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2009 Ohio State Football Predictions

Head coach Jim Tressel has been the best in the Big Ten at reloading rather than rebuilding. We’ll find out if he can live up to that reputation again in 2009 after losing Beanie Wells, James Laurinaitis, and Malcolm Jenkins among others. Get my take on the 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes in this college football betting preview. Ohio State is listed at +1000 to win this season’s BCS Championship.

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Offense – Chris “Beanie” Wells will now be playing on Sunday’s, but Ohio State should still boast a strong running attack. Daniel Herron is next in line to carry on the strong Ohio State running back tradition and he will have a solid offensive line to help make life easier. The offensive line returns three starters and will get an added boost from Michigan transfer (yeah, you read it right), Justin Boren. Tight ends Jake Ballard and Jake Stoneburner are reliable run blockers as well. The Buckeyes lose wide receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, but Dane Sanzenbacher, DeVier Posey, and Ray Small appear poised to step in. Getting open will be made easier with dual-threat QB Terrelle Pryor giving every level of the defense plenty to worry about. Pryor threw for 1,311 yards and 12 touchdowns against just four interceptions and rushed for 631 yards and six more scores. I fully expect a breakout season from Pryor as he emerges as one of the most dangerous weapons in the country.

Defense – The defensive line let the Buckeyes down at times last season, but that unit should be a strength this fall. Defensive end Thaddeus Gibson is coming off a five-sack campaign and he has the potential to double that total. He’ll team with fellow defensive end Cameron Heyward to form one of the better defensive end duos in the league. Returning starter Doug Worthington will hold down the fort on the interior. Guys like James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman are irreplaceable, but the Buckeyes were not left with an empty cupboard behind them. Senior Austin Spitler will now lead the unit from the middle linebacker spot and the talented Tyler Moeller and Ross Homan will flank him. The secondary loses Malcolm Jenkins, but three starters return, including Kurt Coleman, to cushion the blow. Coleman is the team’s top returning tackler with 78 stops last season, and the team’s top returning interception guy with four picks in 2008.

Prediction: 1st Big Ten – Look for Tressel to gain at least a share of the Big Ten crown in a reloading year once again in 2009. The schedule shapes up nicely. Other than a November road contest with Penn State, the Buckeyes face all of their toughest opponents in Ohio Stadium. While Ohio State appears to be outside the national championship picture this season, if they can beat USC in mid-September they just might surprise a few folks. Ohio State is listed at +155 to win the 2009 Big Ten Championship.

Get expert football picks courtesy of Jimmy Boyd of Locksmith Sports this season!

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