The Ohio State University Buckeyes football team will be the focus of our first pre-season college football preview of 2011 where we look at the Buckeyes odds of winning the 2012 BCS Championship and review hot news surrounding the program.
One might think the Buckeyes 2012 BCS odds would be in the "when Hell freezes over" range after all the scandal that's rocked the program leading to the resignation of head coach Jim Tressel and the recent announcement that star quarterback Terrell Pryor is forgoing his senior year.
In spite of all the trouble, the Buckeyes are still considered legitimate contenders at some sports shops in the upcoming BCS battle, but long-shots at others. Oddsmakers at competiting sportsbooks BETUS.eu and SBGglobal.com list the Buckeyes 2012 BCS Championship Odds at +1500 (15/1) on their 2011 college football futures boards while online giant SPORTSBOOK.com has Ohio State at +4000 (40/1). It's almost assured, other books will follow suit and adjust odds accordingly.
Buckeyes' QB Terrell Pryor (pictured), who was to sit out the first five games of the 2011 football season, will not return to the program, announced Tuesday (June 7).
It's a strong possibility that if the NCAA levees sanctions, the Buckeyes could fall off futures boards completely. However, the NCAA moves at a snails pace so anything coming out of their offices could be months or even a year down the road.
Who’s gone, who’s returning and who’s running the Buckeyes' show? Ohio State Athletics Director Gene Smith promoted assistant coach Luke Fickell to fill the head coaching position on an intirim basis back in March for Spring Football and until Tressel returned from his five-game suspension. Now that Tressel has left the program permanently, Fickell will coach the Buckeyes the entire season. Buckeyes fans should look at it this way; Fickell is getting a one-year try out for the job.
Fickell and his staff will be tasked with replacing three offensive and seven defensive starters from last year, not including the five, counting Pryor, who will sit out suspensions the first five games, Wide-Receiver DeVier Posey; Running Back Daniel Herron; Tackle Mike Adams and Defensive End Solomon Thomas.
The one position that seems to get more than its share of attention is quarterback. With Pryor's departure the subject is enhanced. It looks like Joe Bauserman, Pryors backup the past two years, will inherit the job but nothing is official until after August camp. Bauserman has thrown for 320 yards and two touchdowns, all in relief over two seasons. Challenging Bauserman will be redshirt sophomore Kenny Guiton who played in five games last season. Count on all eyes to be on incoming freshman Braxton Miller who could jump into the QB competition in the fall.
The Buckeyes will be loaded at running back even with the absense of Herron, whose return is questionable. A top guy will emerge from the group of Junior Jordan Hall and Sophomores Jaamal Berry and Carlos Hyde and freshman Rod Smith. At Fullback Zach Boren returns who caught 10 passes out of the backfield last year.
The offensive line is stacked, anchored by All-America center Michael Brewster, who prior to his departure, Tressel was quoted as saying about Brewster, " He's the best center in America."
On defense Fickell must replace seven starters from a group that ranked second in the nation. Back are strong safety Orhian Johnson; senior linebacker Andrew Sweat, junior tackle John Simon and senior defensive end Nathan Williams. Also returning are defensive backs Tyler Moeler and C.J. Barnett who are returning from injury. Up front sophomore Johnathan Hankins; junior Garrett Goebel, Adam Bellamy; Darryl Baldwin and J.T. Moore will try to step in for departing defensive stars Cameron Heyward and Dexter Larimore.
Fans should move past the Buckeyes recent dilemma and look ahead. No player or coach is bigger than the Buckeyes’ program, one loaded with talent good enough to keep OSU on top of the BIG TEN Conference and in the national 2012 BCS Championship Odds picture.
