This isn’t a thread to debate potential seeding. Almost every outlet is projecting OSU and Tennessee in the 8 and 9 slots(although differing who plays at home.) With the committee explicitly saying they won’t punish the loser of conference championship games it is probable that this will hold regardless of PSU or Georgia losing next week.
What are your thoughts and excitement level to take on the Vols? Some info on Tennessee:
- Finished 10-2 with 1 ranked win by 7 vs Alabama. Lost @Georgia and @Arkansas
- They are way more of a defensive focused team than you would guess with Heupal at HC. They only scored 30 points twice during SEC play(against Vandy and Mississippi state)
- FPI has them as the 7th best team, FEI has them at 11th with the 40th best offense and 5th best defense. Phil Steele’s Vegas rankings entering week 14 had osu as a 6 point favorite over Tennessee
- Tennessee defense: Could be a matchup problem for osu with UT’s strength being their defensive line. Tennessee may be the best run defense in the country, they held Georgia’s RB to 3.6 YPC. However they aren’t as good in the pass.
- Tennessee offense: Surprisingly they haven’t been great on offense this year. Nico Iamaleava hasn’t been great. He has only thrown over 200 yards twice in SEC play. If you take out UTEP and Chattanooga he only threw 12 touchdowns in 10 games. However they are very good running the ball with Dylan Sampson. He killed everybody this year, he ran for 5.3 YPC against Bama and Georgia. Heupal has really figured out how to use the run game this year with Nico not being great.
This wouldn’t be the best matchup but at home and more importantly if the team is focused I think OSU wins. The offense would really have to figure something out because the OL simply won’t be able to run against these dudes. I also feel like playing an SEC team who will be talking shit for the next month would be great to get everybody focused in again
