Week Four: Ohio State vs. UAB—Quick-Hit Preview, History Lesson And Prediction

By HD Handshoe — BlockONation.com Founder

Ohio State/UAB—A Few Opening Thoughts...

No. 16 Ohio State may on the verge of starting 4-0 this season—thanks mostly to the exceptional play of sophomore quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender, Braxton Miller—but last weeks shaky defensive performance against California has coach Urban Meyer shaking his head.

The Buckeyes gave up several big plays of 15 or more yards—including an 82-yard-touchdown-run, the longest by an opponent in Ohio Stadium history—to Cal in their come-from-behind, 35-28 win.

"That is the most alarming thing," Meyer said on Monday. "I've watched Ohio State's defense for a long time, and I can't remember a defense I've been around that's given up this many (big plays). We've got to stop or we'll lose a game."

The cure that ails you for the Buckeyes, at least for this week, comes in the form of the 0-2 UAB Blazers.

UAB fell on the road to the old ball coach and No. 7 South Carolina last week, 49-6. With the odds makers having Ohio State listed as 36-point favorites, surely coach Meyer will expect a similar, and perhaps even more dominating, result for his Buckeyes against the Blazers this weekend.

Here are where Ohio State and UAB currently rank and compare statistically on offense to date:



The Buckeyes are 66th in total defense and 36th in scoring defense, allowing 18 points per game.

UAB is 104th in total defense and 120th in scoring defense, allowing 44 points per game.

You can get an expanded game preview via ESPN by clicking here.


Ohio State—UAB History Lesson And Trends

• Ohio State is 60-7 in Ohio Stadium since the 2002 season.

• This is the first-ever meeting between Ohio State and UAB.

• Urban Meyer coached teams are 37-4 in the month of September.

• Ohio State is 20-1 in first-ever meetings with an opponent in Ohio Stadium.

• Ohio State's defense has held opponents to 10 points or less 37 times since 2006.

• Ohio State's defense has allowed only 10 100-yard rushers in their last 52 games.

• Ohio State has held 69 opponents to 21 points or less since the start of the 2005 season.

• Ohio State is 44-7 overall vs. non-conference opponents since the start of the 2002 season.

• Ohio State has won 60 consecutive regular season non-conference home games vs. unranked opponents.

• Ohio State is seeking win No. 400 in Ohio Stadium. Their overall W/L/T record in The Shoe is 399-109-20 (1922-2012).

• UAB is 3-33 all-time vs. teams from a BCS conference.

• UAB is 3-19 overall vs. ranked opponents and 0-19 vs. ranked opponents from a BCS conference.

Final Thoughts and Score Prediction

The biggest offensive threat for the Blazers is QB Jonathan Perry who is averaging nearly 270 passing yards per game, but has also been picked off once and sacked five times in UAB's two games.

The Buckeye defense must play better against the pass and overall honestly, and I believe they will. If I'm wrong and they don't, a few players, and eventually a coach or two, could be out of a job.

UAB's defense is ripe for the picking here. They can't stop the run, and that is Ohio State's biggest strength, and they are dead last in scoring defense in the FBS.

This feels like the perfect time for the Buckeyes to hang half-a-hundred and then some offensively, and to get their defense back on track before league play begins in East Lansing next week.

Ohio State 66
UAB 9

"To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will" - Sugar Ray Robinson

---

---

@BlockONation


Check Out Other BlockNation Articles - Click Here

Week Three: Ohio State vs. California—History Lesson And Prediction

By HD Handshoe — BlockONation.com Founder

Ohio State/Cal—A Few Opening Thoughts...

In their third straight home game to start the season, the (2-0) Buckeyes will play host to the (1-1) California Golden Bears in a non-conference tilt Saturday at Noon on ABC.

Ohio State easily disposed on Miami-OH, 56-10, to open the season, then defeated a talented and feisty UCF team in week two, 31-16.

In the win, starting tailback Carlos Hyde suffered a sprained MCL and could miss at least a game or two, meaning freshman Bri'onte Dunn and senior Jordan Hall, who is expected to return this week following off-season foot surgery, will share some of the load out of the backfield, along with QB Braxton Miller.

Cal somewhat-unexpectedly opened the season with a 31-24 home loss to Nevada, but then rebounded a week later by defeating Southern Utah at home, 50-31.

The prospect of starting 1-3 is very real for the Bears as they play in the L.A. Coliseum against No. 2 USC next week after facing the No. 12 Buckeyes in Columbus tomorrow—possibly the toughest back-to-back road game slate that any team will face all season.

Through two weeks, here are where Ohio State and Cal rank and compare statistically on offense:



The Buckeyes are 45th in total defense and 25th in scoring defense, allowing 13 points per game. Cal is 76th in total defense and 92nd in scoring defense, allowing 31 points per game.

You can get a full game preview via ESPN by clicking here.


Ohio State—California History Lesson And Trends

• Urban Meyer coached teams are 36-4 in the month of September.

• Ohio State is 59-7 in Ohio Stadium since the start of the 2002 season.

• Ohio State is 7-3 in its last 10 games vs. Pac-12 teams, dating back to 1997.

• Ohio State's defense has held opponents to 10 points or less 37 times since 2006.

• Ohio State's defense has allowed just nine 100-yard rushers in their last 51 games.

• Ohio State has held 69 opponents to 21 points or less since the start of the 2005 season.

• This is the seventh meeting between Ohio State and Cal. Ohio State leads the series 5-1.

• Ohio State has won 59 consecutive regular season non-conference home games vs. unranked opponents.

• Cal is 13-19 (.406) vs. top 25 opponents since 2001.

• This is just Cal's 3rd trip east of the Mississippi since 2003.

• Cal is 14-5 vs. BCS opponents under coach Jeff Tedford (2001-2011).

• Cal is 5-2 in non-conference away games vs. BCS opponents since 2002.

Final Thoughts and Score Prediction

With Cal losing at home to Nevada, it's clear Ohio State is the better team. That being said, Cal isn't going to lay down and die on their own. But they may with some help from the Buckeye offense and especially the Buckeye defense.

So far, Ohio State has not been dominant up front or gotten to the QB as much as expected and coach Meyer was visually displeased on the sideline with the defensive effort against UCF last weekend, so one has to believe there was a ton of emphasis put into pressuring the opposing QB this week at practice.

I might be a little concerned if this game was being played at Berkeley, but since it's not, I'm not very concerned at all. That doesn't mean I expect a blowout, but a double-digit win to atone for a somewhat lackluster win last week should be in the cards for the Bucks.

Ohio State 45
Cal 21

"To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will" - Sugar Ray Robinson

---

---

@BlockONation


Check Out Other BlockNation Articles - Click Here

Ohio State—Akron: Week 1 Preview, History Lesson, and Prediction

The bad news may not be completely behind Ohio State, but with the start of the 2011 season just a mere 5 days away, the ongoing NCAA investigation, and possible additional pending sanctions the committe on infractions may still levy on the University and its football program are, at least temporarily, on the back burner for now.

After a tumultuous off-season for the ages -- [/understatement] -- the season is finally set to kickoff this Saturday, September 3rd, 2011, as the No. 18 Buckeyes host in-state foe Akron at Noon. The game can be seen on ESPN or online at ESPN3.com.

These aren't your Dad's Buckeyes...given how much has changed from just one season ago, they're barely even your Buckeyes.

Head coach Jim Tressel and starting QB Terrelle Pryor are both gone.

Tressel was essentially fired for his post-email/tatgate cover-up, and Pryor decided to leave OSU and enter his name into the NFL supplemental draft once Tressel "resigned".

Enter interim new head coach, Luke Fickell.

Fickell is a true Ohio State man. He's from Columbus and was a 4-year-starter for the Buckeyes in the mid-1990's. He has been on the Ohio State coaching staff since 2002 as the linebackers coach and then as the co-defensive coordinator.

The biggest decision looming for Fickell early on this season will be who to start at quarterback. The first handful of games are sure to feature both sixth-year-senior Joe Bauserman and true freshmen Braxton Miller under center, though Bauserman has been given the nod.

Is Fickell right to go with an experienced but average veteran, over a promising but young and inexperienced potential superstar?

Ultimately, Miller could take over in his first season, just as Pryor did as a true freshman in 2008.

Once the QB issue is resolved, the Bucks still have to overcome the five game suspensions of three starters — WR DeVier Posey, OL Mike Adams, and RB Dan Herron.

But remember, despite the various changes and suspensions, THIS IS STILL OHIO STATE, with a roster that's chock-full of blue-chippers ready to step in.

The old cliche' we always hear is "Any Given Saturday", but realistically the first five games of the 2011 season (starting with the Zips) shouldn't provide that much in the way of underdog theatrics, so rest (somewhat) easy until week six, Buckeye fans.

Oh, and no worries, this isn't Michigan, so don't expect any Appalachian State shockers!


Brief Game Outlook

Second year coach Rob Ianello and the Zips are replacing eight starters (five on offense and three on defense) this season. It might have actually been a bigger blessing if they were replacing 22, considering the 1-11 season Akron suffered through in 2010.

The good news is there's nowhere to go but up. The bad news is they must start the season in Columbus at "The Shoe".

Offensively, Ohio State will treat this game as a glorified scrimmage, looking to find which QB, RB, and WRs appear ready to assume the full-time starting roles, respectively.

In the QB battle, as previously mentioned, it's going to either be Bauserman or it's Miller time.

Backup running backs Rod Smith and Carlos Hyde will be looking to increase their chances of (temporarily) being named the No. 1 tailback while Jaamal Berry just hopes to get healthy. He too has his sights set on the starting job, at least until Herron returns in week 6.

Jordan Hall is expected to start against Akron, but Berry is the front-runner to take over if he can overcome the injury bug that has continually bitten him. Smith and Hyde aren't far behind.

At receiver, Corey Brown and Verlon Reed, along with Hall, Chris Fields, and T.Y. Williams will look replace Posey (5-game-susp.) and offensive POY Dane Sanzenbacher (NFL). Bauserman and Miller need someone to make plays for them if either is going to separate himself from the other as the clear No. 1 QB.

Even though OSU lost seven starters from their defense that was ranked in the top 5 statistically in most every key category, that's nothing new here.

The Buckeyes are constantly sending defensive playmakers to the NFL, and then consistently replacing them with a new crop of future NFL draftees on the defensive line, the secondary, and at linebacker.

If Akron gains more than 150-200 total yards, both sidelines might likely be surprised. In fact, as far as expectations go, most will be surprised if this game doesn't get ugly for the Zips.

However, there are a couple silver linings for Akron. First, their players are getting the experience of playing in front of 102,000+ fans and on national TV, and second, there's that nice payday for their trip down I-71.

So, despite what happens on the field, it's not all bad news for the kangaroos...


Ohio State—Akron History Lesson

• This will be the 8th all-time meeting between Ohio State and Akron.

• The last 20 Ohio State coaches are 19-0-1 in their debuts.

• Ohio State is 6-1 all-time vs. Akron, with the lone loss coming in 1894.

• Ohio State has won 32 straight home openers, by an average of 21 ppg.

• Ohio State has won 54 consecutive regular-season non-conference home games against teams not ranked in the AP Top 25.

• Ohio State is 108-8-4 all-time in home openers.

• Ohio State's defense has allowed just three 100-yard rushers in their last 35 games.

• Ohio State has allowed their opponent to fewer than 10 points 29 times since 2006.

• Ohio State is 27-1 all-time vs. MAC schools.

• Ohio State is 40-8 vs. non-conference opponents since 2001.

• Ohio State is 64-7 at home since 2001.

• Akron is 10-28 vs. non-conference opponents since 2001.

• Akron is 16-49 in road games since 2001.


Final Score Prediction

The bottom line in this one is Akron just isn't very good on either side of the ball right now, and the Buckeyes are overloaded every year with talent no matter their personnel losses.

Given the high level of motivation these coaches and players undoubtedly have from endlessly dealing with the negative headlines and doomsday predictions leading into this season, the following quote comes to mind:

"To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will" - Sugar Ray Robinson

Ohio State 42
Akron 7

---

---

This article is also featured on



Tweet



Click For The Block Nation Front Page


Image copyright of Jim Davidson / TheOzone.net (Used with permission)