Nebraska and Ohio State Meet With Little Expectations

Growing up, there were a few things I could count on, my Dad would work hard, the winter in Nebraska would be cold and snowy and Nebraska and Ohio State would be ranked in the Top Ten at the end of the college football season. Saturday night, the two teams play each other for only the third time and the first time since 1956. This time both teams are coming off of shaky performances that leave fan bases wondering how each team is mentally and physically prepared for the game.

The teams will play in front of another sellout crowd in Lincoln, a contest that is set to be broadcast by ABC with a 7:07 p.m. kickoff.

Ohio State has had numerous distractions since late last season with the NCAA investigating illegal benefits to several players that have led to a coaches' resignation, several players suspensions and some defections from the ranks. New coach Luke Fickell has had to put his roster together without several key pieces he had expected to utilize entering the season. The Buckeyes are 3-2 and are struggling with one of the least productive offenses in college football.

The Buckeyes will likely play two quarterbacks Saturday night. Braxton Miller (6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Freshman) is the future of Ohio State football. He is a talented athlete with little experience in big-time college football games. Miller can run well and is learning to throw the football. He will sometimes make poor decisions and give up interceptions. He runs for nearly 30 yards per game and passes for 73. Senior Joe Bauserman (6-1, 230)  is the more steady but less flashy quarterback. He is no threat as a runner but has passed for 96 yards per game. Interestingly both quarterbacks complete 51.3 percent of their passes so far this season. This duo will not be nearly as tough to stop as some signal callers Nebraska has played or as some they will face later this season.

Ohio State has a pair of quality receivers the Nebraska secondary has to prepare for. Jake Stoneburner (6-5, 245, Jr.) is the main possession receiver for the Buckeyes. He is a big target at tight end. Stoneburner paces the team with four touchdown grabs and 10 total receptions in 2011. Freshman Devin Smith (6-3, 190) is the speed receiver. He has eight catches this season for three scores and averages nearly 23 yards per reception. His speed is something the Big Red defenders will have to account for whenever he is on the field.

The running game has produced little so far for Ohio State in 2011. Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, Jr.) is set to get the start at running back for the Buckeyes. He averages 72 yards per game. Hall is a small back that shows good quickness. Also seeing a great deal of action in the backfield is Carlos Hyde (6-0, 238, So.). Hyde is a more physical runner that will try and wear down the Husker defense.Hyde averages 59 yards per game on the ground and leads the team with three rushing touchdowns. This ground attack is nowhere close to what Buckeye fans have expected this season.

The most disappointing group for Ohio State so far this season has been the offensive line. They have not played well and the offense as a whole has struggled because of it. Physically Ohio State passes the eyeball test. From tackle to tackle the Buckeyes average over 6-6 and 307 pounds per man. Left tackle Mike Adams (6-8, 320, Sr.) and right tackle J. B. Shugarts (6-7, 300, Sr.) look great coming off the bus but the production has been poor for this unit to this point in the season.

Ohio State has been very impressive defensively in 2011. As a team they give up only 93 yards per game rushing, 195 yards passing and 14.6 points per game. This defense is good enough to keep the Buckeyes in the game against any opponent. Linebacker Andrew Sweat (6-2, 238, Sr.) is a great leader. He has 34 total tackles, 12 more than anyone else on the team. Sweat is the only senior starter on the defense and so his contributions have made the defense go. Ohio State is solid, but small in the secondary as well. The Huskers may be able to open up Quincy Enunwa, or Kyler Reed against small Buckeye safeties with play action passes down the field. That would be well set up if the Huskers can establish their running game first.

The Buckeyes have great return men. Receiver Chris Fields (6-0, 180, So.) averages over 17 yards on punt return. Jordan Hall averages nearly 47 yards per kickoff return. As a team the Buckeyes average 29 yards per kickoff return. Nebraska must maintain their assignments on kick coverage. Kicker Drew Basil (6-1, 212, So.) is 5 of 7 on field goals with both his misses over 40 yards. Punter Ben Buchanan (6-0, 180, Jr.) averages 41.4 yards per punt. Ohio State certainly displays solid special teams play this season.

Ohio State has played well defensively and in the return game. Nebraska has big play potential offensively and matches the Buckeyes on special teams. Nebraska needs to play with heart, the fans have to get excited and rally around the team. The Huskers are the better team in this matchup in Lincoln. Look for the Huskers to post a 31-20 victory over Ohio State.