2013 Ohio State
College Football
Preview
Odds and Schedule
The Buckeyes are planning another undefeated season, but this time it involves a BCS National Championship. With the majority of its offense coming back and plenty of players coming in through recruitment, Ohio State is ready to make a dent in the national scene with Urban Meyer.
Oddsmakers and the betting public apparently like the Buckeye’s chances as well. Both 5 Dimes sportsbook and Sportsbook.ag list them as the 2nd choice of all BCS teams to win the title at odds of 7 to 1 behind only Alabama. Ohio State is also favored to win the Big 10 with even money odds.
Braxton Miller leads an offense that scored just over 37 points per Game in 2012 and most of his supporting cast is back to help. The key is that they were a Top 10 rushing team last year and return Four offensive linemen to go with all of their top rushers. Miller led them on the ground, but also Carlos Hyde (16 TDs), Bri’onte Dunn and Rod Smith will all be getting opportunities to make things happen. Also back is top receiver Corey Brown who should make things easier for Miller in the passing Game.
Whereas the offense is keeping most of their studs, the defense returns only Four starters. Gone is their entire defensive line, and a few linebackers, but luckily, Meyer has plenty of top class talent to pluck from. In addition, a couple of All-Big Ten defenders in Ryan Shazier and Bradley Roby are back to help the process. Basically, this team can be considered better than they were a year ago when they finished with a 12-0 record.
2013 Ohio State Football Schedule
Aug. 31 vs. Buffalo
Sept. 7 vs. San Diego State
Sept. 14 at California
Sept. 21 vs. Florida A&M
Sept. 28 vs. Wisconsin
Oct. 5 at Northwestern
Oct. 19 vs. Iowa
Oct. 26 vs. Penn State
Nov. 2 at Purdue
Nov. 16 at Illinois
Nov. 23 vs. Indiana
Nov. 30 at Michigan
Their Schedule should be able to help them out as well, as it’s a tad easier than last year. That doesn’t bode well for the rest of the Big Ten or other teams pining for the BCS title Game.
The Buckeyes open their season with San Diego State and California who aren’t considered walk overs by any means, but both are Games they should win. Still, travelling to California will be a different task in itself. From there, Ohio State’s Conference Schedule starts with a home Game against Wisconsin, a team transitioning to new coach Gary Andersen. The Buckeyes beat the Badgers on the road last year in overtime.
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Up until the last Game of the year, their Schedule is really favorable as their three road Games are at Northwestern, Purdue and Illinois. The Wildcats will give them the hardest test of that trio. They get to play the two hardest teams in the Leaders division at home which should help them reach the Big Ten title Game. Finally, their regular season ends with a Game at Ann Arbor which will be their hardest Game of the year. They beat the Wolverines last year by five points and this is a heated battle that always seems to come down to the final minutes.
Even so, it wouldn’t be surprising if they already had their division locked up before that Game. At least 11 wins is in sight for the Buckeyes, if not another 12-0 regular season. This time, they’ll have bigger postseason hopes.