Post by kentflash_05 on Sept 16, 2015 14:43:41 GMT
Hey guys....as you know I've been on this board criticizing the Ohio State schedule as much as anyone, but on closer inspection is it really that bad? Think about this
the opening game was against a Virginia Tech team that many expect to contend, and push Georgia Trch in the Coastal, and have a 9 win campaign, that's a lot harder than most teams opening games especially on the road.
Hawaii is a gimme, but the next game Northern Illinois? Northern Illinois is again expected to compete for a MAC title, along with Toledo, as we saw in the Arkansas game the MAC is a solid conference....and they wind up the non conference schedule with another Gimme against Western Michigan.
Not a great non conference schedule, but certainly not a horrible one, as they face at least two decent opponents( one I think Virginia Tech will spend some time in the top 25 this season)
Now onto the big problem for many people I think is the conference schedule...I think Ohio State was perceived to get the luck of the draw....and Rutgers and Maryland have been a drag on the conference this year, along with a disappointing start by Penn State.
The first four conference games are somewhat Gimme's although Penn State will be 5-1 by the time they walk into the 'Shoe. But doesn't every top 25 team have it's share of gimme's? Here's a look at Florida State's gimme's as an example Texas State, Wake Forest, South Florida, Chattanooga, and Syracuse, but yet no one is talking about how weak the Florida State schedule is...and they might not have as many tough games as tOSU! Now taking Ohio State's schedule into November Ohio State will face a team I predict will be ranked at the time in Minnesota, a team that we'll find out how good they, but so far they've looked terrific, and very improved in Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan....I predict that at least 3 of their last 4 opponents will be ranked......and that's not knowing how good Illinois actually is right now! If the Illini had the same expectations going into the season as 'Ole Miss, everyone would be talking about how good they looked right now! They've throttled two bad teams, but have looked really good doing it, we'll see how good they are this Saturday.
But taking my premise, that at least 3 of those 4 weeks will be against ranked opponents, plus the Big Ten Championship game which will also feauture a ranked opponent.....is it really all that bad? If Virginia Tech gets ranked throughout the season and if my predictions come true Ohio State will have played and beaten 5 ranked opponents, while not as many as some SEC teams, that's not really what I would consider a horrible schedule.
So in my conclusion the narrative that Ohio State plays a horrible schedule is false, Ohio State plays an average schedule, it's just back loaded.....now I'm gonna try to re-register lol
the opening game was against a Virginia Tech team that many expect to contend, and push Georgia Trch in the Coastal, and have a 9 win campaign, that's a lot harder than most teams opening games especially on the road.
Hawaii is a gimme, but the next game Northern Illinois? Northern Illinois is again expected to compete for a MAC title, along with Toledo, as we saw in the Arkansas game the MAC is a solid conference....and they wind up the non conference schedule with another Gimme against Western Michigan.
Not a great non conference schedule, but certainly not a horrible one, as they face at least two decent opponents( one I think Virginia Tech will spend some time in the top 25 this season)
Now onto the big problem for many people I think is the conference schedule...I think Ohio State was perceived to get the luck of the draw....and Rutgers and Maryland have been a drag on the conference this year, along with a disappointing start by Penn State.
The first four conference games are somewhat Gimme's although Penn State will be 5-1 by the time they walk into the 'Shoe. But doesn't every top 25 team have it's share of gimme's? Here's a look at Florida State's gimme's as an example Texas State, Wake Forest, South Florida, Chattanooga, and Syracuse, but yet no one is talking about how weak the Florida State schedule is...and they might not have as many tough games as tOSU! Now taking Ohio State's schedule into November Ohio State will face a team I predict will be ranked at the time in Minnesota, a team that we'll find out how good they, but so far they've looked terrific, and very improved in Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan....I predict that at least 3 of their last 4 opponents will be ranked......and that's not knowing how good Illinois actually is right now! If the Illini had the same expectations going into the season as 'Ole Miss, everyone would be talking about how good they looked right now! They've throttled two bad teams, but have looked really good doing it, we'll see how good they are this Saturday.
But taking my premise, that at least 3 of those 4 weeks will be against ranked opponents, plus the Big Ten Championship game which will also feauture a ranked opponent.....is it really all that bad? If Virginia Tech gets ranked throughout the season and if my predictions come true Ohio State will have played and beaten 5 ranked opponents, while not as many as some SEC teams, that's not really what I would consider a horrible schedule.
So in my conclusion the narrative that Ohio State plays a horrible schedule is false, Ohio State plays an average schedule, it's just back loaded.....now I'm gonna try to re-register lol
