Hate it or not, LSU is better prepared

Everyone knows I am the ultimate Buckeye, but even I have to admit that LSU is going to be tough. It is pretty simple, they have played a tougher schedule, and the games they did lose could have gone either way. They dominated a very good Virginia Tech club, defeated Auburn and Tennessee. Losses to quality teams in Kentucky and Arkansas takes very little away from LSU being a good football team.

Sure, Ohio State only had one loss, but if they played the same schedule LSU did, I would say we're a 9-3 team. Not horrible, but not playing for a BCS Championship. Illinois showed that this was truly an off year for the Big Ten as they were no match for USC. Ohio State non-conference schedule did nothing to prove their greatness.

However going 11-1 does mean something, it means that they're well prepared for any and every opponent. In a year where every college powerhouse was at least tripped up once by a team of "much lesser quality," the Buckeyes somehow managed only get stunned by an eventual BCS participant. Think about it this way: If someone would have told you at the beginning of the season that the Buckeyes would lose to Illinois, and not defeat a single top 25 team all year, where you rank their odds of winning a National Title, much less play for one? I would have had a much easier time believe LSU would go on to the title game with their resume.

What really scares me is I am saying this with a subjective point of view. I want my Buckeyes to win. As much as I am gloom and doom, I have seen things to make me feel otherwise. One is how a person that has followed coach Jim Tressel's career said that he has never seen the coach make the same mistake twice. And if Les attacks our weaknesses from last year's title game (and there are many), the vest won't let LSU use that game plan. Also the more I study LSU, the more I realize they are just like a Big Ten team. They have a slightly better than average quarterback with Matt Flynn, a good but not great running back with Jacob Hester, and the same idea with top wide receiver Early Doucet. LSU's largest strength is the same as Ohio State's... the defensive line. Glenn Dorsey vs Vernon Ghoulston. Who will be draft higher in the NFL? Ohio State matches up well with LSU.

My prediction: This is going to be more like our win against Miami five years ago. Low scoring, defense controls pace of the game. Could come down to the punt and kick game, which we all know in Tresseland that the punt is the most important play in football. To win, Ohio State has to get turnovers and capitalize. Score: LSU 20, OSU 17.