B1G Championship Game - Wisconsin vs Ohio St. - Saturday, Dec 7th, 7PM

[homer]

Thought this would be a good game for its own thread. OSU is currently a -17.5 point favorite. To me, the key on defense is getting a pass rush. The Minnesota QB was under constant duress last week and made a bunch of throws off his back foot (in addition to eating turf a number of times). You can really mask mediocre defensive backs by putting pressure on a QB. I really don't see any other way to stop OSU's skill players.

[Samurai Bucky]

Read option. Hopefully that will make them less predictable. They have been trying to incorporate it into the offense lately. Not sure how well it will go.

[homer]

Read option. Hopefully that will make them less predictable. They have been trying to incorporate it into the offense lately. Not sure how well it will go.

 

I think they can do that with the Wildcat but not with Coan. Or maybe that's what you meant.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

Put people in motion. Doesn't have to be a jet sweep or and end around every time. Just give the defense some different looks and not let them win at the line of scrimmage via knowing your tendencies by formation. Heck, if you like to run strong side right, at least start the TE on the left and motion him to the right before the snap. Anything but a static offense where you simply expect your massive o-line to win the line of scrimmage by shear might the way you can against Eastern Illinois. Give the defense something to think about and react to as opposed to chomping at the bit because they know "run right" or "run left" is coming.

[trwi7]

Thought this would be a good game for its own thread. OSU is currently a -17.5 point favorite. To me, the key on defense is getting a pass rush. The Minnesota QB was under constant duress last week and made a bunch of throws off his back foot (in addition to eating turf a number of times). You can really mask mediocre defensive backs by putting pressure on a QB. I really don't see any other way to stop OSU's skill players.

 

Unfortunately, Justin Fields has better secondary moves other than back pedal and throw off your back foot so you'll likely need some sort of spy or be damn confident that your rushers can not only get pressure but maintain their lanes.

[homer]

Thought this would be a good game for its own thread. OSU is currently a -17.5 point favorite. To me, the key on defense is getting a pass rush. The Minnesota QB was under constant duress last week and made a bunch of throws off his back foot (in addition to eating turf a number of times). You can really mask mediocre defensive backs by putting pressure on a QB. I really don't see any other way to stop OSU's skill players.

 

Unfortunately, Justin Fields has better secondary moves other than back pedal and throw off your back foot so you'll likely need some sort of spy or be damn confident that your rushers can not only get pressure but maintain their lanes.

 

Yeah, it's bleak. Really think the only hope is if UW wins the turnover battle by like 3.

[LouisEly]

At one point in the 3rd quarter of the game at OSU it was 10-7. They can hang with them if they execute and effectively block Young. The strip-sacks really killed them and blew that game open - remember, both of those fumbles were in Ohio State territory.

[homer]

At one point in the 3rd quarter of the game at OSU it was 10-7. They can hang with them if they execute and effectively block Young. The strip-sacks really killed them and blew that game open - remember, both of those fumbles were in Ohio State territory.

 

I had a similar thought but I looked at the box score and it was already 24 - 7 when the first one occurred which was a 4th and 8 play. So if game goes as it had been they probably don't make it and OSU gets the ball in roughly the same spot.

[owbc]

With nothing to lose I expect aggressive playcalling, trick plays, etc. Hopefully they didn't burn all of their best plays against Minnesota. I expect a loss but a better fight than last time. High scoring with Wisconsin losing by 1-2 possessions.

[JosephC]

Get the boosters to throw in a big wad of cash and try to import some ringers from the NFL.

[PeaveyFury]

I think the main goal/hope is to take what was a game in the 3rd quarter before getting out of hand the first time and making that a game in the 4th quarter. Play it close as long as you can, and even though you probably won't win, it gets you to Pasadena.

[wildcat83]

To have a chance I think they need to control time of possession and have at least a +2 in turnover margin.

 

They really didn’t sustain drives in the first game and the defense was on the field a ton. They need to run the football by whatever means possible to shorten up the game. For sure a tall task in front of them.

[MrTPlush]

If they want to keep it close:

 

Just do typical Wisconsin stuff and burn the clock...limit possessions. Don't turn it over.

 

If they want to win:

 

They need to play offense like they did against Minnesota. Which was by far the best offense I can recall all season. A lot sweeps and other goofy stuff that isn't just running between the tackles with an occasional slant route. Probably have 95% of the playbook be plays where Chase Young sacking the QB isn't even feasibly possible. Defensively they will need to pressure the QB and hope for some INTs...even though our DBs can't catch a ball. Maybe get those drive crippling 8 yard sacks. This is a risky game plan….either it works and you may pull off a Christmas miracle...or they get creamed beyond belief.

 

They won't control possession time because we aren't going to run our way to victory and have a boatload of plays. We didn't do it the first time, no one else can do it, and we aren't doing it the second time.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I actually think the Badgers' best chance to win lies with them doing everything they can to shut down Dobbins and OSU's routine run game, and hope that reaggravated MCL sprain Fields suffered against Michigan is a factor with his mobility and overall performance. It didn't look like it impacted him much after returning to the Michigan game, but they already had them blown out when he got dinged.

 

If Fields is healthy enough to perform at 80% of the level he's consistently been at this season, the Badgers don't really have a chance to win. If he's balky and has to shoulder more of the load because Dobbins can't get going, I can see the defense having a decent enough performance to give Wisconsin a chance to win.

[MrTPlush]

Someone probably needs to fall on that knee a second time before the 1st quarter is done.

[CheezWizHed]

Seemed like WI played very vanilla on offense against OhioSt last time. Throw in a few wrinkles and not just line it up and hand off most of the time.

[Samurai Bucky]

Read option. Hopefully that will make them less predictable. They have been trying to incorporate it into the offense lately. Not sure how well it will go.

 

I think they can do that with the Wildcat but not with Coan. Or maybe that's what you meant.

Yes... and no.

 

With Coan, there is a chance where he could run for a few yards. If Cruickshank is in there, write off any passes... unless there is really something up their sleeve. I haven't seen Cruickshank throw one pass and don't have much faith in that.

[MrTPlush]

Read option. Hopefully that will make them less predictable. They have been trying to incorporate it into the offense lately. Not sure how well it will go.

 

I think they can do that with the Wildcat but not with Coan. Or maybe that's what you meant.

Yes... and no.

 

With Coan, there is a chance where he could run for a few yards. If Cruickshank is in there, write off any passes... unless there is really something up their sleeve. I haven't seen Cruickshank throw one pass and don't have much faith in that.

 

Maybe Cruick throwing a pass is just what they need to do to win.

 

I have never seen a kicker catch a TD pass from the punter, but yet that happened in the NFL.

 

They are either going to go into Saturday with the most outlandish plan we have seen Chryst ever do or just accept losing by three touchdowns instead of risking a worse loss. We are playing January 1st regardless, go out there and try to be crazy.

[tmwiese55]

Something I don't think they've pulled out yet is Groshek throwing a pass. I could easily be wrong though. I seem to remember they were lined up in a WC with him at QB in a big 3rd or 4th down situation this year where I predicted that would be the call but there was a false start, timeout, or something that changed things and it didn't happen. If they're down big in this game I wouldn't bother showing it, but as some point you'd think they could burn someone with it or get an easy 2 pt conversion with it.

[MadThinker88]

When the playoff rankings get revealed later today, OSU will be watching them just as closely as WI.

 

While WI is focused for positioning after the game & bowl attendance, a better ranking for WI means OSU has better counter to the SEC argument of LSU/ Georgia (at the moment #2 vs #4) & the idea that a LSU win should put the SEC team as the #1 seed in the playoff.

[tmwiese55]

Being the 1 seed and avoiding the Clemson matchup in the first round is huge too. I think OSU gets the 1 assuming a non fluky win vs UW. Even if just a normal 27-17 type win. Of course I wouldn't guarantee it and say LSU straight up annihilates UGA that would change things. But just my general vibe, nobody has been as close to dominant all year as OSU, heck few teams ever.

 

Another quirk of the seeding is that to my best memory (could be wrong) the 1 seed gets to pick their preferred location for round 1. OSU should pick ATL and make the two southern teams go west. This would make Utah (assuming chalk wins this weekend) have to travel all the way East to play the home crowd of someone else in ATL. If LSU goes 1 they'd get to play in ATL again, then New Orleans for the title game. Obviously not a big deal, but I like making the southern teams leave home for once. An unspoken thing in all of the bowl system and now playoffs is the massive advantage the southern and Western teams have on locations. When it was just Bowl games for fun then whatever, no big deal. But now that it decides the championship I feel like Indy, Detroit, and MN should be included in the rotation to create some semblance of balance. Indy is absolutely perfect setup with their stadium and would give OSU a location equivalent of what all the southern teams get in NO, ATL, MIA, Dallas.

[owbc]

I hate it but I think Oklahoma finds a way to get the 4th playoff spot.

[tmwiese55]

I hate it but I think Oklahoma finds a way to get the 4th playoff spot.

 

That's going to be the debate with chalk wins this weekend. Utah or OK. Well I guess Utah or either B12 team. I'd have my money on Utah barring a massive blowout by OU combined with a narrow Utah win. OU has just looked crappy the last several weeks before the solid win vs OK ST last week. Squeaking by some mediocre teams while Utah has been flying under the radar blowing everyone out since their loss other than one road game at Wash. 7/8 games blowouts. So I'd assume Utah remains ahead tonight and barring something drastic in the title games will hold onto it. OU has just looked off.

 

But like you're getting at, since its Oklahoma they'll find a way in. Utah will lose to free up that spot, then boom they're in, yet again. Would just be nice with some fresh blood this year with LSU, Utah, and really I guess OSU hasn't been in several years either.

[LouisEly]

Something I don't think they've pulled out yet is Groshek throwing a pass. I could easily be wrong though. I seem to remember they were lined up in a WC with him at QB in a big 3rd or 4th down situation this year where I predicted that would be the call but there was a false start, timeout, or something that changed things and it didn't happen. If they're down big in this game I wouldn't bother showing it, but as some point you'd think they could burn someone with it or get an easy 2 pt conversion with it.

They need to back the barge.

 

I'm serious. Have Groshek as the wildcat QB, Taylor as the Z flanker who goes in motion across the formation.

 

You can't match up speed with OSU, so don't - match up with your strength, big-boy football. Send Taylor in a jet sweep across the formation pre-snap - he will draw attention from the defense. When one of the most prolific RBs in the history of college football goes across the formation in a jet sweep, it will draw the defense. If only one defender follows Taylor, then you have Taylor 1-on-1 against a defender, and I like those odds - if it's a DB, he can overpower him, if it's a LB he can outrun him. If they have two defenders follow Taylor across the formation, it creates an extra blocker advantage on the strong side for Groshek to run behind.

 

QB - Groshek, Z - Taylor

LT - Van Lanen, LG - Lyles/Moorman, C - Biadasz, RG - Erdmann, RT - Bruss, XT - Beach, XT - Seltzner, TE - Sampson, TE - Ferguson

 

If they sell out on the run, do what James White did and throw a short pass over the line to a TE or eligible lineman who sneaks behind the defense. It's one of the few plays that levels the playing field against OSU.

[owbc]

I hate it but I think Oklahoma finds a way to get the 4th playoff spot.

 

That's going to be the debate with chalk wins this weekend. Utah or OK. Well I guess Utah or either B12 team. I'd have my money on Utah barring a massive blowout by OU combined with a narrow Utah win. OU has just looked crappy the last several weeks before the solid win vs OK ST last week. Squeaking by some mediocre teams while Utah has been flying under the radar blowing everyone out since their loss other than one road game at Wash. 7/8 games blowouts. So I'd assume Utah remains ahead tonight and barring something drastic in the title games will hold onto it. OU has just looked off.

 

But like you're getting at, since its Oklahoma they'll find a way in. Utah will lose to free up that spot, then boom they're in, yet again. Would just be nice with some fresh blood this year with LSU, Utah, and really I guess OSU hasn't been in several years either.

 

All these borderline teams have approximately the same talent level so it would be great to just let somebody new in. Unfortunately that's not how it works. Rolling through a weak Pac-12 does not give me much confidence in Utah.