Just watched the Buckeye's Spring Game...

[revefsreleets]

...and I have to say, they have to be considered front-runners for the NC yet again (and I know the hatahs will really hate on that), but hear me out.

They return 8 starters from the offense, and the offensive line looks more athletic to me than it did last year. Beenie Wells is coming off a 1600 yard year, and he was gimpy for half the season. He's definite Heisman candidate material. Boeckman should be improved, and I found it very interesting that Tressel was talking about running a Pony O (two RB's in the same backfield) which makes sense since they need to get Brandon Saine more involved this year. They will also be utilizing play action more, which is such a no-brainer considering the Buckeyes will still be a run-first team. I think the offense will be explosive this year.

On the other side of the ball, look out! The number 1 defense in the country should actually improve. The only significant loss is Vern Gholston, and Lawrence Wilson will be back this year, so expect little drop-off (Wilson can get after the QB, too, but he's a step up against the run). With so much experience in the secondary, they will be comfortable playing more man coverage, which will free up Lauranaitis and Grant to blitz a lot more this year. ST's will be excellent as always.

They'll have some tough games this year, since they play USC in LA, Wisconsin (who many have as NC contenders this year) in Camp Randall (one of the toughest venues in the Country) an ascending Illinois in Champaign, and an early trap game in Columbus vs Troy, but if they win out, no question they'll earn a berth to the big game for an unprecedented third year in a row.

Start cranking up the hate...we love it in Buckeye Country!

[lilyoder6]

Them having 8 starters from the offense return doesn't rly affect me.. they choked once and they'll choke again... i will say i do like wells and there d somewhat.. but still look at last yr and how crazy the yr was.. we could poss see another decent team like ku or mu get up near the top.. and so far i have heard that there are like 6 teams that could be in the NC... evryone has a chance..

[Jeremy]

Returning starters is one of the most overrated stats in all of sports.

That being said, if OSU can beat USC in LA they'll be playing for a MNC again this fall.

[millwalldavey]

I'm a Michigan Die-HArd... but I can recognize... I think they are the favorite. Maybe next year even.

[lilyoder6]

evryone is a fav... are there going to be 5 champions this yr???

[touchdownward]

Here is SI's preseason picks.
I also post this as an avid Georgia fan.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...=si_topstories

[revefsreleets]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Returning starters is one of the most overrated stats in all of sports.

That being said, if OSU can beat USC in LA they'll be playing for a MNC again this fall.

Proposterous ridiculousness yet again. Experienced LB's don't matter? Returning DB's overrated (especially in light of the fact that they will be expected to play more man)? Returning offensive lineman don't benefit from playing together? Another year of starting won't benefit Boeckman? Wells?

It's almost like you just take the contrarian view to mine just to be a complete....ah...I better be careful. Nobody cries louder and longer to the mods than you...

Oh, as far as choking, USC is the king program for choking under Carroll. It could be argued that they choked against Florida (actually, they were just outcoached), but they simply lost to the better team last year. That's not a choke...losing to Stanford at home is a choke.

[lilyoder6]

but sometimes aplayer shouldn't stay a yr more it could affect them in the draft.. but yes i see where it's good for the unity of line and so fourth.. but still 4 a team who has choked the past 2 NC them returning players doesn't mean anything to me.. except they may make another run but either A: won't get there or B: choke again

[Dino 6 Rings]

Personally, as a Pitt fan, I think one of the NT contenders will come out of the Big 12 this season. Lots of good QB play down there this year, on Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, its going to be very tough to prevent a Big 12 team from getting in. Oklahoma did get themselve "blacklisted" with 2 huge championship game losses, and I think, Ohio State will be in that boat. You can't keep getting shots without other teams getting into the voters head. If there is 1 undefeated, and it isn't Ohio State, and OSU has one loss, I'd look for a different 1 loss team to get in this season. Just feel that its time of OSU to go to the Rose Bowl and get a Bowl Win again before they are given another title shot.

But that's just me.

[revefsreleets]

Originally Posted by lilyoder6

but sometimes aplayer shouldn't stay a yr more it could affect them in the draft.. but yes i see where it's good for the unity of line and so fourth.. but still 4 a team who has choked the past 2 NC them returning players doesn't mean anything to me.. except they may make another run but either A: won't get there or B: choke again

Again, how do you choke if you are actually losing to the better team? They MAY have choked against Florida (but, see...when I tried to say the Buckeyes were the better football team, the SECheads were all in a tizzy...it can't be both ways), but LSU was just the better all-around footbal team last year. It's absurd to think that a Bucks team in a rebuilding year (and they were in a rebuilding year last year) losing a national championship game is a choke.

The Illinois loss was a choke, though.