Twas the Night Before The Game

Twas the Night Before THE Game, and all through the house
All of the creatures were stirring, including a mouse

Why start with this poem? It seems like the Ohio State Buckeyes have had distraction after distraction in the last twelve months. This time a year ago, it seemed like the Buckeyes were invincible after a convincing 37-7 romp over Michigan at Ohio Stadium, a record seventh consecutive win (which the Bucks later vacated of course, along with their 12 other games), one that spelled doom for then-Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez, and guaranteed that then-Buckeye Head Coach Jim Tressel would coach the Buckeyes either for life, or until he got sick and tired of it.

Then a few weeks later, the rug came from underneath the Buckeye football program as reports of high-profile Buckeye football players selling gold pants, jerseys, and other memorabilia in exchange for things such as cars, cash, and tattoos. Five Ohio State football players (Terrelle Pryor, Daniel "Boom" Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams, and Solomon Thomas) were suspended for five games, along with Tressel subsequently.

Think that this was the end of it? Hardly. Apparently, Terrelle Pryor's mentor, a man by the name of Ted Sarniak e-mailed the Tressel camp, and then Tressel got word that the aforementioned players were selling aforementioned items in exchange for aforementioned tattoos and cash. Tressel's reputation as an upstanding pillar in the NCAA community was tarnished, and as the spring progressed, it seemed that Tressel was not long for the Buckeyes. On May 30, Tressel was forced to resign, and Luke Fickell became the interim head coach for the season (more on Fickell later). Eight days later, it was announced that Pryor would not return for his senior season.

Still with us? Posey's suspension was doubled, and Pryor was taken in the supplemental draft by the Oakland Raiders, only to have to serve the five game suspension, and then be expendable (by the acquisition for Carson Palmer- another song for another dance). Tressel took a consulting job for the Indianapolis Colts, where he served a six-game suspension. The Buckeyes vacated all of their wins from last season, and are still awaiting word on the NCAA, in terms of sanctions.

Meanwhile, news is heating up that ex-Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer will be announced as the new Head Coach at next Tuesday's OSU-Duke Men's Basketball Game. This is not what the current crop of Buckeyes need as they head up north to play their biggest rival right now, another distraction. When asked about the Meyer situation on Wednesday, Fickell responded, "All I know is that there is a game at Noon on Saturday, and my ass will be there."

On the other side of the ball, Michigan fired trainwreck Rich Rodriguez after a 15-22 mark at Michigan, and hired San Diego State coach and former Michigan assistant Brady Hoke, whom from Day One, has only referred to Ohio State as "OHIO", and implemented a whole new attitude and look.

This year, there was a countdown clock, counting down the days and minutes until kickoff for the Ohio State and Michigan State games, as well as a clock counting the number of days it has been since Michigan beat the aforementioned schools in football. Never in the 133 years of Wolverine football has a senior class gone 0-8 against the top two rivals (sorry Notre Dame, you don't count, ditto for Minnesota). Can these Michigan seniors knock off the Scarlet and Gray? The answer is...find out at about Noon tomorrow in the Big House.

Last week, Michigan put out a show against a really good Nebraska team, capitalizing on turnovers and special teams mistakes (which a couple of them were also turnovers) to put away the Cornhuskers 45-17. In Columbus, an emotional Penn State team held off the Buckeyes 20-14 in the Horseshoe, as DeVier Posey made his 2011 debut. The Buckeyes made some big plays, but not enough big plays (like against Wisconsin).

Tomorrow, expect the Buckeyes to make some big plays on offense, and a couple of big plays will keep them in the game for a while, but the Buckeyes did not finish last week against Penn State. This Ohio State team is better than their 6-5 record.

Michigan, an eight and a half point favorite, they will be ready. They are starving for a win against a Buckeye team in a recession. They are wanting to end the Tressel-era of domination. They are wanting to usher in the Brady Hoke era with a "W" over their hated rivals.

1929 was the last time that both Ohio State and Michigan entered "THE Game" with first-year head coached. The Buckeyes won that game. Hoke is Michigan's own Woody Hayes. Hoke only likes to refer to the Buckeyes as "OHIO", and the hungry Michigan players are looking to feast on the Buckeyes tomorrow in the Big House. Look for Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson to be let loose on the field, like Desmond Howard, Tshimanga "Tim" Biakabutuka, Charles Woodson, and Chris Perry before him against the Buckeyes. Look for Robinson to have a BIG day, as the Michigan receivers will try to outsmart the strong Buckeye defense.

The outcome will be closer than you think. Michigan has only beaten Ohio State by more than 20 points only twice in the last 30 years (1991- 31-3 and 1993- 28-0, both in the Big House). The Buckeyes will show up, but not when the going gets tough, and the Maize and Blue tough get going.

Prediction: Michigan 38, Ohio State 34

2011 College Football: Week 7

This weekend is the midway point of the College Football regular season, and in the Big Ten, two unbeatens could possibly fall, as # 12 Michigan (6-0 for the first time since 2006) and # 16 Illinois (6-0 for the first time since 1951) face Michigan State (4-1) and Ohio State (3-3), respectively, in the Paul Bunyan and IlliBuck Trophy Games, respectively, in East Lansing and Champaign, respectively.

THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS:
USC Trojans (4-1, 2-1) at Cal Golden Bears (3-2, 0-2)- at AT&T Park in San Francisco
The Golden Bears, after a 3-0 start, have dropped their first two Pac-12 contests, and things don't get easier, as USC travels up from LA to the Bay Area to play those Golden Bears. Tonight is also the 35th Annual Joe Roth Football Classic, played whenever Cal hosts UCLA or USC since 1977, to honor the memory of quarterback Joe Roth, who was the starting quarterback at Cal in 1975 and 1976, who died of melanoma in February 1977 at the young age of 21. Roth's jersey number (12) is the only number to be retired at the University of California-Berkeley.
Pick: USC 23, Cal 19

Other Games Coming Later
Big Game of the Week:
The Paul Bunyan Trophy- # 12 Michigan Wolverines (6-0, 2-0) at Michigan State Spartans (4-1, 1-0)
"When you come to Michigan to play football, your legacy is left by Big Ten Championships, Rose Bowls and how you did against your rivals."- Ryan Van Bergen
The last time that the Wolverines won in East Lansing was 2007- the 100th battle between those in-state rivals. The Paul Bunyan Trophy has called East Lansing home the last three years. Now that the Wolverines have a new Commander-in-Chief, the Wolverines look to dominate this rivalry once again. The Spartans, fresh off a bye after beating Ohio State for the first time since 1999, is looking to beat the Boys in (Maize and) Blue for a fourth straight year. Can they do it? Can Michigan finally play 60 minutes and not play catch-up finally? We'll see...
Pick: Michigan State 34, Michigan 24

Rivalry Game of the Week:
Capital Crusaders (2-3, 2-2) at Otterbein Cardinals (1-4, 0-4)
Boy, have the mighty fallen. Three years ago, the Cardinals skyrocketed to an 8-0 start, and went to the playoffs for the first (and only) time. Now, the Cardinals are struggling, losing four straight, not being able to stay in close games, and their quarterback Austin Schlosser turns the ball over frequently. This would not be a good time to head into Capital week, but here the Cardinals are, hosting their bitter crosstown rivals. The Cards have won four of the last six meetings, including three straight in Westerville. The Crusaders have had more heart than the Cardinals have, and the Cardinals are on the same sinking ship as the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Pick: Capital 35, Otterbein 12

Upset Pick of the Week:
# 15 South Carolina Gamecocks (5-1, 3-1) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-3, 0-3)
Stephen Garcia, we hardly knew ye. The Gamecocks' quarterback was dismissed from the team for failing an alcohol test. Connor Shaw will be the QB the rest of the way for the Gamecocks who head to Mississippi State.
Pick: Mississippi State 24, South Carolina 21

Other Big Games This Week:
The IlliBuck Trophy- Ohio State Buckeyes (3-3, 0-2) at # 16 Illinois Fighting Illini (6-0, 2-0)
The last time that the Illini were 6-0, Harry Truman was President, John Wayne was Hollywood's Biggest Star, and I Love Lucy debuted, and gas probably cost 50 cents too (1951). The Buckeyes have only gone 0-3 in the Big Ten twice in the last 40 years (that being 2004, remember the upset loss at Northwestern, then back-to-back spankings from Iowa and Wisconsin to start the Big Ten season), and another Buckeye loss would basically be another nail in Luke Fickell's head coaching coffin at OSU. But, Nathan Scheelhaase has been solid for the Illini, while the Buckeyes blew a 21-point lead in Lincoln by surrendering 28 unanswered points to Nebraska, while losing QB Braxton Miller to an ankle injury. Good news for OSU is that Miller is listed as the starter. The bad news for them will be if they can't contain Scheelhaase.
Pick: Illinois 38, Ohio State 23

# 1 LSU Tigers (6-0, 3-0) at Tennessee Volunteers (3-2, 0-2)
LSU picked away and clawed Florida last week, and expect the Bayou Bengals to do the same to the Vols at Neyland Stadium.
Pick: LSU 48, Tennessee 7

Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-0, 2-0) at # 17 Texas Longhorns (4-1, 1-1)
The Longhorns were stampeded out of the Cotton Bowl by Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout last week. Can the Horns recover?
Pick: OSU 35, Texas 21

Virginia Tech Hokies (5-1, 1-1) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-1, 3-0)
Pick: Virginia Tech 38, Wake 24

Florida State Seminoles (2-3, 0-2) at Duke Blue Devils (3-2, 1-0)
Can this be right? FSU 2-3? Duke 3-2? Huh? Nobody thought that the football Blue Devils would start off decently. But appearances can be deceiving.
Pick: Florida State 45, Duke 10

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-0, 3-0) at Virginia Cavaliers (3-2, 0-1)
The Jackets are 6-0 for the first time since 1966. Can they keep it going?
Pick: Georgia Tech 41, Virginia 10

Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1, 3-0) at Oregon Ducks (4-1, 2-0)
Pick: Oregon 35, Arizona State 8

Stanford Cardinal (5-0, 3-0) at Washington State Cougars (3-2, 1-1)
Pick: Stanford 51, Washington State 6

Auburn Tigers (4-2, 2-1) at Florida Gators (4-2, 2-2)
Pick: Florida 23, Auburn 16

Colorado Buffaloes (1-5, 0-2) at Washington Huskies (4-1, 2-0)
Colorado is wishing it were still in the Big 12, instead of the Pac-12.
Pick: Washington 31, Colorado 10

Northwestern Wildcats (2-3, 0-2) at Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2, 0-1)
Northwestern blew its chance for an upset, surrendering a 24-14 halftime lead at Ryan Field against Michigan, and being shut out 28-0 in the second half. This week, they head to Iowa City to play the Hawkeyes, who are also looking for their first Big Ten win of 2011.
Pick: Iowa 27, Northwestern 17

Indiana Hoosiers (1-5, 0-2) at Wisconsin Badgers (5-0, 1-0)
This one will be over after the opening kickoff. Remember last year's 83-20 drubbing?
Pick: Wisconsin 72, Indiana 0

# 3 Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 2-0) at Kansas Jayhawks (2-3, 0-2)
If you saw the Red River Shootout, Oklahoma is for real this year.
Pick: Oklahoma 66, Kansas 6

Iowa State Cyclones (3-2, 0-2) at Missouri Tigers (2-3, 0-2)
Pick: Missouri 28, Iowa State 21

Clemson Tigers (6-0, 3-0) at Maryland Terrapins (2-3, 1-1)
Pick: Clemson 31, Maryland 3

Miami Hurricanes (2-3, 0-2) at North Carolina Tar Heels (5-1, 1-1)
Pick: North Carolina 34, Miami 7

Louisville Cardinals (2-3) at Cincinnati Bearcats (4-1)- at Paul Brown Stadium
Pick: Cincinnati 41, Louisville 13

Toledo Rockets (3-3, 2-0) at Bowling Green Falcons (3-3, 1-1)
Pick: Toledo 37, Bowling Green 34

# 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0) at Ole Miss Rebels (2-3, 0-2)
Pick: Alabama 42, Ole Miss 0

Georgia Bulldogs (4-2, 3-1) at Vanderbilt Commodores (3-2, 0-2)
Pick: Georgia 34, Vanderbilt 14

OAC Games (besides Otterbein-Capital):
Muskingum Muskies (4-1, 3-1) at John Carroll Blue Streaks (3-2, 3-1)
Wilmington Quakers (0-5, 0-4) at Marietta Pioneers (1-4, 0-4)
Mount Union Purple Raiders (5-0, 4-0) at Heidelberg Student Princes (4-1, 3-1)
Ohio Northern Polar Bears (3-2, 2-2) at Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets (4-1, 3-1)
Picks: Muskingum, Marietta, Mount Union, and Baldwin-Wallace (and of course, Capital)

Other Central Ohio Schools:
Wittenberg Tigers (5-1, 3-0) at Kenyon Lords (0-5, 0-2)
Denison Big Red (3-3, 2-0) at Allegheny Gators (3-3, 1-1)
Ohio Dominican Panthers (3-3, 2-3) at Findlay Oilers (3-3, 3-2)
Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops have a bye this week
Picks: Wittenberg, Denison, and Ohio Dominican

Mission Accomplished (Michigan fires RichRod) + NFL Wildcard Picks

RICH RODRIGUEZ FIRED BY MICHIGAN!

After three long-suffering years, angry and pissed off University of Michigan football fans finally got their belated Christmas present on Wednesday as the University of Michigan finally fired Head Coach Rich Rodriguez after a 15-22 record and four days after the worst bowl loss in Michigan history- a 52-14 laugher to the fifth-place team in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (Mississippi State, that would be you).

While Michigan fans want their native son Jim Harbaugh to come home and take Michigan to a National Championship in the next few years. We sports pundits, both amateur and pro all know that that's not going to happen. It's wishful thinking. Harbaugh will more than likely (a) stay at Stanford or (b) leave Stanford for greener pastures in the NFL. If Harbaugh were to accept the Michigan job, we would have looked forward to his introduction where he would have guaranteed a thumping of the Ohio State Buckeyes on Nov. 26 in the Big House*.

But the most important thing for Michigan is to hire a "Michigan man". Michigan needs a man that can outsmart "The Vest", that is a defensive mind, and that can bring the Boys in Blue back to National prominence and can bring the BCS National Championship to Ann Arbor. Wimpy coaches that only know how to run the spread offense need not apply, because in the last three years, you have seen what the spread offense has done to Michigan. It decimated a once-proud team to a lumpy pile of manure.

Michigan hit new lows (most losses in a season, worst Bowl loss in a season, longest losing streak to Overrated State) during this administration, and it will take a lot to fix everything that Rodriguez jacked up in just a short time. While Rodriguez was a success at West Virginia, the spread offense doesn't work in the Big Ten. Look at Ohio State, they play "smash-it-up" football, when they're not playing the ultra-conservative "Tresselball"**. Michigan needs to go back to the "Smashmouth" football that fans have known for years, and maybe then, they will get back to National prominence, and in the next few years, we could see Harbaugh, or Brady Hoke, or Les Miles, or whomever the next Michigan coach is, hoist that BCS National Championship trophy high with Maize and Blue pride.

Official Story from the University of Michigan Athletic Department


*- In 1986, Harbaugh guaranteed a Michigan trip to the Rose Bowl with a win over Ohio State. Michigan won that game in the Horseshoe 26-24, only to lose in the Rose Bowl to Arizona State, 22-15. The Arizona State coach? He would have a lot of bad luck with Michigan, which would later cost him his job as Ohio State's head football coach following the 2000 season. Of course, I'm talking about John Cooper.

**- Tresselball- How Ohio State finds ways to lose as they play very conservatively in tight games and let the other team manhandle them to victory (i.e.- Texas in 2005 and in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl; USC in 2009; LSU in the 2007 BCS National Championship; Purdue in 2009; Wisconsin in 2010)

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NFL WILDCARD WEEKEND

The regular season of the NFL is over. The road to Dallas and Super Bowl XLV has begun. On Saturday, two teams will see their dreams end, and on Sunday, two more teams will see their Super Bowl dreams go up in smoke as well. This past Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks became the first losing team in the 91-year history of the National Football League to win their division and clinch a playoff berth with a 16-6 win over the St. Louis Rams.

The Seahawks will kick the postseason off by hosting the defending Super Bowl champs, the New Orleans Saints, fresh off a 23-13 loss to Tampa Bay, who was one of two 10-6 teams to miss the playoffs in the NFC, a first for the conference since 1991.

The nightcap for Saturday night features the defending AFC Champions, Indianapolis hosting the New York Jets in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game.

On Sunday afternoon, the AFC West champs Kansas City host the Baltimore Ravens, while the season will end the way it began for either the Green Bay Packers or the Philadelphia Eagles, in a rematch of the season opener for both teams, a 27-20 Packers win.

WILDCARD WEEKEND- Saturday:
5) New Orleans Saints (11-5, regular season) at 4) Seattle Seahawks (7-9, regular season)- 4:30PM EST on NBC (Qwest Field; Seattle, WA)
Well, they did it. The Seahawks made history on Sunday night as the first losing team to win their division. For the second year in a row, the # 4 seed closes out the regular season and kicks off the postseason (the Cincinnati Bengals lost 37-0 in the Sunday Night finale to the Jets and again six days later 24-14 in the Wildcard) with a game against the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Saints. The Saints have had their highs and lows, and this could be an upset game, if the Saints don't get their act together. After all, they did lose to the Cleveland Browns this season. However, Matt Hasselbeck (or Charlie Whitehurst) can't beat the Saints on his own.
Pick: New Orleans 20-13

6) New York Jets (11-5, regular season) at 3) Indianapolis Colts (10-6, regular season)- 8:10PM EST on NBC (Lucas Oil Stadium; Indianapolis, IN)
This will be the home of next year's Super Bowl, as well as the inaugural Big Ten Championship game next season, and the site of last year's thrilling AFC Championship game, where the Colts came from behind to beat the Jets and reach Super Bowl XLIV. The Jets, after a 9-2 start, slid into the playoffs after a Week 16 loss to the Bears, and managed to win their finale, a meaningless 38-7 romp over Buffalo. The Colts won the AFC South with a 23-20 win over the Titans (on a 43-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal with no time left) and a Jacksonville loss to the Houston Texans. The Colts may be a dangerous team, with Peyton Manning, and the few targets he has left. Joseph Addai has returned to the team healthy. However, the Jets have more questions on offense than answers, and they won't find them in Indy.
Pick: Indianapolis 31-14

WILDCARD WEEKEND- Sunday:
5) Baltimore Ravens (12-4, regular season) at 4) Kansas City Chiefs (10-6, regular season)- 1PM EST on CBS (Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO)
The Ravens are very lethal to play this time of year as Joe Flacco is only the fourth quarterback to make it to the second season each of his first three seasons in the league. On the other side, the Chiefs are this years Bengals. While they didn't sweep the AFC (8-8 Oakland did, and even that wasn't enough to save Tom Cable his job), the Chiefs are pretenders (in their first playoff appearance in seven years), more than contenders, having not won a playoff game since 1993 (losing to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game), and not making it to the Super Bowl since they won it all in Super Bowl IV, 41 years ago. This one will be over by halftime as Todd Haley is probably the most overrated coach in the NFL.
Pick: Baltimore 34-7

6) Green Bay Packers (10-6, regular season) at 3) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6, regular season)- 4:40PM EST on Fox (Lincoln Financial Field; Philadelphia, PA)
This is how the Packers and Eagles began their season, back on Sept. 12. This, also is where the season will end for one of these two teams. These two teams also kept the New York Giants out of the playoffs with head-to-head wins (Eagles swept the season series, and Green Bay thumped the Giants in Week 16), and are looking to move on up in the NFC playoffs. Andy Reid is on the hot seat, having not won the Big Game in the playoffs, and only making the Super Bowl once in his 12 years in Philadelphia (a Super Bowl XXXIX loss to New England). The Packers are a dangerous team to play this late in the year, and could spread that into the playoffs. This game was also the start of the Michael Vick-Kevin Kolb quarterback soap opera that took place in Philadelphia. Look for the Packers defense to have a big game.
Pick: Green Bay 28-14

If this holds up...
3) Indianapolis Colts at 2) Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4, regular season)- Jan. 15 @ 4:40PM EST on CBS
6) Green Bay Packers at 1) Atlanta Falcons (13-3, regular season)- Jan. 15 @ 8:10PM EST on Fox
5) New Orleans Saints at 2) Chicago Bears (11-5, regular season)- Jan. 16 @ 1PM EST on Fox
5) Baltimore Ravens at 1) New England Patriots (14-2, regular season)- Jan. 16 @ 4:30PM EST on CBS