Week #7: Kent State Open Thread

In a year of improbable upsets and amazing finishes, there have ceased to be many “gimme” games. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, this game against Kent State is most certainly one of them. A tasty little morsel before they bulldoze the rest of the Big Ten en route to a date with destiny.

First thing to get out of the way: Kent State’s head coach said that he wouldn’t play his starters the whole game so he could rest them for the rest of their upcoming (an extremely grueling) MAC schedule. What could be the impetus behind this? Is he prematurely conceding defeat? Yeah, probably, but that was conceded when they signed on the dotted line when this game was scheduled. He’s just reaffirming it. Are they challenging for the MAC title? Maybe, but it doesn’t look like it. Why would he do this? Seems like he’s making a big mistake. This may be the only chance some of these guys get to play in the Horsehoe in front of an hundred-thousand fans. It would be disappointing, especially if you’re an Ohio boy, for your coach to limit your time in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Add on top of that the number of improbable upsets where a team had no business winning the game did so. Haven’t Appalachian State, Colorado, Stanford, et al taught us anything? Come on, Coach Martin! Do the right thing.

Second thing to get to: Previews. You want ’em, you love ’em, we link ’em. Buckeye Planet, Eleven Warriors, our own stats on common opponents, and The O-Zone .

This game is on the Big Ten Network. I guess you Time Warner people are still out of luck, right? (Maybe more than you think) I personally have WOW and they just added BTN a couple weeks ago. But no HD BTN! Adding it this late in the season was too little, too late if you ask me.

Finally, the questions. I’m keeping this short and simple.

• Final Score?
• Will Ohio State finally record that elusive shutout? If not, why?
• Will someone buy Anderson Russell some Stick ‘um?

el Kaiser
Final Score: OSU: 38 Kent State: 0
Shutout? Yup. See above.
Russell’s hands: I hope he does something. Maybe Little Animal can loan him his leather magnets from last year.

sportsMonkey
Final Score: OSU: 31 Kent State: 0
Shutout? Yes, the defense will pitch its third shutout of the year.
Russell’s hands: You gotta think statistics alone would require it happening sometime. He can’t drop them all, can he?

Sylvester Yon-Rambo
Final Score: OSU: 45 Kent State: 0
Shutout? The only way we dont get a shutout is that we will give up a kickoff return or punt return for a TD,
Russell’s hands:I think he will get 2 this weekend. They will both be in the first half.

I am leaving tonight heading to State College, PA with some guys from church. I will get to watch the Buckeyes’ game in one of their RVs. Thank goodness for satellites on RVs so I can see a Big Ten Network game. I will also have some major insight into both PSU and Wisconsin and will be the MotSaG man on the inside.