2009 Week 2 B50 Predictions

New Season: Ohio State had what would be called a sluggish start at best. I don't fault the defense as they had the pleasure of preparing for an unconventional look. And don't be surprised at the end of the year if Navy has at least 8 wins at the end of the year and playing in a solid bowl game. It was the offense that disappointed the most, they will need to produce more if they want to stay in the game with the Trojans. Yet the Buckeye 50 staff did not start out slowly as 7 out of 8 prognosticators went 4-1 last week. Not a bad start, let's see how we can do this week.

This Week: For the second straight year, the game matching the Buckeyes with USC will be one of the biggest games of the season. Ohio Stadium will feature the #1 quarterback recruit from 2008 against the #1 quarterback recruit from 2009. It is very likely that the one that has the better game will lead their respective team to a victory. Could this game just be a preview of the Rose Bowl? ..... Both the Wolverines and the Irish had poor seasons last year and both came out of the gate strong last week. This week we should find out if one of the is just a pretender. .... UCLA will travel across the country to face Coach Lane and his Volunteers, that guy may just be crazy enough to really stir things up in the SEC this year. Wait, he has already done that. .... The annual Iowa vs Iowa State match-up is this week, and the fact that we are using it for one of our picks tells you how slim the pickings are for good games this weekend. How many field goals will the Hawkeyes have to block to win this one? .... And finally, we will see if the Purdue Boilermakers can avenge their loss in Ross-Aide last season at the hands of the Ducks. Will Oregon have yet another uniform style this week, one that is designed like the meat packing boxing robe from Rocky I? Our staff picks are all over the board this week with no team getting all votes for their game.

Here we go - Good Luck to All

2009

Record

USC @

Ohio State

(Steven: Coach Tressel allows his players to get into some very bad habits. He lets them get complacent and lazy. He fails to ask 100% of them every play. He calls plays that have a marginal chance of success in hopes of not showing up the competition. When 100% isn’t asked every time, the effort is inconsistent and predictably poor. When the stakes are raised, I think it is very difficult for OSU players to push the pedal to the floor because they aren’t used to it. This week, I’m sure you won’t find Tressel calling weak plays like he did in the second half of the Navy game. Even so, will the players be able to respond to the increase in pressure? I’m not sure they can. Emotion cannot overcome a lack of discipline. Here’s to hoping I’m wrong… USC 28-17)

(Gregg: I truly believe the Buckeyes can win this one but they are going to have to show the type of effort and heart they

displayed in the 2002 Championship game. They have the talent but they have to execute. I agree with most that the

offense is conservative and somewhat predictable and that is what they have to get away from. After the game last year

Sanchez said they knew exactly what OSU was going to so. We have to do what they DON'T expect this year. Go Bucks!)

(Joe-S-U: USC over OSU- The last time the Bucks beat 'SC in Columbus, "Bonanza" was the top TV show, "Do Wah

Diddy Diddy" was #1 on the charts and Trojan boosters were paying for an apartment for Mike Garrett.)

(Pete: All I could think about late in the fourth quarter last Saturday was, "Appalachian State. Appalachian State." Thanks

to so-to-be superstar Brian Rolle, the Buckeyes were able to secure the victory against an amazingly tough Navy . I would

like to be one of the first to start a campaign to get Jim Bollman replaced. I didn't say fired, he's been on the staff a long

time but the game seems to have passed him by. No one has done less with more in the past three years than the offensive

coordinator / line coach has and the Buckeyes will get it handed to them next week by a very talented and vicious defensive

USC defense. Unless there are major changes in the philosophy, effort and execution of the offensive line play the Buckeyes

might as well not show up. USC 35 - OSU 13)

(Rick: Battle of the young quarterbacks. I think this will come down to which quarterback

plays better. I think Pryor has the experience that will allow OSU to win by 9 points.)

(Brent: Pick: USC - More talent, better coaching = USC over OSU)

(Dr. Mark: OSU - if we can stop McKnight and the other backs we can beat them)

(ESPN GAMEDAY: Desmond Howard - USC, Santonio Holmes - Ohio State, Lee Corso - USC)

(WINNER : USC)

ND @

Michigan

(Pete: Pop Quiz: Name something that I dislike more than the football programs at Notre Dame and Michigan. Answer: Having

to watch the Notre Dame and Michigan football programs. Especially if I have to endure watching them with my Irish loving

brother-in-law. There is a silver lining, one of these over-hyped, over-played, over-respected, in bed with ESPN crap-ola

teams is going to lose. Both teams overinflated their egos last week with decisive wins over meaningless teams. The edge

goes to the Irish since they know how to tie their shoes. Guinness 17 - Muddy Lake Water 13 )

(Steven: Notre Dame at Michigan Both teams have not been tested and their opening day point-fests are probably

not a good indicator of future results. The teams seem to be very evenly matched except in the area of the

quarterback position. I’ll go with experience. Jimmy Clausen over Tate Forcier. ND 24-21)

(Gregg: Michigan has much to prove and playing at home so I will give them the pick this week, and the

Domers are clearly the Evil Empire. Michigan continues to roll, may the Forcier be with them! )

(Rick: Wow, both teams undefeated still, how the times have changed. I

think UM will surprise a lot of people in this game and will win by 3.)

(Joe-S-U: Notre Dame over Michigan- If Nevada and Western Michigan

had played each other, this pick might be a little easier)

(Brent: Pick: Notre Dame - tossup....could go either way)

(Dr Mark: Michigan - don’t like either coach)

(ESPN GameDay: Santonio Holmes - ND, Lee Corso - ND, Kirk Herbstreit - ND)

(WINNER : Michigan)

UCLA @

Tennessee

(Pete: This game always seems to turn out to be a classic. The Volunteers get the edge since

I couldn't stay up late enough to see UCLA play. Guys with Guns 21 - Bears with Claws 16)

(Steven: It would be a tremendous upset for UCLA to come in and beat the Vols. While I don’t expect quite the

offensive production from QB Jonathan Crompton this week, I doubt it will be significantly less. Vols 42-21.)

(Gregg: I do believe the Volunteers will be looking ahead to next week but not so much that they

lose this one, I just think the Pac-10 is very weak. Vols get a solid win for the SEC)

(Rick: This game is a coin toss for me. I like the home team, but I think UCLA

will come in with the better defense and win this one on turn over’s.

(Joe-S-U: Tennessee over UCLA- "That's why all the folks on Rocky Top get their corn from a jar...")

(Brent: Pick: Tennessee - UCLA will get there eventually, but not yet)

(Dr. Mark: Tennessee - Bruins seem to be pretenders as contenders)

(ESPN Gameday: Santonio Holmes - Tennessee, Lee Corso - Tennessee, Kirk Herbstreit - Tennessee)

(WINNER : UCLA)

Iowa @

Iowa State

(Steven: The Hawkeyes look like they could threaten Indiana for last in the conference. Mind you, they will

need to work hard to push Illinois and Purdue out of the way. Iowa State in a barn-burner 25-12.)

(Rick: Was Iowa looking ahead in last week’s win? I think so. I am lead to believe that the Hawkeyes will win by 18.)

(Gregg: Iowa has not been good for a couple of years now, the Cyclones take care of business at home.)

(Pete: Iowa darn near dropped the Big Ten conference to sub-MAC status and needed two consecutive last second blocked

field goals to secure a victory against Northern Iowa. As one of only three ranked Big Ten teams, Iowa almost proved the

skeptics right that the conference is in the crapper. I don't think they get by the Cyclones. ISU 20 - IU 19)

(Joe-S-U: Iowa State over Iowa- They've been alternating wins since '04. Cyclones turn...)

(Brent:Pick: Iowa State - Big Ten is very bad, again )

(WINNER : Iowa)

Purdue @

Oregon

(Gregg: Really not sure how the Ducks will respond without their best running back. They could not score against the Broncos

with him (although they went down swinging). Purdue on the other hand looks as if they may have a solid back, so I will give

the edge to the Boilermakers who will remember the overtime loss from last year at home )

(Joe-S-U: Oregon over Purdue- Boilers helped screw up the spot card last week, so gimme the Ducks...)

(Brent: Pick: Oregon - Big Ten teams continue to struggle on left coast)

(Pete:-DINGDINGDING- In THIS corner... weighting in at 16,475 students..residing firmly within the middle of the

PAC-10 for most of it's hippy middle-of-the-road existence...from "BF" Eugene...theeeee Oregon "The Nike Whipping

Boy" DUCKS! (lots of impressive and incredibility annoying sound effects)

-DINGDINGDING- And in THIS corner...weighting in at 32,290 students...also enjoying an existence of mediocrity and

near successful seasons...from really really "BF" West Lafayette....theeeeeee Purdue "can't get by Ohio State"

Boilermakers. Despite the post-colligate career tryout for the Nevada State Boxing Commission, Purdue will be

able counter punch any haymakers the Ducks throw at them with an excellent rushing attack lead by Ralph Bolden.

Good Clean Fight Pete Boilermaker 28 - Hit Below the Belt Donald Duck 17)

(Steven: Oregon held their own against a good Boise State team last week. Purdue struggled with Toledo. Even

a running back down, Oregon should roll. Ducks 35-13. Wow, I just picked against 4 B11 teams. That might be a record.

I hope the football gods will forgive me. Let’s face it kids, the B11 this year is chock full of some bad teams.)

(Dr. Mark: Purdue - Ducks could be primed for a let down or, I’m wrong and

they will pummel the boilermakers as punishment for last week’s debacle)

(Rick: I think Oregon is over rated, but will still win this game.)

(ESPN GameDay: Santonio Holmes - Purdue, Lee Corso - Oregon, Kirk Herbstreit - Oregon)

(WINNER : Oregon)

(For Entertainment Purposes Only!)

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Brent

4 - 1

Joe-S-U

2 - 3

Gregg

4 - 1

Tim

4 - 1

Pete

4 - 1

Dr Mark

4 - 1

Buckeye 50 Yard Line

Weekly Picks - Week 2

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Steven

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Rick

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