Some notes/comments I'll throw out about the NC game---
--OSU is now almost a 10 point favorite-OSU appears to be the more talented team. If they play to their potential, they are likely to win.
--The pressure is on OSU--ND is playing with house $$. If ND keeps it close, OSU is capable of chocking. I thought their 1st half errors v. TX caused them to lose their confidence.....it wasn't a TN or Oregon rout. Also, it seems like Day has more pressure on his back, and that can filter down to the team.
--ND has some injuries-2/3 of the way through their season, OSU lost their excellent starting center (Stephenson??). They seem to have adjusted to that situation. DE JT Tuimoloau is a stud who tweaked his ankle v. TX, but played hurt in the 2nd half. If he's not 100% there's a drop-off at that position. ND has lost stud DT Rylie Mills, and lost their starting LOT, Anthonie Knapp, this week. However, they will have guards Charles Jaquish and Rocco Spindler back v. OSU. WR Beaux Collins is said to be questionable.
--Both teams have seemed tremendously motivated and focused during the playoffs.
--Howard v. Leonard--It "feels" like Leonard is a great leader and an extremely physical guy. ND's path to victory would seem to impose their will by being more physical than OSU. How does OSU respond to that challenge? I will also say that Leonard's ability to improvise v. PSU was impressive. Howard doesn't seem as physically tough and certainly seemed to lose his confidence in that Michigan game.....but he sure came through against TX in the tough situations. Also, I saw these stats about him: on 4th down passing situations this year, he's 10/13 for 171 yds and 2 TDs; also, when OSU has been behind this year he's 62/83 for 770 yds.
--I can't take too much from their common games v. IU and PSU. IU stayed with both absent big plays, but OSU's DL was perhaps more dominant? I'll also give OSU a slight edge in their game v. PSU...it was at PSU, and PSU probably should have beaten ND....
--ND's TO margin on the year is #1 nationally....OSU's is #44. Also, OSU's penalties v. TX were alarming.
--ND's DBs are at least as good as those of TX, and TX was able to take Smith out of the game and otherwise eliminate long passing plays. TX gave ND the blueprint....force OSU to be patient. It will be critical for OSU for Henderson & Judkins to have success running the ball......but OSU will also need to be creative in finding ways to get Smith involved.
--I thought the "home" crowd (probably 65% TX, 35% OSU) really helped TX, and more particularly probably caused some of their motion penalties. I would expect the crowd to be no worse than 55% OSU in Atlanta.
Thoughts???
--OSU is now almost a 10 point favorite-OSU appears to be the more talented team. If they play to their potential, they are likely to win.
--The pressure is on OSU--ND is playing with house $$. If ND keeps it close, OSU is capable of chocking. I thought their 1st half errors v. TX caused them to lose their confidence.....it wasn't a TN or Oregon rout. Also, it seems like Day has more pressure on his back, and that can filter down to the team.
--ND has some injuries-2/3 of the way through their season, OSU lost their excellent starting center (Stephenson??). They seem to have adjusted to that situation. DE JT Tuimoloau is a stud who tweaked his ankle v. TX, but played hurt in the 2nd half. If he's not 100% there's a drop-off at that position. ND has lost stud DT Rylie Mills, and lost their starting LOT, Anthonie Knapp, this week. However, they will have guards Charles Jaquish and Rocco Spindler back v. OSU. WR Beaux Collins is said to be questionable.
--Both teams have seemed tremendously motivated and focused during the playoffs.
--Howard v. Leonard--It "feels" like Leonard is a great leader and an extremely physical guy. ND's path to victory would seem to impose their will by being more physical than OSU. How does OSU respond to that challenge? I will also say that Leonard's ability to improvise v. PSU was impressive. Howard doesn't seem as physically tough and certainly seemed to lose his confidence in that Michigan game.....but he sure came through against TX in the tough situations. Also, I saw these stats about him: on 4th down passing situations this year, he's 10/13 for 171 yds and 2 TDs; also, when OSU has been behind this year he's 62/83 for 770 yds.
--I can't take too much from their common games v. IU and PSU. IU stayed with both absent big plays, but OSU's DL was perhaps more dominant? I'll also give OSU a slight edge in their game v. PSU...it was at PSU, and PSU probably should have beaten ND....
--ND's TO margin on the year is #1 nationally....OSU's is #44. Also, OSU's penalties v. TX were alarming.
--ND's DBs are at least as good as those of TX, and TX was able to take Smith out of the game and otherwise eliminate long passing plays. TX gave ND the blueprint....force OSU to be patient. It will be critical for OSU for Henderson & Judkins to have success running the ball......but OSU will also need to be creative in finding ways to get Smith involved.
--I thought the "home" crowd (probably 65% TX, 35% OSU) really helped TX, and more particularly probably caused some of their motion penalties. I would expect the crowd to be no worse than 55% OSU in Atlanta.
Thoughts???
