SB Nation User Blog: Law Buckeye

OPC Bowl Edition Scoreboard - 1/8

Law Buckeye — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:30:45 -0000

Tonight's the big night. We'll announce the winner of the Obligatory Predictions Competition tomorrow afternoon. Until then, here's your current board. Pay special attention to where Graham (co-founder of The Rivalry, Esq.) sits. A dead last finish might disqualify him from making above-the-masthead predictions next season. At the very least, we'll make sure he puts a take this with a grain of salt disclaimer on every post that borders on prognostication from now on.

1. FSUncensored	72
2. Estrada	64
2. Law Buckeye (+1)	64
3. Bama Hawkeye (+1)	60
4. Cubs2k8isnxyearPicks (+1)	55
5. PaternosGrandaughter (+2)	52
6. Lady Bama Hawkeye	49
7. Lakeeriemonster (+1)	46
8. Blackops (+1)	43
9. BaconNinja (+1)	42
10. Studbucket (+2)	37
11. Grahamfiller10 (-1)	36

(+/- Denotes change in rank from previous standings.)

The Rivalry Travels: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Phoenix, AZ) - I Don't Know Who Is The Best Team In the Country, But It Ain't Texas

Law Buckeye — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:54:50 -0000

Hats off to the stoic Ohio State defense and quick-strike Texas offense that delivered a Tostitos Fiesta Bowl worthy of the ages.

But let's get something painfully, predominately straight: The Longhorns aren't the best team in the country, they're not even close.

Sure, Texas is guilty-by-association, catching the scarlet and gray on the up-swing; but let's face it: they struggled -- badly; the great no-huddle offense and Heisman Laureate quarterback stumbling to put together successful drives, riding penalties, and miss-sets to victory.

Meanwhile, Ohio State, with it's garden 2-stroke little engine that could, put up almost as many points -- coming back and pushing the burnt orange to their absolute edge.

I'll have a lot more to say when this beer buzz wears off, and I sleep for twelve hours, but for now let's agree:

1. No one in their damn minds is voting the Texas Longhorns No. 1 in the Associated Press Poll.

Why? Because other teams deserve it more: namely Utah, USC, and the winner of Thursday night's suddenly less interesting barnburner.

2. Oklahoma is in big trouble.

The Big 12 has been exposed for what it is: an experiment in nuclear fission. When they play real man coverage, they melt.

3. Our quarterback caught a touchdown pass.

Time for the pillowcase.

The Rivalry Travels: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Phoenix, AZ) - Can OSU stop the Rodeo?

Law Buckeye — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:11:50 -0000

Morning; game day. I wake to find a surprisingly thick mountain of fog laid out over the desert, turning a landscape of pastels into something out of an Edgar Allen Poe short story.

I take this as a good sign. Columbus' trademark pillow grey sky has come to drown the west.

We're off to Mesa for breakfast at a small, family-owned restaurant we discovered in 2006.

Are they ready? I think so.

But can they stop the Rodeo? This, I'm not so sure of. I think we have yet to see this Ohio State secondary, plush with All-American Malcolm Jenkins, truly disembowel a hearty pass attack. The Bucks allow an average of 187.4 aerial yards on the road -- good enough to place seventh nationally, but they haven't faced a pass engine anywhere close to that of the tenth best Longhorns. (Illinois is the next closest, at twentieth).

The key for the defense, naturally, is locking onto Jordan Shipley and staying the hell with him. If the scarlet can take this all-purpose weapon out of contention, Texas will be without a true decoy, and will become strikingly more predictible.

We've got the talent, but I'll believe it when I see it.

After breakfast we're off to the stadium. Coverage in the east begins at 8:00 p.m.

Here's hoping we show up. I can deal with a loss -- we just need to compete. Go Bucks!

The Rivalry Travels: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Phoenix, AZ) - Can Beanie do it one more time?

Law Buckeye — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:53:27 -0000

So the word on the streets is that the key unanswered question hanging over the head of tomorrow's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl match is whether Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells can get any traction on the ground against Texas' rush defense, a unit that ranks second in the country (allowing a scarce 73.58 yards per game)?

Burnt Orange Nation, predicts that Beanie will stumble, limping to just 115 yards on 21 carries -- a mark bolstered by a 30 yard "pop" that "boosts" the final total.

You mean, like this:

Or this:

The thing is, I haven't seen a single defensive configuration that has absolutely disrupted Beanie's ability to break into the backfield.

lf anyone were capable, it would have been Louisiana State last year who brought a virtual Stalingrad; a super line, anchored by Defensive Tackle Glen Dorsey and Defensive End Tyson Jackson. Though second-half adjustments neutralized Well's overall effectiveness, the Tigers got cut.

Which begs the question? Can Texas do any better?

The key here is to throw out the medals, and focus on what the Longhorns -- who competed in the rush-adverse Big 12 -- did against quality ground attacks.

They faced two: Oklahoma State, who rank eighth nationally in rushing yards, and Oklahoma, who rate seventeenth.

The Cowboys laid down 217 yards against the Horns. The Sooners managed just 48.

So it's clear, if these OSU Buckeyes can rush like those OSU Coyboys, Ohio State's offense will have the freedom to pick on the Longhorns through the air. It's something they'd love to do, as Around the Oval reports, Texas' pass defense ranks an embarassing 108th nationally. They're also 60th in pass efficiency D.

But, if the Bucks can't open lanes, they're dead in the water -- as a predictible Jim Bollman attack stalls on the line.

When on vacation, the Rivalry Drinks...

Silver Palm Cabernet Savingnon (2005 North Coast). Self-described as "sumptuous," and "seamless," this Cab lacks the structure of its Napa brethern -- but trades bite for poise; with a rich cinema-palace velvet seat texture, and ripe plum overtones.

Enjoy a glass around a fire pit, and watch the Coyote dance.

OPC Bowl Edition Scoreboard - 1/4

Law Buckeye — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:40:33 -0000

We're coming down the home stretch. Just three games separate FSUncensored from unbridled notoriety, immortal fame, and one phenomenally average trophy.

1. FSUncensored	69
2. Estrada	63
3. Law Buckeye (-1)	61
4. Bama Hawkeye (-1)	57
5. Cubs2k8isnxyearPicks (-1)	49
6. Lady Bama Hawkeye (-1)	48
7. PaternosGrandaughter (-1)	47
8. Lakeeriemonster (-1)	45
9. Blackops (-2)	43
10. BaconNinja (-2)	39
11. Grahamfiller10 (-2)	35
12. Studbucket (-2)	34

(+/- Denotes change in rank from previous standings.)

Want to Know What It's Like at the Fiesta?

Law Buckeye — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:31:25 -0000

Read, The Rivalry Esq.'s on location account of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Stuck with three days of golf, Mexican food, margaritas, and cigars under the stars, we're attempting to keep the curious homestead abreast of the scene leading up to and during the bowl.

Everything from philosophy, food, and football is fair game. So, whether you want to eat, drink, and be merry, or just know thy enemy, it's worth checking out.

The Rivalry Travels: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Phoenix, AZ) - Is the Big 12 South Anything Special?

Law Buckeye — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:00:34 -0000

Greetings from the hazy sandstone splendor of JW Marriott's Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. This half of The Rivalry, Esq. has braved multiple connections, NWA snack boxes, and jet lag to reach the Valley of the Sun. Now, I'm stuck with three days of golf, Mexican food, margaritas, and cigars under the stars.

It's tough to be an underdog.

Outside the JW Marriott, Phoenix.

We landed at Sky Harbor last night a little after 9:30 p.m. I was surprised and slightly encouraged to see a decent number of scarlet and grey clad-faithful at the baggage carosel. Like the Buckeyes this is my third trip to Phoenix in almost as many years. In 2005, I watched A.J. Hawk keep it all in the family as Ohio State buried Notre Dame -- celebrating afterwards at Roy's to the chagrin of the entire Irish team who happened to be staying at our hotel. The next year, I reaped what I had sown, bowing out of the cheap cinder block palace (The University of Phoenix Stadium) that replaced the more authentic Sun Devil stadium in the wake of the shocking collapse of our great dynasty. Hungry and depressed, we wondered into a T.G.I. Fridays by the airport, drowning our sorrows with cheap corn drafts and $1.50 sliders.

And now, we're back to this cherished, purple postseason home.

I'll do my best over the coming days to keep the curious homestead abreast of the scene leading up to and during the bowl. I'll also cover the philosophical politics leading up to the game. For our first entry:

Is the Big 12 South a Great Imposter?

A few days ago on the site, having just witnessed Northwestern's coming within inches of upseting Missouri, I wrote the following:

Is the Big 12 an illusion; a league of miniature, one-dimensional facades more suited for Hollywood backlots than cross-conference challenges?

Since then, No. 13 Oklahoma State got the big stiff by Oregon. No big deal, right? After all, the Ducks were playing their best ball of the season coming into the Holiday Bowl.

But then, No. 8 Texas Tech was outed in an equally embarrassing way, this time at the hands of twenty-fifth and defensively-minded Mississippi.

And suddenly, the Big 12 South -- the model for kinetic football in 2008 -- is 0 for 2 in favored matchups.

This gets a Buckeye thinking. Could it be that the league that enjoyed five of the top ten total offenses in the nation only got there because it didn't have a single team that ranked in the top fifty on defense? Or, is it simply that the no-huddle leads to more plays on the front end, and accordingly, more yards on the back end?

I don't think there's a clear answer. But one thing that can't be denied is that, at present, the Emperor has no clothes.

When in Phoenix...

Drive North to the small, rural cantina that is Cave Creek to dine at El Encanto, a wonderful rustic watering hole that features authentic Mexican cusine, oversized frozen margaritas, and al fresco, waterside seating on a terra cotta sidewalk that wraps around a man-made duck pond.

Patio nights at the El Encanto.

We first discovered the Encanto in 2003, and never miss the chance to spend an evening on the patio with cold draft beer and homemade fire-roasted salsa. The Rivalry, Esq. recommends Camarones de Tequila con Limon: five jumbo shrimp based in fresh garlic, citrus, and Sauza Gold Tequila, simply grilled on a easy bed of corn rice and local vegetables.

Is the Big 10 Really as Bad as it Seems?

Law Buckeye — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:41:29 -0000

I leave tonight for Phoenix where I'll report amidst the purple rocks on the build up to No. 10 Ohio State's Tostitos' Fiesta Bowl Clash with No. 3 Texas. Before packing my bags for the largely symbolic celebration, let's inventory our conference's bowl stock.

It's hard to argue with 1-5, but I'd like to suggest that the Big Brutes have actually performed admirably in light of disparities in matchups. If you're the kind of person who likes to take notes here's what I'd write down:

The Great: Iowa's 31-10 impaling of SEC scapegoat South Carolina in yesterday's bacon and eggs Outback Bowl. The Hawkeyes controlled virtually every aspect of the contest; capitalizing on Garcia's hilarious inability to read simple coverages, and manhandling the line of scrimmage. Kirk Ferentz's blond boys looked powerful and in control.

The Good: No. 23 Northwestern's showing against No. 21 Missouri and it's "national championship" caliber offense and playmakers. The Wildcats dominated the first quarter and a half of play: picking on Mizzou's miserable secondary and keeping them honest up front. Pat Fitzgerald coached the purple to within a drive of searing the win and the Big 12's reputation. (See also Michigan State's solid showing against a simply more talented Georgia team).

The Bad: Wisconsin's slowpoke strategy versus Florida State. Wisky demanded respect for two quarters before burying itself in a mountain of turnovers and reminding us why they lost four straight in conference. The especially bad: Coach Bret Bielema's sneeringly ill-fated response to halftime reporters: "They don't want anything to do with (the running game). We're going to keep giving it to them." He might have been more honest if he was talking about the ball. (See also Minnesota's second half collapse against Kansas).

The Bad (Take 2): No. 8 Penn State's backwards blundering against the NFC West (ahem, Pac 10) Champion USC Trojans. Sure, they played four whole quarters, and didn't quit when it looked like they might be turned into pillars of salt by the stratospheric talent differential, but I'm not here to sugar coat things. The Nittany Lions were the epitome of uncool: from Daryl Clark's soft in the belly shyness after a successful quarterback draw led to Penn State's only first half points, to Joe Pa's falling asleep at the wheel strategy late in the game (i.e. opting for a field goal down 14-38 with 7:22 left to play). The apparent justification? He wanted to give Kevin Kelly the chance to kick a field goal in a Rose Bowl Game. Aww, shucks, that's nice.

No wonder the Lions were wearing white: it's universal for "we surrender."

On the Other Hand: Can you blame them? Let's face it: when they come to play USC competes on another level. With nine out of eleven defensive starters primed to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft we're not exactly comparing apples to apples. In my opinion, praise for this victory belongs to Pete Carroll and what he's done over the past seven seasons. USC has continuously and systematically obliterated and exposed apparent "equals," drawing from a common pool of talent. It's no secret that the Trojans were one game away from playing for and winning it all and if your head still hurts when you try to figure out how they lost to friggin' Oregon State remember this axiom I first wrote in September:

Columbus can't slay the dragon, Los Angeles can't swat the fly.

What's really happened here is that the Big 10 has been unevenly yoked from top to bottom in this bowl season and Ohio State and its maniacal fan base (myself included) is to blame.

I'm convinced that the conference is a more competitive entity across the board and (with the exception of Wisconsin) can escape the post-season David and Goliath gauntlet with its head up, having gained the invaluable experience of trial by fire.

Oh yeah, and we've still got the Buckeyes.

Is anyone holding their breath?

OPC Bowl Edition Scoreboard - 1/1

Law Buckeye — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:25:37 -0000

Happy New Year (Iowa). Almost Counts for Something (Michigan State). Hate to say I told you so (Penn State).

1. FSUncensored	63
2. Law Buckeye	60
2. Estrada (+1)	60
3. Bama Hawkeye (+3)	56
4. Cubs2k8isnxyearPicks (+4)	49
5. Lady Bama Hawkeye (-1)	48
6. PaternosGrandaughter (+1)	47
7. Lakeeriemonster (-2)	43
7. Blackops (+2)	43
8. BaconNinja (-3)	38
9. Grahamfiller10 (+1)	35
10. Studbucket (+1)	33

(+/- Denotes change in rank from previous standings.)

OPC Bowl Edition Scoreboard - 12/31

Law Buckeye — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:39:49 -0000

The good guys improve to 0-3.

1. FSUncensored	46
2. Law Buckeye (+1)	43
3. Estrada (-1)	41
4. Lady Bama Hawkeye (-1)	39
5. BaconNinja (-2)	35
5. Lakeeriemonster	35
6. Bama Hawkeye (-2)	34
7. PaternosGrandaughter (-1)	32
8. Cubs2k8isnxyearPicks (-1)	28
9. Blackops (-5)	28
10. Grahamfiller10 (-4)	27
11. Studbucket (-3)	23

(+/- Denotes change in rank from previous standings.)

Crystal Ball Call: HOUSTON by 6 (Cubs2k8isnxyearPicks). This perfect spread couldn't have come at a more perfect time. UH 34, Air Force 28.

Honorable mention: VANDY by... 7 (Law Buckeye, FSUncensored), 14 (Estrada), 9 (PaternosGrandaughter), 3 (Lakeeriemonster). Kudos to the Commodores for netting their first bowl win in 53 years. Don't forget this was an upset pick. Vanderbilt 16, BC 14.

Hindsight is 20-20: GEORGIA TECH by 10 (Cubs2k8isnxyearPicks). You win some, you lose some. Unfortunately for the triple option, it was Clemson/Alabama all over again in the home dome. LSU 38, GT 3.