BATTLE OF UNBEATENS-OHIO STATE @NORTHWESTERN

[Region 15]

I was very surprised that Dontre Wilson was not used last night on offense. The OSU D backs can tackle no better in space this season then last year. Robey's draft stock has clearly dropped.

[GoBuckeyes2786]

My guess with as to why dontre Wilson didn't get any carries is the fact he's fumbled the ball a couple times this far this season and with wet sloppy conditions, wet ball and NU was going after the strip any chance they could and they weren't willing to chance coughing up the ball again. Wilson will be a big part of this offense as time goes on and will see the field more. Right now there is a ton of play makers on offense, makes it hard to see the field. I agree Wilson could been a kick start they needed but then again the staff prob looked at the risk putting the ball on the ground.

[ACCBiggz]

Beating a ranked opponent on the road and I bet the hater pollsters drop the Bucks another spot or two.

I would personally have them at #7. That's not an indictment of OSU, but rather just how they look through the first six weeks of the season.

Where I differ in my personal rankings than others is that I don't let pre-season polls dictate. ie: #1 team stays #1 until they lose. Pre-season polls are ridiculous. I look at teams on both sides of the ball, the "eye test" and strength of schedule. It's not an exact science and is clearly objective. Just because Team A has a win over a ranked opponent doesn't necessarily mean I'm ranking them ahead of someone if I believe they are clearly the better team. But it evolves week-to-week.

Now, onto why I have the Buckeyes at No. 7.

1. Oregon
2. Alabama
3. Clemson
4. Stanford
5. Florida St.
6. Louisville
7. Ohio State

Oregon has clearly been the best team in the nation so far. If you disagree then you are probably just equally a "hater" as the ones you claim are that don't rank OSU in the top three (not a blanket statement for everyone). In past years I've never had them #1 because some other team (almost always in the SEC) has shown to have an elite defense. No one has done so in 2013. This is the year of offenses. There are teams out there with defensive talent, but they haven't developed into those shutdown defenses we've seen in past years (Alabama, LSU, etc.). We're seeing veteran QBs dominate, and that doesn't look to stop anytime soon.

I had Alabama as low as 4th earlier in the year because their defense hadn't shown up. Against Ole Miss is looked much improved and I put them at #2.

Clemson could easily be ranked as high as #2. They've looked dominant and explosive on offense, and solid enough on defense. Add that in with a big win over Georgia, and they have done enough. They still have FSU, South Carolina and the ACC title game on their slate. If they go undefeated there is no way on Earth they should fall below Ohio State. Their schedule demands respect with three potential top 10 teams, top 15 at worst.

Stanford keeps being Stanford. Strong, physical. Hogan has stepped right in and kept the team going along. Washington is legit, and they don't get the respect they deserve. That was a good game, and Stanford came out on top. Legit top 15 win under their belt with the Ducks looming.

I had FSU below Ohio St. earlier in the season for the same reason I have OSU at 7th. Their defense struggled early. Maryland isn't a power, but they don't get the respect they deserve (see: shutting out WVU). To completely annhilate them was big for FSU. Their young defense is starting to perform better, and their offense is dynamic. It's not truly explosive, but it's dynamic. Three deep at RB, solid WR corp and Winston is efficient. Clemson is next. I expect a loss, but that'll clear the air about who should be #3 in the nation. If Clemson wins, I'd have to think about putting them at #1 just based on having two marquee wins.

Louisville gets a nod above Ohio St right now based on defense. Ohio St. has more defensive talent, but they are underperforming. The tackling on Saturday was atrocious and shameful. Louisville, under Charlie Strong, is a fundamentally sound team with the right schemes. All the talk is about Bridgewater, but their defense does well. If these two teams played right now it'd be a shootout. If that same OSU defense showed up against Bridgewater he would shred them all night. It'd come down to turnovers. As the season progresses, Louisville will most likely drop below OSU based on Strength of Schedule. However, the season is still playing out.

The AAC isn't as bad as people think, and the Big 10 isn't as good as people believe. If you look at who is left on each of their schedules it is actually fairly even, but OSU gets a slight nod on paper. As we see more from teams that may change. UCF is legit and they proved it already against Penn St. and South Carolina (and were my pre-season AAC champion). Ohio St. has the name value and primetime schedule to help their case, but based solely on performance these two teams are pretty even.

With Clemson-FSU and Oregon-Stanford, and Louisville's AAC schedule... OSU is right in line to finish in the top 4. So, while I have them 7th currently you have to look beyond that because of who plays who. They are slotted in at #4 behind Pac-12 leader, Alabama, and the ACC Leader. Just need two of those to lose to enter the national championship. And Alabama still having to play Georgia (most likely) and the remaining schedule for both Clemson/FSU it looks like a solid possibility for the Buckeyes to get there on all ballots.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

:aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46 :aaaaa46