re: CFB Week 1: "Big" match-ups

Urban Meyer, and the Ohio State coaches, didn't realize how good the Ohio State offensive line was by the Virginia Tech game last year, or maybe it hadn't gelled yet. Ohio State's play calling put to much dependence on the young QB, and he made numerous mistakes that cost Ohio State possessions and field position. Ohio State could have easily won that game with a Les Miles game plan of pounding it on the ground and field position.

Urban Meyer is no fool, and he knows he has better athletes than Virginia Tech. Ohio State is going to crush Virginia Tech. Ohio State will grind away offensively, and avoid the short fields that Virginia Tech took advantage of last year. Without those short fields I don't see Virginia Tech's offense being much of a threat to Ohio State. I think the Virginia Tech defense will be worn out by the 4th quarter, and Ohio State wins this game by 3 touchdowns.

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Urban Meyer, and the Ohio State coaches, didn't realize how good the Ohio State offensive line was by the Virginia Tech game last year, or maybe it hadn't gelled yet. Ohio State's play calling put to much dependence on the young QB, and he made numerous mistakes that cost Ohio State possessions and field position. Ohio State could have easily won that game with a Les Miles game plan of pounding it on the ground and field position.

Urban Meyer is no fool, and he knows he has better athletes than Virginia Tech. Ohio State is going to crush Virginia Tech. Ohio State will grind away offensively, and avoid the short fields that Virginia Tech took advantage of last year. Without those short fields I don't see Virginia Tech's offense being much of a threat to Ohio State. I think the Virginia Tech defense will be worn out by the 4th quarter, and Ohio State wins this game by 3 touchdowns.

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I think this is very possible

OSU missed 2 fgs and a couple of drops on for sure TDs. The OL was awful (if you want some laughs go to elevenwarriors and read some of the topics people are bumping from the day after tha game), and Barrett lost some confidence when his receivers dropped balls.

I hate to use the "we played Navy" excuse the week before, but it is a very real problem as evidenced by ND's record recently after playing them (I think 2-6 in the last 8 years)

I have the score at 45-17 or something of that nature. I think often a defending champ doesn't come out swinging early, but Meyer is going to light that fire since this is the only loss last year

Where will Minnesota get their points?

They had exactly two threats a year ago in Maxx Williams and David Cobb to bail out an extremely mediocre quarterback, who might even be considered below-average through the air. Those two are gone and the one player on Minnesota's offense that has made headlines this off-season is a RB that has made those headlines from the slot, not the backfield.

For a defense that lost all of their LBs, TCU is lucky they are facing a Minnesota offense that is likely to be pretty inept out of the gate without Williams and Cobb.

You may not trust the spread because Ohio State killed it in two games, but there is a world of a difference between Ohio State's capabilities to beat the spread against quality opponents and Minnesota's ability.

We should find out quickly how improved Michigan is under Harbaugh as they play Oregon State week 2 after Utah. Louisville Auburn should be interesting as well

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We should find out quickly how improved Michigan is under Harbaugh as they play Oregon State week 2 after Utah.

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I'd give the guy more than 2 weeks to determine how much of an improvement he is. He'll get that program going but it may be slow going at first.

Yeah I'm certainly not going to be making sweeping judgments on him based on that, but it will be interesting to watch since it's two P5 teams and I imagine Utah is supposed to be pretty good this year.

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Where will Minnesota get their points?

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Looking at the box score from last year, Leidner was 12-26 passing for 151 yards

Cobb ran 15 times for 41 yards and as a team Minnesota ran 40 times for 99 yards

Minnesota's first downfield pass of 10+ yards didn't happen until midway through the 3rd quarter

Minnesota's only points were scored via their backup QB in the 4th quarter

I don't see how Minnesota is going to score points. I know people will say "on the ground" but TCU is at the top of the NCAA in rush defense year in and year out. They need to throw the ball to move the ball on TCU's defense and I am not seeing how that will happen unless Leidner and the Minnesota receiving corps got exponentially better the past year

The game against Oregon State won't be good either. As much as I'd love to see Oregon State win, they lost 9 on defense and will probably have a true frosh qb.