Ok St. v. Ohio State -- Troy Smith OUT!

[Nigel Tufnel]

Reports are coming out of Columbus that starting QB Troy Smith has been suspended one game...reasons not yet disclosed. If you watched Ohio State near the end of the year, Troy Smith was playing fairly well and settling in to the starting QB position. He is very athletic and had a nice arm. Justin Zwick struggled most of the year and Smith beat him out near year's end.

I was leaning towards Ohio State in this game...mainly because the offense was getting better with Smith at the helm. Plus, Jim Tressel has proven that he can coach in a bowl game. Bucks were underdogs to Miami and K State the last two years and won SU under Tressel. Tressel's first year the Bucks lost by 3 to South Carolina, but came back from a huge decifit in the fourth quarter to make it a close game.

I stress that I WAS leaning towards the Bucks...without Smith, I will have a hard time taking Ohio State now.

Just thought I'd share the info....it makes a huge difference in this game....perhaps some of you online wagerers may want to jump on OK ST now (if you liked them before this news), so that you can get a favorable line.

I don't think this info has been officially announced...but its coming.

GL!! :thumbs:

[joepa66]

QB out -- OSU suspends Smith from bowl for violating rules

COLUMBUS — Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith was suspended on Monday for violating team and NCAA rules and will not play in next week’s Alamo Bowl.
Coach Jim Tressel would not say what Smith did or when the violation occurred, but said the university became aware of the problem on Thursday. “Obviously, he feels terrible that he didn’t take care of his responsibilities,” Tressel said.
Smith, a sophomore, will NOT travel with the team to San Antonio when it leaves on Wednesday for the Dec. 29 game against Oklahoma State. Justin Zwick, who is also a sophomore, will take over. He had been the starter until he lost the job after mildly separating his left, or non-throwing, shoulder in the sixth game of the season against Iowa.
Smith led the Buckeyes to a 4-1 record in their final five regular-season games, including a 37-21 victory over rival Michigan last month when he threw for 241 yards and ran for 145 yards. Overall, Smith played in eight of Ohio State’s 11 games this year, completing 68 of 122 passes for 896 yards and eight touchdowns. He was intercepted three times. He also ran 82 times for 339 yards and two touchdowns.
Athletic director Andy Geiger said the university has petitioned the NCAA to have Smith reinstated for the 2005 season. Tressel said he hoped Smith would be back with the team over the winter. It is not the first time that Smith has gotten in trouble. He was convicted of a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge because of his involvement in a fight outside an Ohio State dormitory last fall.

[joepa66]

Nigel....in the same boat as you my friend, was backing the Bucks until this happened. Game may be a no play for me but I still think Morency and Okie State will have a hard time running vs. Buckeye's D! Old cement-shoes Zwick cannot scramble, is not a threat to run, and has not made good decisions throwing the ball....6 INTs and just 5 TDs...he also completes just 50% of his passes and has been sacked 13x and only averaged 170yds per game thru 6 games (1020 yards), and ran 39 times for 32 yards. Hard for me to stay with the Bucks in this situation :bang: , maybe a no play or a look at the total is in order!

[joepa66]

No word yet for the reason, however, my brother is a Division I high school coach and AD in Central Ohio and he says the word is either he took a five finger discount at a clothing store or someone "gave" him some clothes....at least this is the word going around the mill!

[joepa66]

Was checking BoDog at 11:30AM today and the Ohio State / Okie State line in now marked as temporarily unavailable, and at Sportbet the line is off the board.....
Also noticed on BoDog that something may be amiss in the UNC/BC game because that line is now unavailable as well but still posted at Sportbet.....

[joepa66]

Did not find anything of value on the BC football web site.....just a story from a week ago that QB Paul Peterson got the ok to start throwing the ball again....but he's still listed as questionable for the bowl game....anybody got anything...Zgoody or anybody from Beantown area?

[redsfann]

Had to have all my bowl picks in for a contest at another site by kickoff tonight, so I put them up yesterday around noon--playing Ohio State +2, of course, then the news breaks......:bang:

At least its only one game of the entire card-- but when I lose the contest by 1 game......:flush: :puke:

[Nigel Tufnel]

Might be a no play for me too. However, right now I'm leaning toward Ok St. Morency is a stud...if you think about it, he's probably the best running back the Bucks D will face all year. I think he'll get his.

Here is where I think the game changes. Ohio State's offense was gaining momentum and confidence under Smith. The line was blocking better, but also had less pressure on them because they knew Smith could scramble. I don't think the Ohio State offense has ANY confidence in Zwick. I see the Cowboys putting up at least 21 points against Ohio State. I don't know if I think the Ohio State offense can score 21 with Zwick. The Bucks offense was just plain HORRIBLE when he played. The Bucks will now have more pressure on the defense and special teams to score and get great field position for Zwick.

I think the Bucks go out this year with a whimper....just don't know if they'll be able to hang with the Cowboys with Zwick.

[larry4498]

Ohio State was a completly different and way better football team when Smith was in at Qb. I too was gonna take the Buckeyes but don't think I can now.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Unfortunately, you should know better than anyone else. Smith and the Bucks played their best game of the year against the Wolverines. At the same time, if Zwick was QBing that game, I don't have a doubt in my mind that Michigan would have won that game.

Here's Ohio State's problem...if they get behind with Zwick...they are DONE!!

Well, I've just talked myself into it...I'm taking the Cowboys. If they score first, I will feel quite confident.

This thread has been a pain in the ass....I keep wanting to type OSU....but that applies to both teams here. Typing sucks.

[larry4498]

On the bright side, I no longer feel the need to wager on a team that I hate. lol