starters from last season have this game circled, allow me to remind you the Bulldogs failed to score a touchdown in last year’s meeting, the first time that has happened in six years.
Lay the road chalk, as Georgia has won three straight in Columbia by an average of nine points per win.
10 DIME OREGON STATE - I know the Beavers are 0-2 this season, but they’ve won 24 straight when hosting non-conference opponents. And the fact Hawaii has been to the mainland and back once already does the Warriors no favors. Oregon State has been to Stanford and Penn State, and those are just as serious tests as Hawaii’s jaunt to Gainesville. Generally a quarterback-strengthened team, the Warriors will send their third starting quarterback in as many weeks to the huddle. And though senior Tyler Graunke has been solid out of the bullpen in his career in the black and green, I don’t think the Warriors can press Oregon State’s new-look defensive front. OSU has plenty of weapons to turn to, and led by quarterback Lyle Moevao and speedy receivers Sammie Stroughter, Shane Morales and James Rodgers, I’m thinking we have the two-touchdown winner we’ll be looking for.
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