The Colorado Buffaloes are fresh off a 28-14 victory over the Colorado St. Rams in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, but they have no time for rest. On Saturday, they play the Ohio St. Buckeyes, who lost to the Miami Hurricanes last week, 24-6.
Colorado head coach Jon Embree picked up his first victory last week, but his second is going to be a struggle, even against a team that looked so out if it last week. The good news, though, is that Embree has an offense that looks to have finally progressed. Tyler Hansen will go over the 1,000-yard mark in this game and already has seven touchdowns. Rodney Stewart moved the ground game forward with 98 yards against the Rams, and he added seven receptions for 93 yards.
However, the staff over at the Ralphie Report needs to see more consistency from Stewart and the rest of the back. Plus, the offensive line still needs to become a cohesive unit. The staff didn't come to a consensus on what the Buffs need to do to pull off the upset, but it appears the general lean is toward the offense finding itself an identity.
As for Ohio State, head coach Luke Fickell has decided to turn to true freshman Braxton Miller at quarterback. Joe Bauserman was abysmal in the 24-6 loss to Miami last week, though Miller wasn't great either. But Miller has the talent to be like Terrelle Pryor, who would have been suspended for this game had he remained at Ohio State.
Over at Along the Olentangy, the move is greeted with ambiguity. While the site believes it is time for Miller to start for the Buckeyes, this could just be a desperation move by Fickell to keep his job:
In other words, now one wonders if not only is Fickell making the right choice at the wrong time, but making it for the wrong reasons.
Is Fickell naming Miller because that's what he believes is in the best interests or is he trying to save his job?
In that same piece Colorado is described as "hapless," and those sound like fighting words by an overconfident fan.
Game date, time: 1:30 p.m. MT, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011
Location: Ohio Stadium -- Columbus, OH
TV channel: ABC/ESPN 2 (national)
Spread: Buckeyes favored by 15 points
Series history: Ohio State leads, 3-1 (1-1 in Columbus)
For more on this game, visit our Colorado blog The Ralphie Report and our Ohio State blog Along The Olentangy.