Vegas currently has APP-9 over OHIO in the bowl game. Don't know much about OHIO yet, but is that a little high considering our recent sharpness?

It's higher than I expected. I thought we'd be favored by maybe 3-4 (not that I'm any expert). Sagarin does rate us as an 8 point favorite.

Guess it depends on how much you expect some of the sloppiness to carry over. Theoretically, I would think fumbling would be relatively easy to clean up, and otherwise we've actually been pretty dominant lately.

Vegas always comes out of the gates on the high side. The game is 12 days out. The line will likely drop down to around 5 and finish around 7.

I would prefer to be the underdog

AppOrange wrote:I would prefer to be the underdog

Why? To my knowledge we have been favored in every game this year other than Clemson.

I am fine being the favorite and the spread is okay as well. If we can't get fired up and give 100% for this game all that stuff doesn't matter. The mistakes made last Saturday were beyond belief. Hopefully our O-line will be at full strength and we will pound them with our two headed monster. Man we should have arguably one of the best stable of running backs in the country next season.

Interesting because we have had "turnover-itis" the last 3-4 games we are only +2 in turnover margin.

yosef13 wrote:

AppOrange wrote:I would prefer to be the underdog

Why? To my knowledge we have been favored in every game this year other than Clemson.

I feel like Ohio is a little better than us from a depth standpoint and I have always liked the way we play when the other team is favored against us (not P5). I like the mental game when we are picked to loose and come out and stick it to the opponent. I think stAte was the same way, a very even team with us, yet came in the big underdog and wiped us in the second half when a few injuries and turnovers went their way. This will be a big and more athletic team then most we have played and I want every advantage necessary, including mental.

Our spreads have seemed ridiculously high since the GaSo beatdown. I think it was around 12 for the Ark St game. I would've expected it to be 13-14 for Ohio but I'm glad it's more reasonable.

Ohio is a good team but not a great team.... we are better running the ball they are a hair better throwing. Defensively, we are better at both stopping the run and pass than they are.
Here are some quick stats:

Ohio APP
scoring O 27 37
scoring D 24 18
total O 426 469
total D 373 318
run O 187 267
run D 157 133
pass O 238 201
pass D 216 184


This is a workman-like team.... nothing fancy. They have no rb in the league's top 10...kind od reminds me of like the old Furman teams in the '80s. If we can stay away the from net 3 loss
turnover game.... this is a very winnable game.

Turnovers will be key. If our RBs can keep a hold of the ball inside the red zone, I like our chances.

We are only +2 in the turnover ratio. The last 3 games we have uncharacteristically turned it over multiple times.

The turnovers that have been made would be back breakers against comparable opponents. If we commit the same type against Ohio they most certainly will capitalize and beat us. To lose a fumble on the one yard line (twice) was unreal. I didn't see the Cox run on the opening drive but the radio guys said he fumbled. Did it just go out of bounds? Even still, can't have that from our backs.

Ohio has been running the ball much better the last four games, averaging 250 yards/game. Sounds like they had a lot of injuries in the middle of the year and are very healthy now.

This is going to be a test for our boys. They are an excellent 3rd down team on both sides, top 40 in TO margin and time of possession, while playing a tougher schedule.

bigdaddyg wrote:I didn't see the Cox run on the opening drive but the radio guys said he fumbled. Did it just go out of bounds? Even still, can't have that from our backs.

He went down out of bounds and fumbled there, therefore, no harm - no foul on that one.

One thing is for certain, we better not have four tunovers come the 19th or we're done.

Dating back to last season, I have seen our backs try to stretch it out to break the plane or hit the pylon in the corner of the endzone many times. I don't know if they are being coached to do this or just get caught up in the moment and try to make a play. However, after losing 2 in the endzone last week, I am ready for us to just get tougher inside the 5 and keep the drive going to score.

Unless they have "Cam" hands I would recommend just tucking it and trying to score the old fashioned way. If one of our backs gets stopped on the one yard line then punch it in. Losing the ball right before the plane is killer.

Even if you don't punch it in, 3 points is better than 0.

4 turnovers last week. Two probably cost us 14 points, and the other two they capitalized on with 10 points. You will not beat good teams doing this. Got to protect the rock...

The two fumbles at the goal line certainly removed 14 points from our score. The muffed kick off gave USA a short field and led to an easy score. It's amazing we wont the game given the amount of help we gave USA.