2009 NCAA - Ohio State
The Buckeyes have now won a share of four straight Big Ten titles. Number five might be unattainable. Just 12 starters return from a 10-3 group that won when it was favored and lost as a dog. Athletic QB Terrelle Pryor must continue to develop and improve on his decent numbers from last fall. Three O-line starters return, but there are no proven playmakers at wideout and Pryor is the leading returning rusher.
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Ohio State
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Seven starters return on defense and this could be the best D-line for the Buckeyes since 2003. Losing James Laurinaitis from the linebacking corps weakens that group and makes it the question mark of the defense. Marcus Freeman (second team All-Big 10) also departs, though Head coach Jim Tressel always recruits well and OSU adds three of the top 10 true freshmen in the country at LB. Whether any of them play this fall is up in the air at this point. Ohio State ranked sixth in the country in scoring defense and turnover margin. The secondary coverage will determine whether OSU can approach those levels from last year again. Tressel observed that his team is "young. Even our returning starters are young," in the spring. The kicker and punter also depart, which could also hurt the Buckeyes in close games. |
ASK the bookie? - This team looks to be a notch below last season's solid group in the eyes of The Bookie. But, The Bookie also sees the schedule and thinks it might have as much success. The only four road games are at Indiana, Purdue, Penn State and Michigan. The Buckeyes will be favored in three of those games, most likely. An early trip from USC into the Horseshoe on Sept. 12 will portend fortunes for both teams.
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