OHIO at OHIO STATE:

Canton Repository

September 06, 2008 03:45 am

— n TV — ESPN with Pam Ward and Ray Bentley.
n RADIO — Ohio State Radio Network (WFUN, WFXJ) with Paul Keels, Jim Lachey and Marty Bannister.
n ODDS — OSU is a 331⁄2-point favorite.
n THE SERIES — The Buckeyes are 5-0 over the Bobcats, dating to 1899. OSU won the last meeting, 40-16, in 1999 at Ohio Stadium. OSU is 175-48-15 against Ohio teams. The last time an in-state opponent beat the Buckeyes was 1921, when Oberlin won, 7-6.
n THEY’RE FROM OHIO UNIVERSITY — Actor Paul Newman; Roger Ailes, president and CEO of the Fox News Channel; “MacGyver” star Richard Dean Anderson; “Today Show” co-host Matt Lauer and Peter King from Sports Illustrated are alumni.
n HISTORY — A win would give the Buckeyes 800 all-time wins, joining Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas and Nebraska at that milestone.
n THE COACHES — Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel is looking for his 210th all-time win and his 75th at OSU. He is 74-16 as the Buckeyes head coach. Frank Solich, a former fullback at Nebraska, is in his fourth season with the Bobcats. He is 19-19 at Ohio and 77-38 overall as a head coach.
n HOW IT WILL GO — Ohio State will rest RB Beanie Wells and allow his right foot time to heal before next week’s game at No. 1 USC. That means Maurice Wells, Brandon Saine and Boom Herron will get extended time in the backfield. Wyoming had success running the ball last week against Ohio. QB Todd Boeckman was spot on in the passing game last week despite not being able to get into a rhythm with Terrelle Pryor and Joe Bauserman rotating in. The Bobcats were helped by two interceptions a week ago. It will be interesting to see if Pryor gets more time at QB without Wells in the backfield. Pryor was OSU’s second-leading rusher against Youngstown State. Ohio is inexperienced in the backfield. QB Theo Scott had more than 200 yards passing against Wyoming. Someone will return a pick for an interception today.
n PORTER’S PICK — This will be slightly more of a test than YSU was — but only slightly. Ohio State, 45-0.
—Todd Porter

Photos

Star Beacon