And now for the moment we’ve all be waiting for: The Final Round of the 2012 Ohio State Buckeyes Football Moment Bracket.

It was kind of a foregone conclusion that Braxton’s last-second touchdown heave was going to make it to the final round. We’ve exhausted hundreds of words on it already, speaking its praises. It has it all: Freshman heroics, last gasp finishes, beating Bret Bielma. But for me, it’s the backyard, “you go long, you go short, you go long” feel to it that brings it really home. Braxton’s little improvisation wave off that just moves it into Legendary Status. Let’s watch it one more time, for old time’s sake:

#1 Braxton Miller’s Touchdown Throw against Wisconsin:

VS.

Braxton’s opponent is formidable, indeed. Because we are Ohio State fans, we love us some stout defenses, and nothing is better than a potential game-saving goal line stand. Especially against those odious Penn State Nittany Lions. The game didn’t end in our favor, but at least there’s not a crater where our football program used to be, so I guess we’ve got that going for us.

Again, just watch Ryan Shazier and don’t be surprised if your face melts off.

#3 Ohio State’s Defensive Goal Line Stand against Penn State

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Around the time the Buckeyes tip-off for their Sweet Sixteen match-up against Cinicinatti, we’ll be kicking off the second round of the Football Moment Bracket. So before then, here’s the rundown one more time in case you haven’t had a chance to vote:

#1 Braxton’s TD Throw (Wisc) vs. #16 Bauserman’s TD Run (Akron)
#2 Braxton’s 81 YD Run (Indiana) vs. #15 Will Hagerup’s Botched Snap (Michigan)
#3 Goal Line Stand (PSU) vs. #14 Carlos Hyde’s TD Run (Nebraska)
#4 Evan Spencer’s One Handed Grab (Akron) vs. #13 Stoneburner’s TD Catch (Nebraska)
#5 Posey’s One Handed Catch (PSU) vs. #12 Stoneburner’s One Handed Catch (Toledo)
#6 Braxton’s TD Run (Michigan) vs. #11 Shazier’s Punt Block (Wisc)
#7 Braxton’s TD Throw (Purdue) vs. #10 Boom’s Long Run (Wisc)
#8 Urban Meyer Announced as Head Coach vs. #9 Braxton to Posey TD (Michigan)

Round One: #2 Seed Braxton Miller’s 81 yard run against Indiana vs. #15 Seed Will Hagerup’s Botched Snap.

The botched snap probably would have been seeded higher if it had been the difference in the game against Michigan. (It’s already the greatest animated GIF and will probably win the SB Nation GIF bracket going away. But here it’s just a 15-seed.) At the time, it looked like this single play was going to turn the tide, shift the momentum Ohio State’s way and send thousands of Michigan fans home after yet another loss to Ohio State. Instead, it was just another heated play in the heated rival.

Braxton’s 81 yard run, however, was much more than that.

#2 Braxton’s 81 YD Run (Indiana)

VS.

#15 Will Hagerup’s Botched Snap (Michigan)

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By: Phil Schoch, Twitter me @osuphil95

Each week in this spot, we squint and peer at the college football landscape – the storylines, point spreads and match-ups – and predict each B1G game as well as a few national spotlight games.

Backsliding Again.

After leveling out on the season at 49-49 against the spread, Pick ’em & Tidbits lost its mojo in Week 9 and carded a meager 2-5 against the spread and 5-2 straight up. The PM Stukenburg Fearless Prediction was a flop once again as Penn State demolished the Flailin’ Illini, 38-0. The yearly totals stand at 51-54 against the spread (48.6%) and 79-26 straight up (75.2%).

JT & the Bye-Week Blues.

Twitter, blogs, fan bases, sports radio blowhards and writers across the nation weighed in with their definitive opinions and takes. One extreme nailed JT to the cross and called for Pontius Meyer to name Barabbas as the starting QB. The other extreme dismissed the OVI as he’s just a kid (he’s not) and he made a college mistake. As usual, the truth and consequences fall in the middle.

Best of luck and health to Jerry Kill.

Between the time my Week 9 article was submitted for review and went public last week, Jerry Kill held his tear-jerker press conference announcing his retirement due to ongoing health issues. Kill announced his retirement and two hours later, my article – critical of Kill and the Gophers for underachieving in 2015 – was released. The outpouring of emotion and respect from both the coaching and media communities certainly proves the level of esteem with which Coach kill is held. Due to the timing of the article release, I felt like Michael Richards in his cameo appearance in the movie, So I Married an Axe Murderer. NSFW Alert – Mild Language.

November is for Contenders.

When the leaves began to fall and the first frost coated the Midwestern plains, legendary Buckeye coach Jim Tressel was fond of saying (I’m paraphrasing), ‘October is for beer, brats and Trick or Treat candy, but November is for contenders.’ The calendar has rolled over to November, so let’s take a conference-by-conference look at the glut of contenders, their remaining schedules and project a College Football Playoff foursome.

BIG XII

Despite the lack of a conference title game, the Big XII is set up for a compelling, four team, round robin playoff. Because of the conference’s aversion to defense, I don’t see any of these four sliding through unbeaten. Baylor is breaking in a new quarterback. Oklahoma lost to 3-5 Texas. TCU had near misses against Texas Tech and Kansas State. Who trusts Oklahoma State’s defense? As long as one of these teams is 11-1 at the end of the season, I think they are getting in this year. Why not TCU?

SEC

The winner of the SEC is a lock (almost) to make the Final 4. The fly in the SEC ointment is 2-loss Ole Miss. The Rebels (and LSU) control their own destiny in the SEC West. Does a 2-loss SEC champ get in? Does a 1-loss divisional runner up (Alabama) get in? Florida has a manageable route to playing for the SEC title with 1-loss. A lot of football to be played, but I’ll predict an SEC title and Final 4 appearance for LSU.

ACC

Barring an epic letdown-loss, Clemson is the safe pick to advance to the Final 4.

B1G

Barring a repeat of Michigan’s 1969 colossal upset of undefeated and defending champion Ohio State, look for the Buckeyes to roll into Indianapolis and expose Iowa in the B1G Championship game.

PAC 12

Stanford is the West Coast’s last semi-legitimate chance to crack the Final 4. I don’t see it happening.

Independent

It’s time for Notre Dame’s preferential treatment to end. Force them to join a conference by cutting off their access to the Final 4!

Wildcard Longshots

The continents will reconnect to reform Pangaea before an undefeated American Athletic Conference champion makes the Final 4 before a group of 1-loss blue bloods.

Pick ’em & Tidbits Final 4 Prediction… Ohio State, Clemson, LSU and TCU.

Saturday, November 8, 2015

Around the B1G…

Pick ’em says… Penn State (7-2) and Northwestern (6-2) are playing for bowl positioning. Christian Hackenburg has found a receiver who can snare his wayward throws and arm punts in Chris Godwin. Nits, 20-17.

From 1966 – 2012, legendary Minster (Ohio) resident, Paul ‘P.M.’ Stukenborg (pictured above) posted his weekly sports predictions in the hometown paper, The Community Post. Each week, Pick ’em will make a P.M. Stukenborg Fearless Prediction and call for an underdog to to knock off the favorite.

Pick ’em says… The Boilers 55-45 victory over Nebraska was their first home B1G win in Darrell Hazell’s three-year tenure. Illinois is fading. Boiler up! 24-22.

Pick ’em says… The Hawkeyes have been consistent and efficient on their path to 8-0. The Hoosiers have been injury and turnover-prone on their path to another unmemorable season. Iowa, 27-20.

Pick ’em says… To their credit, the Terps haven’t completely phoned it in. They just aren’t any good. Badgers, 34-17.

Pick ’em says… After another blowout loss, Rutgers coach Kyle Flood sleeps with the fishes. Michigan, 38-10.

Pick ’em says… It’s the too-good-to-be-true point spread of the week. The Huskers are 3-6 and the Spartans are 8-0. Somebody knows something that we don’t know. Spartans, 24-17.

Pick ’em says… 1 yard. 19 seconds. 1 timeout. The Gophers blew the opportunity for a major feel good/rivalry/momentum victory. Their emotional tank has to be on E. Look for the Buckeyes to rally around Cardale Jones in his return. Buckeyes, 31-13.

National Spotlight Games

 Pick ’em says… It’s the biggest game in the ACC most seasons and 2015 is no different. What is different is that everyone expects Clemson to roll. Be careful Dabo. Tigers 27-24.

Pick ’em says… The Big XII round robin tournament starts this week. Both Okie State and TCU have one quality-ish win apiece – they both defeated Texas Tech. I just don’t trust the Cowboys on the big-ish stage. Frogs 45-35.

Pick ’em says… LSU has two quality wins (at Miss State & Florida). Bama has two solid wins (Wisconsin & at Georgia). Alabama’s offense is the weakest of the four major units and it’s about time Les Miles goes voodoo priest-mode on the big stage. Tigers, 23-17.

By: Phil Schoch, Twitter me @osuphil95

Each week in this spot, we look at college football’s point spreads and match-ups and predict each B1G game as well as a few national spotlight games.

WOW! What a finish! Sparty… YES! The euphoria and ensuing celebration of a monumental Michigan loss has become a sweet once a decade event. I wasn’t around when Kennedy was shot, but I remember exactly where I was for these three days of infamy.

September 24, 1994 – Colorado

Kordell Stewart to Michael Westbrook. I watched it live at the next door neighbor’s apartment at 94 West Lane Avenue.

September 1, 2007 – Appalachian State

Armanti Edwards led then-FCS power Appalachian State to a roller coaster victory over #5 Michigan. I watched it live at the JerryGate Tailgate party on Woodruff Avenue.

October 17, 2015 – Michigan State

The botched punt. I watched it live from the neighbor’s house down the street. Because the group was wildly urging Jalen Watts-Jackson into the end zone, we missed hearing Sean McDonough go full Peter Brady on the final play. A classic.

Last week Pick ‘em & Tidbits made a serious move toward the .500 threshold with a 6-2 mark versus the spread and 6-2 straight up. In back-to-back weeks, my PM Stukenborg Fearless Prediction aka wishful thinking (Texas A&M over Bama) did not cover as the Aggies tossed out Pick 6’s like Trick or Treat candy. After seven weeks, I am 45-46 (49.5%) against the spread and 69-22 (75.8%) straight up.

Week 8 is a clunker on-paper – perhaps a high profile upset or two lurks.

Disclaimer: Warning! Do not wager your money or possessions based upon anything gleaned from this article. Full disclosure – In my side dabbling last week, I liked Kansas State to bounce back (from their loss to TCU) better than Oklahoma (from their loss to Texas). I liked Kansas State +4.5. Kansas State lost to Oklahoma, 55-0.

Around the B1G…

Saturday, October 24

Northwestern is on the slide again. The offense has abandoned them (10 total points in the past two weeks) and the defense has gotten leaky (78 total points given up the past two weeks). Last week Nebraska punched Goldy Gopher in the teeth 48 times.

Pick ’em says… Each team has momentum, ride it. Huskers, 39-5.

Old Style has always been linked to Chicago (Chicago’s Beer since 1902), but it is actually brewed by the G. Heileman Brewing Company in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Pick ’em says… Pick ’em & Tidbits readers, You’ve Got Style! Old Style. Grab a 6-er of Old Style, now available in Columbus at The Anderson’s General Store & in Cincinnatuh at Jungle Jim’s! Badgers, 23-13.

Poor Penn State. They were so lonely out there as the Eastern outpost of the B1G. Thank goodness the B1G grabbed all of those DC/Baltimore/Rutgers eyeballs for cable rights cash. Maybe this will become a decent rivalry down the road, but for now any mention of Maryland or Rutgers football aggravates me (except last year when these behemoths both beat Michigan).

Pick ’em says… In my day, the Big 10 had ten schools. That’s the way it was and we liked it!  https://youtu.be/BbU4Cb4A4-o

Momentum. Indiana has lost three straight including a 55-52 collapse last week versus Rutgers. The hurtin’ Hoosiers were outscored 22-0 in the 4th quarter. Ouch. Sparty, thank you for that Pure Michigan moment last week.

Pick ’em says… Sparty, 34-20.

Great! Ohio State now gets to play Rutgers every freaking year. We’ll get to see Northwestern, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois, you know, Big 10 schools – not B1G schools, every-so-often. But we get to see Maryland and Rutgers every-GD-year! Thanks a lot Obama Delany!

Pick ’em says… JT puts the offense in high gear, finally! For the 5th week out of 7, I’ll call for the Buckeyes to hit 50+. 52-17.

Two hyper-hypo-obnoxious fan bases. Please Tennessee?

Pick ’em says… Bama 27-20. 

From 1966 – 2012, legendary Minster (Ohio) resident, Paul ‘P.M.’ Stukenborg (pictured above) posted his weekly sports predictions in the hometown paper, The Community Post. Each week, Pick ’em will make a P.M. Stukenborg Fearless Prediction and call for an underdog to to knock off the favorite.

Pick ’em says… PM needs to get back into the win column. This has the too-good-too-be-true Kiss of Death written all over it. Utes, 31-28.

ENJOY YOUR BYE WEEK MICHIGAN FANS!

By: Phil Schoch, Twitter me @osuphil95

Each week in this spot, we look at college football’s point spreads and match-ups and predict each B1G game as well as a few national spotlight games.

WOW! What a week! Not my humdrum picks or the uneventful action Saturday, but the drunkenness, firings, failings, voodoo PED use, retirement and the absurdity of Bert that unfolded Monday in the aftermath of the Week 6 action.

As more and more details of deposed Southern Cal coach Steve Sarkisian’s alcohol fueled antics have come to light, a few things have become quite obvious. First, USC athletic director Pat Hayden and his hiring crew did a shabby job of looking into Sarkisian’s past escapades at Washington. Second, Coach Sark couldn’t coach his way out of the bottle. Drunk at a game!? Drunk in team meetings? Too drunk to conduct practice? This guy needs serious help.

BIG GAME BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! (Imagine that Texas is the tiger)

Gainesville residents thought they had been freed. New Gator football coach, Jim McElwain, had the antidote to reverse the voodoo curse Urban Meyer had turned loose on the Gator program five years ago. But Lo! Gator fans! You shan’t underestimate the mystic powers of Urban Frank Meyer! Meyer shape-shifted into a spandex-clad, Gold’s Gym bench press ultra-grunting, parking lot pharmacist. He lured  Gator QB, Will Grier, into his 1983 IROC-Z and filled him with PED-tainted candy. Gator officials are working to re-name the Meyer Era at Florida as “The Time between Zook and Muschamp.” The curse continues.

Steve Spurrier never met a one-liner he wouldn’t use to zing a rival. When a fire in an Auburn football dorm destroyed property, including twenty books, Spurrier needled, “But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn’t been colored yet.” Over the past few years, Spurrier also never met a golf cart he couldn’t coach from. Apparently the floodwaters in South Carolina were too deep for effective golf cart coaching and instant retirement became a necessity. College football folks will miss the Head Ball Coach’s one-liners, but his on-field product at South Carolina never measured up to his great Florida teams. He thought he had a shot a few years back, but couldn’t get past the big boys.  Lee Corso was right when he predicted in 2005 that Spurrier would never win an SEC title (even if he coached there for 400 years).

Bret Bielema is the drunken lout hitting on your recently widowed aunt at your family reunion. He’s the balls-to-the-wall jerk in full uniform at the office co-rec softball game who takes out Marge from Accounting as she pivots at second base trying to turn-two. He’s the red-faced, foul-mouthed, know-it-all blowhard at every sports bar and tailgate. He has tickets right next to you at every game you will ever attend. His scent is crotch-sweat, mildewed clothes, Axe and stink bug extract. In real life, Bert is a meathead football coach who baits opponents, flops like a Uraguayan footballer to draw a penalty, then dances a celebratory Pig Sooie jig. He is the worst! And that is why we need/want him back as the B1G villain. #bertforillini

Oh yeah, there were some games last week.

Week 6 saw Pick ‘em & Tidbits level-out with a 5-5 mark versus the spread and 7-3 straight up. For the first time this season, my PM Stukenborg Fearless Prediction (Northwestern over M) did not cover as the Wildcats got boot-stomped by Michigan. After six weeks, I am 39-44 (47%) against the spread and 63-20 (76%) straight up. Not too bad.

Disclaimer: Warning! Do not try this at home! Your spouse might find out.

Around the B1G… (My word count is up, so short and sweet)

Saturday, October 17

Who is undefeated and who got shellacked by Michigan?

Pick ’em says… Iowa, 18-13.

Why was Purdue grad and first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, so quiet and out of the spotlight after his astronaut career? Because he knew the truth about extraterrestrials and the government made him keep silent.

Pick ’em says… Pick Wisconsinbly, 27-13.

The Boss vs Tito Jackson.

Pick ’em says… Same as last week for Indiana, if Sudfeld and Howard can effectively play, Indiana wins. If not, Rutgers wins.

Prediction: Lot’s of glowering. 

Pick ’em says… Too many injuries for Sparty. Cook HAS to make big plays. Is there such-a-thing as “program momentum?” We’ll see. Michigan, 23-17.

Oh Nebraska. I bet you wish you still had Old Bo to kick around. At least then you’d be kicking around a coach who won 71% of his games when he was ranting and raving up and down your sidelines.

Pick ’em says… It’s Dilly Bar Dan time! Gophers, 20-16.

I hate matte helmets. The helmet shouldn’t be black too. Get off my lawn! Bah!

Pick ’em says… Impostor uniforms, 45-13.

I wish they both could lose. I remember the good ol’ days when I could watch this game and root for a tie. Bah!

Pick ’em says… Eggplant Head, 24-17.

From 1966 – 2012, legendary Minster (Ohio) resident, Paul ‘P.M.’ Stukenborg (pictured above) posted his weekly sports predictions in the hometown paper, The Community Post. Each week, Pick ’em will make a P.M. Stukenborg Fearless Prediction and call for an underdog to to knock off the favorite.

Pick ’em says… Wishful thinking perhaps, but I would love to watch the 12th Man celebrate to the Aggie War Hymn while Nick Saban sulks. Gig ’em! 34-31.

COME ON JACKETS! 0-3? OUTWORKED BY THE SABRES? BAH!

Many of us remember the commitment of the next “Percy Harvin”. We remember the hype and the build-up for this true freshman at the time, and his name was and is Dontre Wilson.

Let’s start with his recruitment. Dontre was an elite offensive athlete in the 2013 recruiting class from Desoto, Texas. According to the 247composite, Dontre was the 71st ranked player in the class of 2013, and the 6th ranked All-Purpose Back. Obviously, being from Texas, there was a slight draw to become a longhorn, but another school greatly drew his initial attention. With his elite speed, that is apparent whenever he touches the ball, nearly all of the major schools in the country were attracted, but there was one specific school he liked.

In the spring of his junior season, Dontre Wilson verbally committed to Chip Kelly and the Oregon Ducks. At first look, this would be the perfect fit for him. The flashy uniforms, the elite offenses with some NFL success, and certain success for people with similar builds as Dontre, such as De’Anthony Thomas and LaMichael James. Dontre was the star and excitement of Oregon’s 2013 recruiting class.

In late 2012, after some fear of punishment for fear of recruiting violations, there were persisting rumors that Chip Kelly would leave. Then, on January 16, 2013, Chip Kelly was announced as the new head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. The rumors were true, Chip had left. Dontre and other Oregon commits were in a tough position. For the moment, though, Dontre decided to stay committed to Oregon to see how things would pan out.

On January 25, 2013, a few days before signing day, Dontre Wilson took a visit to Ohio State. He got to meet with the staff, and the players and see the spectacular facilities the Buckeyes have in Columbus. J.T. Barrett even conducted his famous speech to try and persuade him to become a Buckeye during this visit. With the lack of play-makers on the team at the time, Dontre were a near necessity for the team. The coaches showed him how he would play the H-Back position, and made it clear that he would certainly be an immediate contributor.

Then on February 4, 2013, the elite play-maker from Desoto, Texas decided to commit to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Obviously, since he committed in February, Dontre was not an early-enrollee. He came on campus in the summer of that 2013 year along with the majority of that star-studded recruiting class.

Soon after that, the Dontre Wilson Hype-Train began. “I feel like he better be starting this year,” Braxton Miller said at B1G Media Days in 2013. “He can run any route, he can come in the backfield and take a handoff. … He can catch the ball and he bolts like a little fish running from the sharks or something. He’s fast man. I’m glad to have him on my team.” “Dontre looks to be a special player,” former starting safety, Christian Bryant, added before the start of his own final season. “With the speed, and his agility, just when he catches the ball, you can just see how he moves. He’s going to be a special player.”

Many players and fans alike had incredibly high expectations for Dontre Wilson. Many expected him to put up the same numbers as the player who made the “H” position famous, Percy Harvin. Unlike many of us fans, Urban was more realistic with Dontre.

“We’ve got to slow down on Dontre,” Meyer said with a smile at B1G Media Days in 2013. “We’ve gotta slow down.”

Soon enough his freshman campaign began. Dontre was expected to be a vital play-maker that everybody was craving, and with Carlos Hyde suspended for the first several games of the 2013 season, many hoped to have Dontre carry part of that missing load.

The first game of the season was against Buffalo, and now star NFL player Khalil Mack. Dontre certainly showed some glimpses of a bright future which added even more hype into his name. He ended with 3 rushes for 11 yards, 1 reception for 18 yards, and he had a kick return for 51 yards.

Throughout the season, and the lack of big plays, the hype dramatically died for Dontre. Some even began to call him a “bust”. He finished the season with 22 receptions for 210 yards and 2 TDs, along with 31 rushes for 250 yards and 1 TD. He also added 523 kick-return yards to his all purpose stats that added up to 983 yards that was ranked 4th on the team.

Although Dontre ended up being 2nd-team freshmen All-American, and had those stats as a true freshman, most people, including Dontre were frustrated with that season. “I feel like I could have helped the team more,” Dontre admitted after the Orange Bowl loss in 2013. “I did what I could with the reps they gave me, but I think next year with more reps I will help the team more.” “I always joked around with my teammates and said, ‘I’m the Decoy of the Year,’ ” he said. “Every time I do a fake or something, we scored.”

A reporter then asked if that season as a decoy was fulfilling, Dontre said “Not really, man. I wish I could get the ball 30 plays a game, but it’s all good.”

Soon after the Orange Bowl, heading into Dontre’s true sophomore season, the hype started to build again, and perhaps in a more dramatic fashion than before. “Wait until you see him next year” was a popular phrase by Urban. It definitely showed that the coach had a plan, and believed in the potential of Dontre Wilson in his offense.

The off-season before his sophomore season was when Dontre really started to evolve into a wide receiver. “He couldn’t play receiver last year, he didn’t know what the hell he was doing. Didn’t know how to do it,” Former Offensive Coordinator, Tom Herman said during that off-season. “He was 175 pounds or whatever the heck he was. So him and his ability limited us, and ability doesn’t just include running fast and making guys miss. There’s a lot that goes into ability and usability in the offense. {He} has had a great off-season and really took to the position and is still learning.” At one point during the off-season, Zach Smith mentioned Dontre Wilson as one of the only players in that unit that was game-ready at the time.

Now, the 2014 season came along with some more huge expectations for Dontre.

This time, his team was very inexperienced in every area of the game. Nobody was really certain how the team would turn out to be. Dontre and the Buckeyes played a difficult team in Navy with their triple-option offense, and a fairly unique defense. Like the previous season’s first game, Dontre had a very good game. Without the speed and agility of Dontre, I think the team would have had a much more difficult time trying to get the win. He ended the game with 6 rushes for 43 yards, and 2 catches for 46 yards, along with several nice punt returns.

Like the one before, as the previous season progressed, the “hate” on Dontre increased. One of his main critiques is that he is always so close to making a big play, but he never does. That seemed to be a pretty decent evaluation as he had some struggles with the new WR role.

Nov. 8th in East Lansing was one of the worst public nights for Dontre Wilson as a Buckeye. He had several embarrassing drops that would’ve led to some big gains, and he also had two fumbles on kick returns. Mistakes like that in games like that are very harmful to the team and individual. But, what everybody didn’t understand about this bad game was the circumstances surrounding it.

First, he had just become a father just that week to his son, Neko, and during the game Dontre suffered a fairly harsh broken foot. When all seemed lost for him, he did what play-makers do; Dontre made a big play. He caught a late TD pass from J.T. Barrett to seal that monumental game for the Buckeyes’ season, even while he was in pain with his broken foot.

Dontre’s season was mostly over for the exception of 3 plays against Oregon. The 3 plays were solely for respect of Dontre, because the coaches thought Dontre was a main reason why they got to that National Championship. But they didn’t want to cause any further injury, so they just gave him a few simple snaps.

Dontre Wilson had some complications with his foot after the initial surgery, so they decided he needed another one. Because of the second surgery, Dontre would be extremely limited through spring camp, and even fairly limited during Fall Camp.

Also, Dontre was one of the 4 Ohio State players suspended for the 1st game of the season against Virginia Tech for a violation of athletic department policy. Fellow H-Back, Jalin Marshall, who many fans favorited over Dontre due to his great games in the absence of Dontre was also suspended.

With Dontre and Jalin both suspended, somebody needed to step up, particularly against VA Tech. That player, of course, was QB turned WR Braxton Miller. Not only is Braxton one of Urban and the fan’s favorite players, he is also a prime-time play-maker, as evidenced by the spin move you have probably seen 1,000 times. So, with Braxton’s emergence, it was yet another thing getting in Dontre’s way.

Dontre entered this season with certainly lowered expectations, partially due to the huge spotlight on the QB competition, but also due to the fact that the team is currently stacked with play-makers.  In his first game back against Hawaii, Dontre played very few snaps and had zero touches. Then against NIU, Dontre again played limited snaps, and had a mere 3 receptions. In both of those games, the offense greatly struggled. That brought up the argument of if this team has too many play-makers, and not enough ball to go around.

After two years of failing to live up to hype that was impossible for anybody, it almost seems that Dontre is now more a back-of-the-mind type players. Urban knows that Dontre is definitely a play-maker, and he does deserve to get the ball. “I see a guy that’s dynamic and a guy that does deserve more touches,” Meyer said when asked about Curtis Samuel Wednesday (9-30-15) after practice. “Dontre Wilson deserves more touches. Zeke probably needs a few more. Then that kid Braxton Miller deserves a few more.”

It would definitely be easy for Dontre to “whine and complain” about not getting enough touches. He was a blue-chip recruit out of high-school, and a guy that was talked up to be Percy Harvin, or even Tavon Austin. With Urban’s culture, though, Dontre knows to go out there and do whatever he can to get better and help the team.

So, will Dontre ever step up and be that next level guy? Who knows. Will he do what the coaches tell him? Yes, or he won’t play. Dontre understands that, and he knows that with all the talented players on the team, he needs to take advantage of whatever opportunity is given to him. You wish Dontre could get the 30 touches a game like he said after his freshman year, but that simply isn’t possible. He will just have to trust that Urban and WR Coach Zach Smith will do whatever they can to make him the most successful Dontre Wilson that he can be.

By: Phil Schoch, Twitter me @osuphil95

Each week in this spot, we analyze college football’s desert numerology and make meticulous predictions (erratic guesses based on hunches) for each B1G match-up as well as a few national spotlight games.

In week two, Pick ‘em & Tidbits leveled out with a modest 8-8 record versus the spread and 12-4 straight up. My PM Stukenborg Fearless Prediction of Colorado State (+6.5) winning outright over Minnesota covered but was a near miss as the Rams fell to the Gophers by 3 in overtime. After two weeks, I am 15-18 against the spread and 26-7 straight up.

Before we dive into Week 3, my heart aches for smirkin’ Steve Spurrier and bosomy Bret Bielema. Apparently they and their squads were so preoccupied and distressed about the strength of Ohio State’s schedule that they (quite unfairly) could not focus on their Week 2 opponents. Spurrier’s South Carolina squad helped snap Kentucky’s 6 year conference road losing streak. Bert’s Razorbacks were toppled by mighty Toledo from the powerhouse MAC. It’s just not right, guys. I feel ya.

Disclaimer: I am not an oracle, soothsayer or remote viewer. Please do not wager any money, real or Monopoly, based on anything written in this weekly post.

Around the B1G…

Saturday, September 19

The Scavagin’ Illini have spent the first two weeks feasting on rotting corpses. This week they finally face a team with a pulse, a weak middle-of-the-pack ACC pulse, but at least the body is still warm. Is Illinois ready for the middle-of-the-pack B1G status? Or is it still rotting corpse B1G?

Pick ’em says: Oo-oo, that smell. Can’t ya smell that smell? It’s the Illini. Heels, 23-17.

Maryland couldn’t handle the Bowling Green’s MACtion and got sMACked down by 21. Thanks alot, Obama Delany! You got us Atlantic Coast Purdue. At least they have crab cakes instead of barnyard stink.

Pick ’em says… Maryland 19-16.

At go-time, there was no spread available for this colossal tilt. I’m predicting a Vegas number around 31. Last week Eddie Haskell (Michigan) took Lumpy and the (Oregon State) Beaver behind the woodshed and gave them what-for and all was right with the world in Ann Arbor. [Obscure reference for all my vintage readers]

Pick ’em says… Michigan 45-13. 

As long as there aren’t any Sparty NOOOOO! moments, November 21, 2015 will be the biggest game in the B1G since #1 Ohio State vs #2 Michigan in 2006. As long as there aren’t any 1998 OSU vs MSU moments, 10-0 Sparty will march into The ‘Shoe  to stare down the 10-0 Buckeyes. Two months to go!

Pick ’em says…  Michigan State, 38-13.

It’s the Battle for Glen Mason’s Heart. Former Buckeye linebacker, Glen Mason, was the head coach at Kent State from 1986-1987 and at Minnesota from 1997-2006. While coaching at Kansas (1988-1996) in 1995, Mason accepted the head coaching job at Georgia. After a change of heart, he decided to stay at Kansas, but left the following year for Minnesota. He has a career coaching record of 123-121-1. Considering the schools – not too shabby. Today he broadcasts games on BTN and is a regular in the studio – seems like a helluva guy. And now you know a little more about Glen Mason.

Pick ’em says… Gophers finally get an easy one, 38-10. 

Is Da U back? No. Are the Blackshirts back? Nope. This is not the ’84 Orange Bowl. Will there be 30,000 empty seats? U betcha.

From 1966 – 2012, legendary Minster (Ohio) resident, Paul ‘P.M.’ Stukenborg (pictured) posted his weekly sports predictions in the hometown paper, The Community Post. Each week, Pick ’em will make a P.M. Stukenborg Fearless Prediction and call for an underdog to to knock off the favorite.

Pick ’em says… Huskers, 31-30. I just put 31-30 because that was the final score in the ’84 Orange Bowl when Miami upset Nebraska for the National Championship. I’d say 21-20 is more likely.

After a short week and a let-down game where they still won 38-0, the Buckeyes likely won’t sleep walk through this game. NIU will score a few points, but they’ll give up plenty more.

Pick ’em says: Bucks start a string of 50+ point games, 52-17.

I meant what I said above Purdue, about the barnyard stench. I was there in 2007: 90 degree heat in October, Black Out, night game vs the Buckeyes. The stench was so foul it stung the nose, throat and eyes. The crowd stood watching the game with their shirts pulled up over their mouths and noses. Then you ran out of water and Gatorade during the 3rd quarter. What gives Purdue? Lousy teams, horrid stench, terrible post-game traffic – BUT – you still cash that massive $32 million per year B1G media rights check. You should have been relegated years ago.

Pick ’em says… Turkey Tech, 24-13.

Troy is located in Troy, Alabama. Look out Badgers! They might have SEC-B speed! They don’t though.

Pick ’em says: Roadkill Bucky, 45-13.

3 named famous killers: John Wilkes Booth, Mark David Chapman, Lee Harvey Conspiracy and Sirhan Sirhan Sirhan. 3 named famous crooning lady killers with time capsule hair: Billy Ray Cyrus and David Lee Roth. Achy Breaky BRC is from Flatwoods, KY. I’m Just a Gigolo, DLR is the son of an ophthalmologist and from Bloomington, Indiana.

Pick ’em says: When David Lee Roth sang, This must be just like living in paradise, he sure as hell wasn’t singing about West Lafayette, Indiana. WKy, 38-31.

Having watched BTN since its birth, I’ve often wished the BTN regulars lived in my neighborhood? Wouldn’t you love to hear Dave Revsine holler out to his kids, “It’s time to come in for dinner – NOW!!!” Wouldn’t you chuckle seeing Gerry DiNardo out mowing his lawn with his black socks hiked up to his knees? Wouldn’t you love to have a couple beers on the driveway on a crisp autumn night with Howard Griffith? Wouldn’t you absolutely hate it if Penn State moved into the neighborhood? How long would it take you to get the FOR SALE sign in the yard if Rutgers moved in next door? Ugh. 

Pick ’em says… Ugly. How ugly? Man-nipple strategically inside the R ugly. Penn State 19-11.

At Ohio State, Jim Tressel won a National Championship, had 2 undefeated regular seasons, won 6ish B1G Championships, won 5 BCS Bowls and beat Michigan 9 out of 10 times. Jim Tressel never won the B1G Coach of the Year award. At Ohio State, Urban Meyer has won a National Championship with his 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks, had 1 undefeated season, won 1 B1G Championship, is 3-0 vs Michigan and has never lost a B1G conference regular season game. Urban Meyer has never won the B1G Coach of the Year. Kirk Ferentz has won the B1G Coach of the Year 3 times!!!

Pick ’em says… Cornstache over Wannstache, 24-17. Iowa goes 3-0 and puts Ferentz in position to win COY #4! 

National Spotlight…

Notre Dame is now down 5 starters with season ending injuries. Georgia Tech’s offense is a meat grinder. I can’t stand Brian Kelly. Notre Dame must be forced to join a conference. Two topics for another day.

Pick ’em says… Wramblin’ Wreck, 31-24.

Matching 60’s-style logos too? Les Miles is 25% wizard and 75% putz. Gus Malzahn is 60% offensive genius and 40% preoccupied by thoughts of his wife giving another crazy interview on TV. If you have never seen this interview, YouTube it, you will not be disappointed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHIQSFM0kAs

Pick ’em says… Gus was like, SHUT UP! LSU, 22-16.

 

ROLL TIDE!!!

From @JeopardySports

Pick ’em says… Even though Ole Miss has dropped 70+ on two awful teams, my gut says ugly and low scoring and why don’t you work out or something, it’s getting crowded inside of these t-shirts. Bama, 23-17.