LuckyBuck’s Buckeye Bits

Name: Chris Luckett

Age: 33

Hometown: Lorain, OH

Residence: Memphis, TN

All-time favorite Buckeyes: Chris Spielman, Eddie George and A. J. Hawk

Now that we're at the halfway point into the season, I figured I'd give you my two cents on how the OSU football team looks thus far.

Let's start with the Defense. This might be the best defense that Jim Tressel has ever had in Columbus. The 2005 squad was great, but this unit is simply in a word: Outstanding. Of the 11 starters, only LB Larry Grant is a senior. James Laurinaitis is having another All-American like season with 48 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 INT. Marcus Freeman is right behind Laurinaitis with 35 tackles and a sack. Also, Anderson Russell, despite his hands of stone, is having a solid start with 30 tackles, 3 sacks and a forced fumble that led to a Vernon Gholston TD recovery against the "Purple Kitties". Hope they can keep it up the pace as there is still plenty of ball left to be played.

The offense has been a pleasant surprise to me. Todd Boeckman has been good enough to lead this bunch. Brian Robiskie has stepped up to become the "playmaker" for the Buckeyes. He leads the team with 31 catches for 594 yards (19.2 ypc) and 6 TD's. Brian Hartline and Ray Small have also come up big for the team as well.

The special teams unit has been a Jekyll and Hyde theme this season. One week they're good and the next week they're terrible. The kicking and punting have been solid, but the snaps and blocking have been very weak. We have some tough opponents coming up and everything needs to be in sync in order for the Buckeyes to have a chance (yes, I can't believe it myself) for a shot in the BCS Title Game in New Orleans on 1/7/08.

Here's how I see the Buckeyes against the upcoming competition:

Kent State: Win. Reserves should get plenty of playing time in this one.

Michigan State: Win. The Spartans haven't won a conference game and I don't envision a 1998- like scenario.

@ Penn State: Win. It'll be close in Happy Valley. Just hope JoePa has some chewable Pepto on the sidelines this year.

Wisconsin: Win. The Badgers run defense is terrible. They've been exposed too many times this year and I believe our run game will do fine against them.

Illinois: Win. This young team is playing like a senior laden bunch. I don't want to be "Zooked" on senior day before......

_ichigan: WIN: If Appy State can beat the Wolverines in the "Out House", er, the "Big House", then the Buckeyes shouldn't have any problems. Let's hope not.

Prediction: California vs. OSU in the BCS Title Game. Let's hope one half of that will come true.

GO BUCKS!!!

Luckybuck