The Buckeyes head to the unfriendly confines of Lincoln, Nebraska for their toughest challenge to date. Nebraska is coming off a huge loss to Wisconsin and is eager to make their Big Ten home opener a memorable one. Does Ohio State shock the world and put the whopping on the Huskers, or do they fall to 0-2 in Big Ten play?
Ohio State heads into this as a major underdog. In fact the feeling is this could be a repeat of what happened at USC back in 2008. The Buckeyes can eliminate this possibility by doing several things really well.
From a defensive standpoint, they match up well with the Cornhuskers. If the Buckeyes can shut down the run game and force Taylor Martinez to beat them with his arm, they may have a chance. Martinez is a good quarterback, however if opponents can get a steady pass rush on him he’s shown the tendency to make mistakes.
On offense, Ohio State has to come out and play like there’s nothing to lose. If the coaching staff is smart they’ll come out with a passing attack, which features slants, screens and crossing routes. If Braxton Miller can complete some of these early it will provide him with some confidence and keep Nebraska’s defense on its toes. If the Buckeyes can establish momentum early, look out, this could be a game.
This game will show us the mindset of the team and coaches. After coming off an ugly loss it will be interesting to see how this group handles a tough environment. The Buckeyes are playing for their season and they know an upset or huge performance on the road can turn the tide of their season.
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