M-Borg vs. THE Flavortown U Thread, Orig. by Buckeye Paul, absconded w/by talent.

[drok]

Feels like both fanbases are pretty unsure of what to expect in this game. It gives me the heebiejeebies myself. I felt better about it before OSU had lost.

[Mike]

Feels like both fanbases are pretty unsure of what to expect in this game. It gives me the heebiejeebies myself. I felt better about it before OSU had lost.

Me too. Last week was going perfectly when it looked like OSU would play like shit and still win. Now I'm sure they flip the switch to January 2015 on us. At any rate, I have very little excitement for Saturday. I'll get in the mood when I see the vermin from Columbus take the field on Saturday but playing for second place takes a off a lot of luster.

[iam416]

Patience. Next season. And then most seasons after that.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Have faith ....... nothing has really changed oh, ye having little of it..

osu's offense has been mediocre all year. They rank 38th in OFEI. Offensive efficiency isn't going to suddenly change in a week. By this time in the season, average offenses typically remain average. If anything, osu has been trending down.

osu's defense is good but M matches up well with it. Moreover, M's offense has been trending up. When you think about it, this is the first time since probably 2006 where the football team has gotten better overall. It is something Harbaugh, whenever he is asked about this, has focused on.

My view is that the best thing about M football right now is Harbaugh's ability to adapt to injuries, who is and who is not a playmaker and what the opponent is giving the offense in game.

If you look at ufm's record, urbz has this capacity too but from 10,000 feet, he hasn't demonstrated he still has it at osu in 2015. The MSU game was a disaster. Those aren't supposed to happen v. urban fucking meyer.

The only thing that should be giving M fans the heebeegeebees is how difficult it is to predict the outcome of this game based on the facts at hand. They can often be deceiving. One historical thing that has held true is that the favored team has won the game every time except, if I have this right, ONCE. osu opened on Sunday as a 2.5 point favorite. They are, as of yesterday, a 1.5 point dog.

Believe.

[Mike]

Patience is not a virtue. It is the refuge of the perenially dissapointed.

[iam416]

If you look at ufm's record, urbz has this capacity too but from 10,000 feet, he hasn't demonstrated he still has it at osu in 2015. The MSU game was a disaster. Those aren't supposed to happen v. urban fucking meyer

They had a disaster game against MSU in 2013 and a total shitfest against VT in 2014. And, well, you know...

Your willingness to attribute massive significance to single game outcomes has always amused me and always will. You're far too smart for that. One could easily argue it happened to The Nick in last year's CFP. And, well, this year against Ole Miss. It happens.

Last week was a bad week. It happens. You don't play 52 games without a couple bad weeks. Whether you're UFM or the best coach in the universe.

One historical thing that has held true is that the favored team has won the game every time except, if I have this right, ONCE. osu opened on Sunday as a 2.5 point favorite. They are, as of yesterday, a 1.5 point dog.

The game is now either OSU -1 or Even.

As for your assessment of OSU's defense, that'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

[Jeff Buchanan]

My view is that osu's body of work THIS season on offense his been uniformly unimpressive. The MSU game was a magnified version of a season long offensive funk.

I agree great teams have bad days and this was definately a really, really bad day. But compared to 2014 the 2015 0ffense has been bad for the number of returning starters and "3 potential Heisman Trophy winners at QB.

My point in the post above is that just like Smith isn't going to turn into Tim Biakabatuka because it is The Game, Barrett isn't going to suddenly turn into the leading candidate for the Heisman.

Ehh ..... 0.5. The point is, osu has been the dog and that is the best predictor of who wins and who loses. I've not seen the line today, so I'll go with what you say it is.

So, yeah, the game is going to be uncomfortable for fans of both teams until it is settled. It's going to go back and forth but my sense is that M will play well enough to win.

[drok]

"My point in the post above is that just like Smith isn't going to turn into Tim Biakabatuka because it is The Game, Barrett isn't going to suddenly turn into the leading candidate for the Heisman."

Except that Smith hasn't shown any flashes of greatness whereas Barrett actually has been a Heisman candidate. So no doubt that Smith won't be great Saturday, but Barrett has shown that he can be great. Just not so far this season.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Hair splitting, Drok. Are you going to be at the game? I won't but Sean will.

[drok]

Hair splitting? My example above is how Devin Gardner was able to play out of his mind in 2013, almost enough to single handedly win the game. He showed flashes of potential previously and was able to put it together for one game whereas he mostly sucked most of the season leading up to the game. That's what makes me nervous.

Yes, I have the pleasure of sitting next to an old fart...Stan (hi Stan!). Different than the old fart I usually get to sit next to (hi Geo!). Too bad I won't see ya on Saturday...hopefully next year!

[Prime2]

Relax fellas, Jim "Hammer" Harbaugh has been preparing for this game since he was 10 years old. With the Ravens at 2-7, I'd like to think brother John is helping to bake this cake too.

NFL Machine Inc. will be ready, my only fear is the B1G incompetent/corrupt officals.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Just read the PSU UFR for defense. I was surprised that there was no significant scheme change after the IU debacle. The primary difference was Stroble/Godin played only a few snaps and Taco was moved to WDE. He had a very good game. RJS was a back-up and when he played he graded well. Wormley and Hurst played almost all the snaps at NT getting spotted sparingly if at all.

I realize that PSU's OL is not good but the DL, of all shades and colors, along with the LBs and Ss when thy were called up to blitz, where in the back field at will. That's why there was no run game from Barkely and Hackenberg spent a good deal of time escaping from large men. The point of this is that when there are players from the opponent's D in the backfield making tackles being gap sound matters little.

It will against osu. Brian states that osu runs a lot of zone stretch. I've read elsewhere they don't. Count me confused. This remains a vulnerability for M against a more talented OL than PSU's and Elliot on a different level than either Howard or Barkley. We'll see.

The LBs and DBs did well and are "rounding in to form." Like I mentioned previously, this is the first time in at least a decade where The TEAM, the team ....... is playing better in November than it played in the previous month which, as well, has been better on balance than the last two coaches were able to manage. HARBAUGH!!!

Believe me, I was skeptical early. Not anymore. There is such a huge difference in what we are seeing on the field in each game compared to the last several and miserable years. This season, I'm not going into a game knowing bad things are about to happen. I was resigned to losing and losing in embarrassing ways before Harbaugh. That feeling is gone. Thank God.

This is going to be a competitive and great game and regardless of the outcome I'll know this regular season bodes well for the future.

[Prime2]

Just think if Hoke managed to survive another year, his game prep would of consisted of sacrificing a French culler to the turnover fairy followed promptly by a nap.

Shane Morris & Russell Bellamy leading the charge!

[iam416]

Jeff:

My complaint isn't with your analysis of the offense. My complaint was with your analysis of UFM. The offense is what it is. It's good but far from hellaciously great. UFM is still a great coach. The MSU disaster confirmed what I knew about the offense; it does nothing to change my assessment of UFM.

[iam416]

Happy Thanksgiving, Asswipes! I l have met a few of you and would thoroughly enjoy meeting most and probably all of you. It's been fantastic talking football with Buchanan, hoops with hack, recruiting with WM, other stuff with Geezer, just about anythibg with Oracle and, in general, sharing good and suck experiences contemporaneously with you asstards. It's even been fun reading OP"s constant nonsense. Godspeed, gents. WAR URBAN!