Bad Day For The Buckeyes!

If there was any question concerning Mark Sanchez ability to run the system at USC, I believe his critics were answered-soundly. USC remains #1 in both the AP and the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Ohio State Buckeyes dropped to #13 in the AP Poll and #14 in the Coaches Poll.

(Photo courtesy of USCRipsIt.com)

Why USC is so good...

If you want to know why Southern California is so good every year, let me take you back to an article written by ESPN's Chris Low from January 22, 2008, titled "Former Trojans happy to be reunited with Kiffin" (link to article). For those of you out of the loop, Coach Lane Kiffin, was the former USC offensive coordinator, before Al Davis (Oakland Raiders owner) hired him as the youngest coach (age 32) in the NFL. Kiffin reunited with nine of his former players (QB John David Booty, OT Sam Baker , tight end Fred Davis, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, defensive end Lawrence Jackson, offensive guard Drew Radovich, linebacker Keith Rivers, cornerback Terrell Thomas and running back Chauncey Washington ) at USC in the Senior Bowl as he and the rest of the Raiders staff coached the North team.

USC's Head Coach Pete Carroll has instilled a system of always competing and a philosophy of "winning forever". To which the article captured Carroll's methods quoting Booty as saying, "It goes back to recruiting, Coach Carroll does a fabulous job of getting guys in there and then teaching them a system. Guys really buy into it and believe in it and never waver from it. Everybody loves him, You watch TV, and everybody goes, 'I want to go play for that guy' with the way he carries himself. He's always like that. It's not a front. It's the way he is every day, and then you're in Los Angeles where everybody wants to live with Hollywood, the beach and everything. You have everything in the world around you, and there's no NFL team. You have the whole market, and we play for an historic institution. It's a win-win situation. As long as Coach Carroll is there, I don't see it changing."

And even when USC has a "rough" season going 11-2 last season, they finished with an appearance in the Rose Bowl routing Illinois 49-17 . The Trojans Tuesday practices are legendary in their level of intensity. And the Men of Troy never rebuild; they just reload, garnering top level recruits every year. It will be something to see tonight as both the Buckeyes and the Trojans have smothering defenses. Yet, without Beanie Wells, the Buckeyes won't have an answer to the explosive offense of the Trojans. (Photo courtesy of ESPN.com)

Where is my girl Erin Andrews?

The Buckeyes always play better when Erin Andrews is on the side-lines. The Bushido always writes better when Erin is wearing pink. Is it a liberal-Michigan-media conspiracy that Ms. Andrews was not giving us special side-line insight? The Bushido misses you Erin.

Get Well Ted!

It pained me to see Ted Ginn Jr bracing on crutches on the sidelines. The Buckeye Nation hopes you get off that bad wheel soon Ted. You made your mark tonight for the Buckeyes and I am sure it pulled at your heart strings just as much as ours to watch our beloved Buckeyes lose tonight. Get well Ted!

Bushido's predictions for tonight's games

The Bushido is picking the Buckeyes to win tonight. I am leaving it to these key points. I look for the Gators to make it a game in the first half, they may score first. They may even have the lead at the half, but Troy Smith and the Buckeyes will finish off the Gators in the 2nd half.





Why the Buckeyes will win tonight!

1) Buckeye Defense: James Laurinaitis will be the difference maker on the Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin and the run game they bring to the Florida offense. Eleven players on the Buckeye defense have at least two-interceptions, this will obviously be a major issue for Florida QB Chris Leak. In 35 trips to the red-zone, the Buckeyes have only allowed 9-TDs-impressive.

2) #10 Troy Smith is the Heisman Trophy Winner for a reason. He has pin-point accuracy as a passer, moves quickly on his feet-Florida plans to flush Smith from the pocket, but that seems to be where he is at his best. Smith is mobile, he can run the ball, and make plays happen. Troy Smith is a true leader on the grid-iron, look for him to have a big game tonight.

3) The SEC is not the same SEC as old: Today's SEC has strong rushers, but only one leading reciever per team. The Florida Gators have not faced the arsenal of weapons the Buckeyes have in their receiver corps-Ted Ginn Jr, Antonio Pittman and Gonzalez. The Gators pride themselves on containing Arkansas RB Darren McFadden to only 73-yards, but it happened to be a Big Ten Team that held him to less.

4) Florida will beat themselves tonight: Mistakes, turn-overs and hubris will be the instruments of defeat for the Gators tonight. The first two reasons are self-explanatory, but the hubris of the Gators and the confidence in their own ability will be their demise tonight. If the Gators stick with their one-on-one coverage and try to push everything to the line, the Buckeyes will manipulate and exploit these match-ups, especially the unstoppable quick-slant passes to Gonzalez.

Final Score: Buckeyes 32, Florida 21

James Laurinaitis and the Buckeye Defense will be the difference

With all of the talk about Florida's speed on both side of the ball and the main focus on Ohio State's Offense, the difference maker, one James Laurinaitis seems to get over-looked. Laurinaitis (nicknamed "the animal" because his dad was a professional wrestler) is a 6'3, 244-pound wrecking machine.

Florida's back-up/part-time QB, Tim Tebow, is evenly matched for size with Laurinaitis. The signature move on film for the running QB Tebow is the iso up the middle. Unfortunately for the Gators, that lane will be clogged with the animal instincts of James Laurinaitis, who has 100 tackles (team high), 5-intereceptions and 3 forced fumbles, will definitely make the freshman Tebow, Florida RB Percy Harvin and Chris Leak have a bad trip in Arizona.

Go Bucks!

Can Chris Leak beat the Buckeyes?

Despite the mean face here, highly doubtful. Leak has an achilles heel-he always makes at least two bad decisions during a game (think the SEC Championship when he threw 2-Interceptions to let Arkansas back into the game.

I am sure that Coach Meyer will give the Bucks a healthy dose of screen-plays and "trickeration" but sooner or later, Leak will have to throw the ball down field towards the Buckeyes very fast, very capable corners (i.e. Michael Jenkins).

My roommate Craig Blackmon was Leak's QB coach at Independence High in Charlotte, so I can say without a doubt that the kid is well coached. But I-High Patriots and the Florida Gators have never faced the speed and pressure from the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Ohio State Buckeyes face the Florida Gators for the National Championship tonight @ 8 pm

The Ohio State Buckeyes face the Florida Gators in tonight's BCS Championship Game @ 8 pm on FOX. Ohio State is favored by (-8 points) and the over/under is 48.5.

Of course the Bushido is pulling for the Buckeys in tonight's game, but I didn't want to let my emotions cloud my judgment, so I asked Little Isabel what she thought and she said, "Uncle Jet, Tressel loves Arizona there is even a town 45-minutes outside of Phoenix named Buckeye, Arizona. Have no fear Uncle Jet, the Bucks will cover the spread and you should take the over, because even though the Gators have a coach from Ohio, they don't have Coach Jim Tressel. Go Buckeyes!"

I tell you that kid is a prodigy-dang, she's smart! Uncle Jet loves you Isabella and your new jacket! (Photo compliments of Miles White)

In Tressel, We Trust!

If Urban Meyer (from Ashtabula, Ohio) wins tonight he would join fellow Northeast Ohioians Bob Stoops (Youngstown) and Jim Tressel (Mentor) with a National Championship Title to put on the mantle. Unfortunately for Coach Myer, a fellow Ohioian, with a 4-0 BCS Bowl record and the 3rd active college football coach with the most wins behind Bobby Bowden and Joe Pa. Sorry Urban. Go Bucks!

Ohio State is the first school in NCAA history to have a 9-figure athletic budget!

The Ohio State Buckeyes turn the NCAA upside down as the Bucks are the first school with a 9-figure athletic budget, topping the NCAA with an $102 million athletic budget that sponsors 36 sports (16 more than Florida). The Buckeyes play their 4th bowl game in 5 years in Arizona tonight against the Florida Gators for the BCS Championship Game. Go Bucks!

The Buckeyes will be led by Brutus, TBDBITL and the Ohio State Cheerleaders

The Best Damn Band in the Land, Brutus the Buckeye and the Ohio State Cheerleaders will keep the Scarlet and Gray rolling tonight! Go Buckeyes!

3 Days and a wake-up before the biggest rivalry in College Football!

I took a sick-day today because I caught the bug going around. I am feeling better and will be back at work (@ the law firm-Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, LLC) tomorrow. I couldn't let you down and miss another shot at Michigan, so here you go. WILSON!!!

Muck Fichigan! Messages Home from Iraq!

4-days and a wake-up until The Ohio State vs. Michigan game!










Honestly, I think things are turning around in Iraq!

And so it begins...

Countdown until #1 The Ohio State Buckeyes host the 2nd ranked Michigan Wolverines is 5-days. I thought we start a new tradition here at the Bushido and give those Wolverines their just desserts. Class has started Michigan, prepare to be schooled on Saturday!

(Photo compliments of Rival Fanatics)