OSU vs. MSU Preview Part 3

OSU vs. MSU, October 14, 3:36 PM
ABC Regional with Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bob Griese, Paul Maguire and Bonnie Bernstein

How OSU Did Last Week
OSU defeated Bowling Green, 35-7, last weekend in Columbus. OSU continues to be ranked #1 in all major polls, with a 6-0 record. In the game, Troy Smith was very accurate, hitting 17 of 20 for 191 yards and 3 touchdowns. In fact his 85% completion percentage for the game ranks third all-time in OSU history. He leads the Big-Ten and is 7th nationally with a passing efficiency of 170.6. Catching touchdown passes were Ginn, Small and Nicol. Antonio Pittman rushed for two touchdowns and 61 yards. Troy Smith had 54 yards on the ground, with his most exciting run occurring on a broken play on third and 25. It was a bad snap, and Smith ran towards the right sideline, then the left and back to the right. He was finally tackled by a cornerback at the 8-yard line. Ginn had a career high 10 catches for 122 yards, with one of those catches being a 57-yarder. OSU now leads the nation, limiting opponents to 9.8 points/game. The Buckeyes, knock on wood, have been fairly injury-free, with the exception of losing Free Safety Anderson Russell in the Iowa game. Two players left the BGSU game, but Tressel seemed confident they would return. Offensive tackle Kirk Barton and defensive tackle David Patterson both suffered injuries. Tressel says Patterson will miss a game or two after knee surgery, while Barton will be in the game Saturday.

What to Expect
Michigan State is down and hurt. At this point in the season, they are playing for a bowl game, which would require three more wins in the six remaining games. Ohio State has a lot more to lose this Saturday, so they can't give Michigan State a chance. As I mentioned earlier, Michigan State has twice beaten a #1 OSU team. I was at the game in 1998 and let me tell you, it still is painful to think about. I am a bit concerned about playing a team that is in a losing streak, because eventually that streak will end. However, Michigan State is not running on all cylinders. As you probably noticed in the scouting report, there are many injuries. The Spartans have a decent running game, but they are without their best running back. Stanton is the second leading rusher, but his bruised ribs will probably keep him from wanting to take too many hits past the line of scrimmage. Stanton will be challenged by the pressure of the OSU defenders. Here is his quote in reaction to the 12 times (yes 12 times) he was sacked in the game last season, "I felt like I got hit by a truck and I've never had that experience before. Those guys were constantly coming at you, and it wasn't necessarily their athleticism, it was their desire. That's one thing about Ohio State football -- they understand what it takes to be successful. They get it." I think Michigan State will add one to the loss column after this game. A point of concern for MSU is that they average 31.6 points/game while allowing 25.6 points/game. Look for a balanced running and passing game from OSU. I think Ginn will continue to improve his statistics as the season progresses. OSU has too many options at receiver for teams to continue to focus on Teddy.