Sparty has earned my begrudging respect in recent with games that are closer than they should be and some absolutely soul-crushing victories. I'm still haunted by that damn "Go Green, Go White" chant after the 2013 Big Ten Championship game and that kicker may as well still be swinging his arm.
They've been Urban Meyer's bugaboo since he came to Ohio State, but here's the thing: Urban Meyer ain't here anymore, and there's nothing to convince me that Ryan Day isn't about to flay this team just like the Buckeyes have everyone else on the docket.
The Spartans defense is legit – don't get me wrong – but I don't get why we're acting like Day's in uncharted territory here when his offense dropped 48 on the Green Machine literally the last time they came to Columbus. Let's not pretend to be surprised when Ohio State slaps a 50 spot on the scoreboard tonight.
As for the other side of the ball, you should consider sending your children to bed early because they don't need to see this.
The Spartans offense that managed just six points against statistically the worst Ohio State defense in program history has had to replace four injured starters on the offensive line this year and is probably trotting out a true freshman at tackle, opposite of Chase Young. There's a strong, strong chance this offense scores more points for Ohio State than Michigan State.
Folks, I really think this is going to get ugly. Maybe I'm overconfident based on five easy games, but maybe Ohio State's just a damn wagon and Sparty's just the next team to get run over. I'm going with the latter.
Today's slate: Subpar.
| TIME (ET) | GAME | FAVORITE | TELEVISION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 | #14 IOWA @ #19 MICHIGAN | MICH (-3.5) | FOX |
| 12:00 | PURDUE @ #12 PENN STATE | PSU (-28.5 | ESPN |
| 12:00 | #6 OKLAHOMA @ KANSAS | OU (-33) | ABC |
| 12:00 | UTAH STATE @ #5 LSU | LSU (-27.5) | SECN |
| 12:00 | #21 OKLAHOMA STATE @ TEXAS TECH | OK STATE (-10) | FS1 |
| 3:30 | #7 AUBURN @ #10 FLORIDA | AUB (-3) | CBS |
| 3:30 | #11 TEXAS @ WEST VIRGINIA | TEX (-10.5) | ABC |
| 4:00 | NORTHWESTERN @ NEBRASKA | NEB (-7.5) | FOX |
| 7:00 | #3 GEORGIA @ TENNESSEE | TENN (-25) | ESPN |
| 7:30 | #25 MICHIGAN STATE @ #4 OHIO STATE | OSU (-20) | ABC |
| 8:00 | CALIFORNIA @ #13 OREGON | OREG (-20) | FOX |
| 10:30 | #15 WASHINGTON @ STANFORD | WASH (-14.5) | ESPN |
Word of the Day: Dismantle.
THAT 11W PREGAME FIX.
- Game preview.
- Five things to know.
- Status report.
- Depth chart.
- Mid-week notebook.
- Across the Field.
- 10 reasons to hate.
- Game poster.
- Game trailer.
- Visitors list.
- Round table.
- The situational.
- Our picks against the spread.
HAVING A FIELD DAY. We're five games into the season and Justin Fields is putting up numbers I'd struggle to register in a video game, and he's making it look fun and easy as he goes.
So @justnfields looks like hes living in a video game on the field this season. He hasnt even played a full game yet but hes a Heisman candidate and has @OhioStateFB 5-0. Now comes the hard part - @MSU_Footballs top-10 defense. My SC piece on Fields Starr at OSU #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/1kgKRguDJG
— Edward Aschoff (@AschoffESPN) October 4, 2019
I'm generally not into knighting folks after five games against unranked opponents, but I'm going to go ahead and knight him after five games against unranked opponents. He's going to New York in December, the only question in my mind his whether or not he'll have thrown an interception at that point, and my gut says "nope."
ON THE RIGHT TRACK. Folks, for the first time this year, I pulled off a winning record on the week. It may have been the smallest possible winning week at 6-4, but it was a winning week nonetheless.
That brings me to 16-23-1 on the season. It's still bad, but it's getting better!
Here are my picks this week, for your comedic pleasure:
- Utah State +28 against LSU – Utah State's got a solid offense led by Jordan Love, who's probably a future NFL quarterback, and LSU's defense has not been great.
- Michigan -4 against Iowa – I don't think Michigan is god, but I think in a lot of ways Iowa is just Michigan with less talent on the roster.
- Baylor/Kansas State UNDER 49 points – I would have gleefully taken this number in perfect weather conditions with how slow Kansas State moves on offense, but we're looking at strong crosswinds as well. Give me the under.
- Air Force/Navy UNDER 46 – A game between two service academy teams is just an automatic under play, I don't even care what the number is. You'd think at some point there would be some sort of market correction and the unders would stop hitting, but until that happens I'm going to ride the wave.
- Ohio State -20 against Michigan State – I'll stop taking Ohio State when Vegas starts setting a real line. The Buckeyes are going to win by four touchdowns at least.
We're sticking with five this week, because I don't like a whole lot. So I'll do the responsible thing and not force anything.
NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. Strange fireballs soared across Chile's skies and they weren't meteorites... 29-year-old French entrepreneur creates light without electricity... Otis the pug is stolen, found, then a homeless man refuses the $15K reward and things get weird... A mom whose daughter constantly swears and tries to climb out of windows is forced to quit her job after the child is kicked out of the nursery... Why this woman hangs affirming signs over Columbus highways...
