After letting up a quick TD, OSU's defense took over During Chris’ Bonfire of Inanities on Sunday, Bruce invited us over to his place to watch the College Football National Championship game. In a surprise move, wives were invited but cigars would be prohibited. Attendance was expected to be light.
On Monday, I brought Mrs. Doofus over to Casa Bruce. Dan passed. I think it was due to smoke inhalation and exhaustion from demolishing kindling for Chris’ fire.
Chris texted that he was in his PJs. Not sure why that kept him from coming over. I think despite all the bravado, he was secretly worried about a Buckeye loss and our withering taunting.
He need not have worried.
Well, maybe at first. Oregon did their typical Duck thing, taking the opening drive 75 yards for a TD in 2½ minutes. This looked like it was going to be a great game.
Ohio State needed to get that score back. They’ve got to keep pace. Oregon looked unstoppable on that first drive.
They didn’t. They punted away. A tinge of worry started.
But OSU made a couple of defensive adjustments and forced an Oregon punt.
It was then that OSU started to take control of the game. Just like the Bama game, Ohio State was resilient, getting down early, not panicking and taking over the game.
On Monday, I brought Mrs. Doofus over to Casa Bruce. Dan passed. I think it was due to smoke inhalation and exhaustion from demolishing kindling for Chris’ fire.
Chris texted that he was in his PJs. Not sure why that kept him from coming over. I think despite all the bravado, he was secretly worried about a Buckeye loss and our withering taunting.
He need not have worried.
Well, maybe at first. Oregon did their typical Duck thing, taking the opening drive 75 yards for a TD in 2½ minutes. This looked like it was going to be a great game.
Ohio State needed to get that score back. They’ve got to keep pace. Oregon looked unstoppable on that first drive.
They didn’t. They punted away. A tinge of worry started.
But OSU made a couple of defensive adjustments and forced an Oregon punt.
It was then that OSU started to take control of the game. Just like the Bama game, Ohio State was resilient, getting down early, not panicking and taking over the game.
But Ohio State kept turning the ball over Ezekiel Elliott started things off with a punishing 33 yard run for a TD. – we're tied at 7.
Cardale Jones joined in the fun, throwing a TD pass on the Buck's next possession to make it 14-7 OSU
OSU’s defense continued to pressure Mariota, holding the supposed unstoppable Oregon offense to a FG through the rest of the half. A key stop was early in the second quarter. Oregon had the ball 4th and goal from the 3. RB Thomas Tyner got it to the goal line but even with second, third and fourth effort couldn’t get it in.
Ohio State took over at the one foot line and was driving again - getting to the 41 but fumbled it away. Turnovers were brutal for Brutus as the fumbled it away four times on the night.
But OSU overcame again. Jones caught fire. A 45 yard pass got the Buckeyes to the Oregon 6. He then ran it three straight times and put it into the end zone. At the half it was 21-10 Bucknuts.
Cardale Jones joined in the fun, throwing a TD pass on the Buck's next possession to make it 14-7 OSU
OSU’s defense continued to pressure Mariota, holding the supposed unstoppable Oregon offense to a FG through the rest of the half. A key stop was early in the second quarter. Oregon had the ball 4th and goal from the 3. RB Thomas Tyner got it to the goal line but even with second, third and fourth effort couldn’t get it in.
Ohio State took over at the one foot line and was driving again - getting to the 41 but fumbled it away. Turnovers were brutal for Brutus as the fumbled it away four times on the night.
But OSU overcame again. Jones caught fire. A 45 yard pass got the Buckeyes to the Oregon 6. He then ran it three straight times and put it into the end zone. At the half it was 21-10 Bucknuts.
Oregon's first possession of the 2nd half - one play, 70 yards - TD Oregon is resilient too. They were not done yet. On their first possession of the second half it was one pass, one play – TD. But the play goes into review. The replay appears to show that the Duck WR Byron Marshall dropped the ball just prior to going into the end zone. Was Karma rearing it's ugly head again.Karma?
Back in November, Utah was pounding Oregon and was about to go up 14-0 early in the 2nd quarter when Kaelin Clay dropped the ball just prior to going into the end zone. While the Utes were celebrating the apparent TD the ball sat on the goal line for what seemed an eternity - Oregon picked it up and ran it back for a tying TD. Was Oregon about to get a taste of their own medicine?
The refs didn't have enough to overrule the TD called on the field and it was now 21-17 Ohio State. Karma was kind on that play.
OSU fumbles it away again on the next drive. Oregon drives and gets a FG. OSU 21 Oregon 20, We got ourselves a ball game!
Well, not quite – Elliott took over the game from there on out scoring 3 TDs on the next 4 Buckeye drives. Oregon had no answer for the Ohio State power game.
Back in November, Utah was pounding Oregon and was about to go up 14-0 early in the 2nd quarter when Kaelin Clay dropped the ball just prior to going into the end zone. While the Utes were celebrating the apparent TD the ball sat on the goal line for what seemed an eternity - Oregon picked it up and ran it back for a tying TD. Was Oregon about to get a taste of their own medicine?
The refs didn't have enough to overrule the TD called on the field and it was now 21-17 Ohio State. Karma was kind on that play.
OSU fumbles it away again on the next drive. Oregon drives and gets a FG. OSU 21 Oregon 20, We got ourselves a ball game!
Well, not quite – Elliott took over the game from there on out scoring 3 TDs on the next 4 Buckeye drives. Oregon had no answer for the Ohio State power game.
Oregon dropped passes at crucial times Elliott was fantastic rushing 36 times for 246 yards (a national championship game record) and 4 TDs. It was the third straight game that he set a career high rushing.
The defense dominated at the point of attack and was stout at key moments. Oregon went 2 for 12 on third down and 0-2 on fourth.
The Ducks were their own worst enemy too. The loss of wide receivers caught up with them as the back ups continually dropped passes. The dropped 3 on the day – all on third down.
Once again, when it really counts, on the biggest stage, a balanced offense that controls the clock and solid defense will beat high powered offenses every time.
Ohio State ran for 292 yards and passed for 242 yards. The key stat though was the time of possession as OSU held the ball for 37½ minutes. That was more than enough to overcome the old adage that turnovers will determine the game. Ohio State was -4 in turnovers.
And Urban Meyer was Urban Meyer again. Oregon was down 35-20 with 3 minutes left. In a last gasp desperation move they went for it on 4th and 11 at their own 14. Mariota’s pass was incomplete and Ohio State took over.
Oregon still had two timeouts left so they could get a miracle comeback. All OSU needed was a first down. If they didn’t they could kick a FG and go up three scores.
Ohio State gets the first down. Its first and goal at the Oregon 2. Time to run out the clock.
Oregon waves the white flag and doesn’t use their last two time outs. Most coaches would kneel down in that situation and and wait for the clock to run out.
Meyer doesn’t. With the first string still in OSU scores one last, meaningless, up yours TD to get ahead 42-20.
The defense dominated at the point of attack and was stout at key moments. Oregon went 2 for 12 on third down and 0-2 on fourth.
The Ducks were their own worst enemy too. The loss of wide receivers caught up with them as the back ups continually dropped passes. The dropped 3 on the day – all on third down.
Once again, when it really counts, on the biggest stage, a balanced offense that controls the clock and solid defense will beat high powered offenses every time.
Ohio State ran for 292 yards and passed for 242 yards. The key stat though was the time of possession as OSU held the ball for 37½ minutes. That was more than enough to overcome the old adage that turnovers will determine the game. Ohio State was -4 in turnovers.
And Urban Meyer was Urban Meyer again. Oregon was down 35-20 with 3 minutes left. In a last gasp desperation move they went for it on 4th and 11 at their own 14. Mariota’s pass was incomplete and Ohio State took over.
Oregon still had two timeouts left so they could get a miracle comeback. All OSU needed was a first down. If they didn’t they could kick a FG and go up three scores.
Ohio State gets the first down. Its first and goal at the Oregon 2. Time to run out the clock.
Oregon waves the white flag and doesn’t use their last two time outs. Most coaches would kneel down in that situation and and wait for the clock to run out.
Meyer doesn’t. With the first string still in OSU scores one last, meaningless, up yours TD to get ahead 42-20.
Elliott dominated the Ducks That’s why people hate Ohio State Chris! Yeah, I know, it’s up to Oregon to stop the play but why go for it in the first place. The game was won, the Gatorade was being readied, the trophy being brought to midfield. It was totally unnecessary.
But I’ll give Ohio State credit. It was a dominating performance.
And it was another Mega Bet win!
The Big Book of Guesses had a solid bowl performance going 22-17 (56%). The Doofus was superb again during Bowl Season going 5-2 (71%) on the Mega Bets.
The Sheriff had a good outing. While he was disappointed that he didn’t hit his target of 7-3 he did go 6-4 (60%) with:
Utah (-3) over Colorado State. Vegas Bowl - Utah 45 CSU 10 Win
Navy (+2.5) over San Diego State. Poinsettia Bowl - Navy 17 SDSU 16 Win
Central Michigan (+3) over Western Kentucky. Bahamas Bowl - WKU 49 CMU 48 Win (This and the MSU game were the most exciting games of the season)
USC (-6.5) over Nebraska. Holiday Bowl - USC 45 Nebraska 42 Loss
Arkansas (-6) over Texas. Texas Bowl - Arkansas 31 Texas 7 Win
LSU (-7.5) over Notre Dame. Music City Bowl - Notre Dame 31 LSU 28 Loss (Mark is still crowing)
Stanford (-14) over Maryland. Foster Farms Bowl - Stanford 45 Maryland 21 Win
Auburn (-6.5) over Wisconsin. Outback Bowl - Wisconsin 34 Auburn 31 Loss (SEC West went 2-5 in Bowls)
Florida State (+9) over Oregon. Rose Bowl - Oregon 59 FSU 20 Loss
Tennessee (-3.5) over Iowa. Taxslayer Bowl - Tennessee 45 Iowa 28 Win (But SEC East saved the day by going 5-0)
All in all a great bowl season. And the playoffs got it right. Just think, if it were the old BCS system, Bama and FSU would have played for the championship. Neither made it to the final game.
But I’ll give Ohio State credit. It was a dominating performance.
And it was another Mega Bet win!
The Big Book of Guesses had a solid bowl performance going 22-17 (56%). The Doofus was superb again during Bowl Season going 5-2 (71%) on the Mega Bets.
The Sheriff had a good outing. While he was disappointed that he didn’t hit his target of 7-3 he did go 6-4 (60%) with:
Utah (-3) over Colorado State. Vegas Bowl - Utah 45 CSU 10 Win
Navy (+2.5) over San Diego State. Poinsettia Bowl - Navy 17 SDSU 16 Win
Central Michigan (+3) over Western Kentucky. Bahamas Bowl - WKU 49 CMU 48 Win (This and the MSU game were the most exciting games of the season)
USC (-6.5) over Nebraska. Holiday Bowl - USC 45 Nebraska 42 Loss
Arkansas (-6) over Texas. Texas Bowl - Arkansas 31 Texas 7 Win
LSU (-7.5) over Notre Dame. Music City Bowl - Notre Dame 31 LSU 28 Loss (Mark is still crowing)
Stanford (-14) over Maryland. Foster Farms Bowl - Stanford 45 Maryland 21 Win
Auburn (-6.5) over Wisconsin. Outback Bowl - Wisconsin 34 Auburn 31 Loss (SEC West went 2-5 in Bowls)
Florida State (+9) over Oregon. Rose Bowl - Oregon 59 FSU 20 Loss
Tennessee (-3.5) over Iowa. Taxslayer Bowl - Tennessee 45 Iowa 28 Win (But SEC East saved the day by going 5-0)
All in all a great bowl season. And the playoffs got it right. Just think, if it were the old BCS system, Bama and FSU would have played for the championship. Neither made it to the final game.
