As many of our readers know, I have been writing a college football column for several years at the Citizen. However, due to space constraints in our print edition and our essential focus on local high school sports, the column hasn't always been published.
This year, we're switching the college football coverage to the Internet with our new blog, The EG Citizen College Football Report, where we will be covering everything related to the greatest sport in America - College Football.
Right now I am at home in Woodland watching three games at once - Notre Dame crushing Michigan (sorry Dan); Purdue and Oregon in a great game; and Georgia-South Carolina, which is a typical, tough-as-heck SEC match-up.
I didn't get to my usual picks in time, so this week I am sticking to night games because there are three biggies involving Midwest teams against West Coast teams.
This is a night of not only cross-country pigskin rivalry, but also cultural bragging rights. Midwest hard-working football is coming West to show all these Hollywood types what real gridiron action is. It's a theme today as Oregon visited Purdue; California got stomped by Maryland; and Washington State got trounced by Baylor.
Tonights Picks:
Ohio State at USC
The Buckeyes will ride their veteran defense to dominate a rookie-laden Trojan offensive line and inexperienced receiving corps and come away with the big road win. Beanie Wells may not play, but look for three things from the Buckeyes:
1.) Stifling defense. Look, half the starters will be first-round NFL picks next year and have played in every big game in college football the past three seasons. They're the only ones in history to play three No. 1 vs. No. 2 games in the same season. (2006 - OSU @ Texas; OSU v. Mich.; OSU v. Florida). The d-line is awesome with athletic Lawrence Wilson, stud Cameron Heyward, and Nader Abdallah. James Laurinaitis and the Buckeye secondary will shut down any big plays. Look for three turnovers grabbed by the Buckeye Silver Bullets. Sanchez has done nothing in his career as a USC starter and will suffer some limited mobility and fragility from his pre-season injury.
2.) Terrelle Pryor and Maurice Wells will lead the Buckeyes with 100 yards rushing and a touchdown each. Look for many sets with Pryor in the pistol alomng with Wells, super-fast Saine, or stud-to-be Herron. The Buckeye receiving corps is deep, and filled with NFL talent. I suspect today Jim "The Senator" Tressel will utilize Jake Ballard a lot. He's tall, fast, can block and catch and creates mismatches in the secondary and across the middle. Tight end is a weak spot on USC's offense, which aids the Buckeyes. The second team offensive line will play a lot - SAY: Adams, Shugarts, and Brewster. Remember Texas '06? I do.
3.) Special Teams: Pete "LA Story" Carroll will be the first to admit, their special teams play - punts in particular - are not up to par. Jim Tressel stresses special teams and after a poor year in that department in 2007, the Buckeyes are looking to return to the excellence of one of their team staples - all facets of special teams. Ray Small got a big boost of confidence - as well as a humbling embarrassment in the media for his USC comments - and will redeem himself with a punt or kick return touchdown and a lot of return yardage, resulting in good Ohio State field position.
BOTTOM LINE: THe Buckeyes have the edge in veteran leadership and experience. Those areas of dominance will be shown in the critical area of offensive line play. USC's offensive line is young and sparse. Ohio State has been experimenting with rotating two sets of lineman for the past three to four years - and will do it today and dominate in the run without Beanie Wells. The Buckeye defense will get three sacks and three turnovers and create excellent field play - in combo with special teams play - for the offense.
BUCKEYES 38 - USC 17.
Other Games:
Look for Wisconsin to blast Fresno State. The score will be somewhere in the area of 45-21, Badgers. PJ Hill and that cheese-loving offensive line will rack up 300 yards on the ground.
Oklahoma could find one of two things in Seattle - a demoralized Washington team that the Sooners romp all over; or a motivated team from last week's debacle who gives them a game. I am betting on demoralized.
Oklahoma 38, Washington 10.
Jeff Forward
Citizen College Football Writer
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