(4) Ohio State def. (9) Florida, 93-75

• Leonardo

  

  It's a big early season battle for both teams.
  
  6 PM on ESPN
• centralbucksfan

  Big early game. I am curious to see how the frosh handle this situation. It will be crazy down there I am sure. OSU seniors will need to step up and lead in this game. Win or lose, a game like this will help though. Fla returns quite a bit of experience, along with some good frosh, has good size. They will pressure and press the entire game. My biggest concern with OSU is how they handle that pressure/press. We'll find out.
• Laley23

  

  Just as I thought OSU would win a good game at home last year, I go with the same prediction for this years home squad. Florida in a close one.
• Ankle Breaker

  

  Yes, it will be interesting to see how Craft handles this kind of pressure. I think he'll be up to it but we'll see. Unfortunately, I have a sports banquet to attend and will need to watch it later. Will be interesting.
• Azubuike24

  

  Sullinger against Macklin. Great test for the young Freshman. Tyus against Lauderdale. Very similar players, Tyus a bit better offensively and Lauderdale much better defensively, but two guys who have gotten better after seeing a lot of PT early due to need.
  
  The game will be decided by the guard play though. Boynton and Walker are very streaky, but could easily be owned by Buford, Lighty and Diebler. With what I've seen and heard about Craft, the advantage in the backcourt has to go to OSU.
  
  The x-factor may be Chandler Parsons who will probably be the most experienced (4-year starter) and best player on the floor. He can score inside and outside, and I'm not sure who on OSU can check him. Probably Lighty, but Parsons has 3 inches on him.
  
  Should be a fantastic game early on, one of the best OOC match-ups of the season.
• gerb131

  

  Ohio State by 15 or more
• darbypitcher22

  

  I'll be tuned in
• Writerbuckeye

  

  gerb131;556292 wrote:Ohio State by 15 or more

  
  While this would be lovely, no way it happens that I can see.
  
  I think the game comes down to a couple things. One, OSU can't get itself in foul trouble underneath. Florida has enough size that if Ohio State has Sullinger and Lauderdale in foul difficulty, they'll likely get owned on the boards.
  
  Second, Ohio State has to shoot better than they did in their first game. They did most of their scoring under the basket but the shots from outside weren't clicking as well as I would have hoped.
  
  Based on home court and OSU still being a bit unsettled in the backcourt, I'll go with Florida by less than 5 -- but if the seniors get hot for Ohio State, they could easily walk out of there with the victory.
• thedynasty1998

  

  I'm really confident that OSU takes care of business here. The big thing with this game though, is it is really only one of two games before Big 10 season that OSU might actually have to play 40 minutes.
  
  The non conference schedule is an absolute joke for OSU, so they better take advantage of the opportunity to play against a quality team and see where they stand.
  
  After 13 games, the absolute worst record they should have is 11-2.
• CinciX12

  

  I just wish this game was later on in the year. Both teams will make a lot of mistakes and you won't really get a good sense of where either team is.
• Hb31187

  

  I think the Buckeyes win this handily, especially if Thomas, Sully and Craft can stay out of foul trouble
• centralbucksfan

  Hb31187;558833 wrote:I think the Buckeyes win this handily, especially if Thomas, Sully and Craft can stay out of foul trouble

  
  You do realize that Florida returns virtually their entire team from last year, as well as adding a couple highly rated frosh? And its at Florida. No way does OSU win it handily unless they are ON and Fla is off. I'd have to go with Florida because of home court if I had to pick someone. I think OSU can win if they play well. But this early, and these frosh never having played in a big game let alone one on the road. I'll be elated if OSU comes out with a win. But I am not too optimistic thats going to happen. As I said, Florida will pressure and press the entire game. OSU must take care of the ball, rebound and play MUCH better on the ball defense for a chance to win this game.
• OneBuckeye

  

  I can't wait for this game, didn't get to watch the walsh game. I hope the offense flows a little more naturally this year with craft and sullinger. I think this will be sullingers coming out party. It will be a higher scoring game but I think OSU squeaks it out.
• thedynasty1998

  

  FWIW, Florida is a 1.5 point favorite.
• Iliketurtles

  

  centralbucksfan;558994 wrote:You do realize that Florida returns virtually their entire team from last year, as well as adding a couple highly rated frosh? And its at Florida. No way does OSU win it handily unless they are ON and Fla is off. I'd have to go with Florida because of home court if I had to pick someone. I think OSU can win if they play well. But this early, and these frosh never having played in a big game let alone one on the road. I'll be elated if OSU comes out with a win. But I am not too optimistic thats going to happen. As I said, Florida will pressure and press the entire game. OSU must take care of the ball, rebound and play MUCH better on the ball defense for a chance to win this game.

  CBF I completely agree with you. I'm pretty excited for this game I think it should be a great one. Florida wins it 76-73.
• gerb131

  

  Sucks I have to work this evening so I'll miss the game but I'm sticking to my guns Oh St by 15.
• TBone14

  

  thedynasty1998;560469 wrote:FWIW, Florida is a 1.5 point favorite.

  
  Line has jumped to 3, so people are jumping on the small home favorite in an early season battle. If I was a Florida fan, I would be saying this team lost the National POY and will have 3 freshmen seeing significant action in their first Road game in a hostile environment. If I wasn't a Buckeye fan I would love Florida in this spot as they return so much talent and that joint should be rocking. Should be a good game, looking forward to it.
• OneBuckeye

  

  JMO but I think Sully Thomas Seibert and Craft > Tuner, Hill and other PG's name I can't even remember. Obviously by our ranking other people think so too. I like the buckeyes by 5.
• thedynasty1998

  

  OneBuckeye;561108 wrote:JMO but I think Sully Thomas Seibert and Craft > Tuner, Hill and other PG's name I can't even remember.

  
  That's not even up for debate. Here in a couple months we might be comparing Sullinger, Thomas, Craft vs. Oden, Cook Lighty and Conley
• se-alum

  

  CinciX12;558803 wrote:I just wish this game was later on in the year. Both teams will make a lot of mistakes and you won't really get a good sense of where either team is.

  I love a game like this early. It gives you a chance to see what you do well, and what you need to work on. The more time you have to work on your defencies, the better.
• lhslep134

  

  LETS GO BUCKS! SILENCE THE O'DOME! MAKE PATRIC YOUNG REGRET DOING THE CHOMP AT THE SCHOTT.
• mallymal614

  The Kansas State vs. Virginia Tech game is still on. Will this mean we will have to tune into the game late or will they delay tipoff in Florida?
• Laley23

  

  mallymal614;561286 wrote:The Kansas State vs. Virginia Tech game is still on. Will this mean we will have to tune into the game late or will they delay tipoff in Florida?

  
  Probably delay a little bit. Then start. They might give reginal coverage though, so they could switch.
• mallymal614

  Laley23;561294 wrote:Probably delay a little bit. Then start. They might give reginal coverage though, so they could switch.

  
  I hope so. I am the type of person likes to watch a game from beginning to end to get a feel/understanding of it.
• Laley23

  

  mallymal614;561297 wrote:I hope so. I am the type of person likes to watch a game from beginning to end to get a feel/understanding of it.

  
  I cant stand missing the starts of games. This is the biggest problem with only 2 hour blocks. For this event its impossible, but for typical nights when they just have 2 games on, I wish they did 7 and 915 and not 7 and 9.