OSU faces Longhorns, long shot
Published 9:11 pm Saturday, January 3, 2009
Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Az.
No. 10 Ohio St. (10-2) vs. No. 3 Texas (11-1) – 8 p.m. – WVBT
It’s the final chance for the Big Ten to salvage some respectability out of this bowl season. Penn St. actually played well and was blitzed by USC. Only Iowa, aided by too many South Carolina interceptions to count, has won. Now the Buckeyes get a team which could just as easily be No. 1 in the nation at the moment.
Whether Texas is upset with the BCS and decides to be down, or decides to take it out on its opponent, will have the most to do with the outcome.
Ohio St. didn’t score a touchdown in eight quarters against USC and Penn St. OSU’s most impressive win, I guess, is against Michigan St.
Colt McCoy had a Heisman-worthy year, but couldn’t even be all-conference, or all-division, because of OU’s Sam Bradford. McCoy’s 77.6 percent completion rate is an NCAA record for a season. McCoy threw for 32 touchdowns and ran for 10 versus seven interceptions.
Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby are McCoy’s best targets. Shipley adds a dangerous returner, he has a punt return and kick return for touchdowns this year; as if Texas needed more talent.
Line – Texas by 8
My pick – Texas 40-17