2007 BIG TEN PREVIEW: OHIO ST.

Eight teams down, three to go with Big Ten Media Day just 48 hours away. As much as it pains us to do this, it's time to break down Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

2006 Record: 12-1 (8-0 Big Ten)
Projected 2007 Finish: 3rd
Returning Starters: 11
Head Coach: Jim Tressel
Best Player: LB James Laurinaitis

5 Reasons for Optimism:
- As ESPN noted, Ohio St. is the 2nd best program in the country
- Laurinaitis already won the Nagurski Award - Man, we hate that guy...
- If he stops fumbling, Chris "Beanie" Wells will put up MONSTER numbers
- As always, Tressel is guaranteed to pull at least 2 wins out of his ass
- Considered a weakness at the start, OSU finished 5th in scoring defense

5 Reasons for Pessimism:
- Unless extension is reached, Tressel's deal with devil set to expire soon
- Take a sneak peak at QB Todd Boeckman (skip to 1:10 mark) - Yikes...
- 'D' looked like a huge fraud by allowing 80 points in final two games
- Huge drop off at WR from Ginn & Gonzalez to Robiskie & Small
- Play @ Penn St., vs. Wisconsin and @ Michigan in the span of 4 weeks

Realety:
The Buckeyes won't be very good to start the year but it won't matter with this kind of schedule (don't even get us started about the Buckeyes starting the season with Tressel's old school, D-IAA Youngstown St.). OSU should start 8-0 again, as Columbus will be going nuts about another BCS title game appearance. But finishing with PSU, Wisco, Illinois and Big Blue, expect the Bucks to split their last four games. If, however, Tressel survives the final month of the season undefeated and beats Michigan for the sixth time in seven tries, there's going to be a mass suicide watch in Ann Arbor on November 17th.


Oh, I'm gonna puke...