Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that
you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
Last week, during Ohio State’s bye week, we wanted to get a lay of the land from Buckeye Nation to see how folks were feeling about the No. 1 Buckeyes through seven games. We wanted to see what type of grade the fandom would give Ryan Day’s squad to that point in the schedule, and how what they had seen during the first two months of the season had impacted what they foresee for the rest of the campaign.
So, in our weekly fan survey, we asked two questions: one looking back and one looking forward.
Today, we have the results. So, check them out below (along with my thoughts and feelings), and if the answers that your fellow fans put forth don’t jive with how you see things, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments at the bottom of the page.
Question 1: How would you grade Ohio State through the first seven games?
I think the 88% of Buckeye fans who gave the team either an A or B+ grade are on point with this one. I personally would probably hue toward the upper end of that assessment, but I’m not mad at anyone who opted for the lower range.
To me, this team is clearly the best in college football and will pose a serious threat to every offense in the sport. However, when grading against their own potential, there are areas where it is legitimate to mark them down a bit.
We don’t need to belabour those points, because we here at LGHL have discussed them fairly in depth throughout the season. However, the things that Ohio State does well, they do so well that I’m not sure anyone else, even if they are clicking on all cylinders, can keep up.
That’s what makes this team so fun and exciting. There is still so much room for growth on offense and special teams that it really does get you giddy when imagining just how special they can be. If the Buckeyes can take care of Penn State this weekend, that gives them three more games against middling to bad opponents to continue to make gains on offense before the Michigan-Big Ten Title Game-College Football playoff run.
Question 2: What outcome do you now see for the Buckeyes this season?
I predicted Ohio State to go 16-0 and win their second straight national title back in August, so there is no reason for me to change my stance now, and it looks like a majority of Buckeye fans agree with me.
However, it’s not just those of us rocking scarlet and gray colored glasses who are betting on the Buckeyes.
when the betting odds have you as such a dramatic national championship favorite, it is literally tough to bet against them. Currently, OSU is +250 according to the FanDuel Sportsbook, while Indiana is second at +650, so I am very happy with the +600 odds I got before the season began.
It’s funny, because I feel like the Buckeyes are still flying under the radar, despite being the defending champions, consensus title favorites, and the most complete and dominant team in the sport. Nonetheless, I am very happy that everyone is focusing so much on how to pump up the obviously mediocre SEC squads that OSU can march through during the CFP.
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
