Quick Slants

If you would've experienced the same fallout I did after picking Ohio State to win in last week's blog entry, on Sports Bloggers Live, and on my Quick Slants radio show, you would've sworn I threw a brick through Joe Paterno's window.

I'll admit I have a problem:  I can't pick winners for beans.  Sign me up for the 12-step program.

In my defense, I still don't think Ohio State was a particularly bad pick, it was just the wrong one.  Looking back, the main reason I went with Ohio State was because I over-estimated Troy Smith's, Ted Ginn's, and Santonio Holmes' ability to make plays as well as Ohio State's ability to shut down the Lions' offense.  Translation:  the entire Buckeyes team.  Smith was less than impressive and seemed more confused than poised; Ginn and Holmes were given no running room.  When push came to shove, they simply could not move the ball against the Penn State defense and committed two costly turnovers; one lead to PSU points, the other sealed their fate late in the fourth quarter.

Likewise, I gravely UNDER-estimated Penn State's offense, particularly Michael Robinson.  I'll ask it again, but why wasn't he the quarterback for the past three seasons?  If someone could walk me through that decision making process, I would certainly appreciate it.  After Saturday's game, Robinson proved once again that you don't need bigtime stats or a prototypical pocket passer to win a meaningful college football game.  By scrambling under pressure, he kept the Buckeyes on their heals all night and mitigated the ability of Hawk and Carpenter to disrupt behind the line of scrimmage.  Most importantly, he didn't make any mistakes, which is essentially why Penn State won the game, and was just good enough to win.  Now three games removed from his debacle at Northwestern, Robinson seems to be coming out of the woods and has played spot-free football in two consecutive games.

And the defense...  well, I haven't seen that stellar a performance since my friend B-Daub attended a sorority function. 

So, kudos to you, Penn State, for one-upping me and my bold-faced predictions and relegating my prognosticating credibility to the same,mediocre platform it's always resided.  Everything I've said and will continue to say about this football team is irrelevant, you're 6-0.

I'm impressed, not sold.  But, you have the last laugh.

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