Ohio St Buckeyes at Miami Hurricanes
Sun Life Stadium – Miami, Florida
Saturday, September 17, 2011, 7:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Miami -3 (all odds courtesy of bookmaker)
Current Line: Miami -2
Opening Total: 47 1/2
Current Total: 46
Opening Money Line: Miami -130 / Ohio St +110
Current Money Line: Miami -130 / Ohio St +110
A lot of the luster was taken off this match-up by some off the field issues for both teams that led to suspensions of key players on both sides. In fact, some people are sarcastically calling this the “Ineligi-Bowl.” Ohio St has definitely been hit the hardest by the scandals so far as former coach Jim Tressel was forced to resign and quarterback Terrelle Pryor left the program when additional violations surfaced that would have cost him his eligibility. Both were originally suspended for the first 5 games of this season along with several other key Buckeye players.
Miami has their own problems as former booster Nevin Shapiro, a convicted felon, admitted he gave improper benefits to Hurricane players since the early ’90’s, including to 8 current Miami players. The university and the NCAA gave the 8 players staggered suspensions. Five players were suspended for the season opener against Maryland, including quarterback Jacory Harris, but will return this week after the Hurricanes had a bye last week. Four other Hurricane players are suspended until at least October.
Ohio St, under interim coach Luke Fickell, has weathered the storm so far with 2 wins over Akron 42-0 and Toledo 27-22. Now the #17 Buckeyes go on the road for the first time as the take on the 0-1 Hurricanes. Miami, under first year coach Al Golden, lost 32-24 at Maryland to open the season. Ohio St and Miami are playing for the 5th time in history. Ohio St leads the series officially 2-1 as last year’s 36-24 win in Columbus was vacated by the university. The two schools played a memorable game in the 2003 National Championship with Ohio St winning 31-24 in double overtime.
Coming into last week’s game against the Toledo Rockets, Ohio St hadn’t lost to another team from Ohio since 1921. That streak almost came to a crashing halt as Toledo took a 22-21 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes scored with 3:17 to go and then held the Rockets to avoid the upset and survive 27-22. The Buckeyes had only 301 total yards including 112 rushing yards. They had 17 first downs and were 3/13 on third and fourth downs. Ohio St held Toledo to 338 total yards including 46 rushing yards. The Rockets had 14 penalties and a turnover and still almost pulled off the upset. Toledo had 16 first downs and was 6/21 on third and fourth down conversions.
Ohio St is averaging 409 total yards and 34.5 points a game. The Buckeyes are averaging 241 passing yards a game. Ohio St has 2 turnovers and no sacks. The Buckeyes are 12/30 on third and fourth down conversions. Ohio St is 0/2 on field goals this year. The Buckeyes are allowing 214 yards a game on defense and 11 points. They are allowing only 40.5 rushing yards a game. They have forced 2 turnovers and 9 sacks a game. Buckeye opponents are 9/35 on third and fourth down conversions.
Buckeye quarterback Joe Bauserman has done well this season. He is 28/46 passing with 352 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also has 8 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. Running back Carlos Hyde 39 carries for 169 yards, and 2 touchdowns, along with 5 catches for 39 yards. Rod Smith has 25 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Devin Smith has 5 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. Jake Stoneburner had 8 catches for 93 yards and 4 touchdowns. Kicker Drew Basil is 9/9 on extra points but 0/2 on field goals. Three Buckeye players return from a 2 game suspensions for this game including OL Corey Linsley, RB Jordan Hall, and DB Travis Howard. However, Rb Dan Herron, WR Devier Posey, OL Mike Adams, and DE Solomon Thomas won’t return until October 8.
Despite the suspensions Miami took a 24-23 lead with 4 minutes to go in the game against Maryland. Maryland scored 9 points in the last 1:39 of the game to win 32-24. Miami had 367 total yards including 172 rushing yards. Ten penalties and 4 turnovers doomed the Hurricanes, including two defensive touchdowns. The last one occurred with 39 second left, a 54 yard interception return, allowed Maryland to cover the 4 point college football betting line. Miami had 18 first downs and was 7/16 on third and fourth down conversions. The Hurricanes allowed 499 total yards including 348 passing yards. Maryland had 28 first downs and was 8/16 on third and fourth down conversions.
Quarterback Stephen Morris struggled as he replaced the suspended Jacory Harris. Morris was 19/28 passing with 195 yards and 2 interceptions with no touchdowns. He did have a rushing touchdown though. Harris returns for this game. Harris threw for 1,793 yards, 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, and added 2 rushing touchdowns as well last year. Running back Lamar Miller had 18 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown, along with 2 catches for 3 yards. Mike James had only 34 yards rushing but did have a rushing touchdown. Allen Hurns and Tommy Streeter each had 4 catches for the Hurricanes. Kicker Jake Wieclaw made all 3 extra points he tried along with a 30 yard field goal.
Miami is 0-1 against the spread and the game went over the total. Ohio St is 1-1 ATS this season and both games went under. Ohio St is 18-6 ATS on Saturday in the last 3 seasons, 15-5 ATS with 6 days of rest in the same span, and 10-2 ATS in non-conference games in the last 3 seasons. The Buckeyes are 11-3 ATS in all games the last two seasons, including 9-1 on grass. Miami is 1-4 ATS in the last 5 as a favorite, as a favorite of less than 3 points, against a team with a winning record, in con-conference games, against Big Ten teams, and 1-5 in the last 6 on grass. Miami is 3-12 ATS in the last 15 games after a bye week.
We don’t know how these teams will deal with the suspensions. Miami shot themselves in the foot two weeks ago with penalties and turnovers but should be better as they get 5 players back from suspension. Ohio St almost stumbled against Toledo last week. This should be a close game, but I think Miami pulls it out at the end.
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