Who Will Win in Austin?
(Dueling Articles)
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Why Ohio State will win
Dueling columns from Texas, Ohio.
By Brian Kollars
Friday, September 08, 2006

I saw Colt McCoy on the tube this week and did a double-take. The volume was down (it happens), and I swear I was watching the Disney Channel. Young Colt, I reasoned, was one of those punks in "High School Musical" and was talking up the movie that makes 12-year-old girls swoon.

I was wrong, of course. He is Vince Young's successor. I'm sure that's driven many of you Longhorn fans to your local watering holes a time or two since Vince strutted off to Tennessee.

Now, Colt might develop into another Major Applewhite (man, I still love that comeback in the Holiday Bowl), but first he needs to start shaving. I know Mack Brown has no choice, but sending Colt into the bull ring Saturday night against Ohio State isn't a best-case scenario.

It's generally assumed that quarterback is the most important position on the football field. So in a game that features so many wildly talented athletes, I'm thinking the one guy who could take over this prime-time special is Troy Smith. He's the Buckeyes' talented Heisman candidate who is scary whether he's running or throwing.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

A year ago Smith came into the Texas game rusty and embarrassed from a suspension handed down after a booster slipped him some unearned cash. That might be the only thing that can bring down Smith; that or a free barbecue dinner in plain sight of an NCAA investigator.

Smith looks nothing like he did in last year's OSU-Texas classic. If you caught him in November against Michigan, you have an idea of his talent.

No doubt it's strength against strength here: OSU's offense vs. Texas' defense. I'll take my chances with OSU — if Jim Tressel loosens his tie and turns loose some of his weapons. Really, he has no choice because the Buckeyes won't be able to convert five field goals like they did last year.

Another factor that falls to Ohio State: The Longhorns have spent most of 2006 listening to people tell them they're better than the Cowboys. It's human nature to relax and read your press clippings. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, have let last year's loss burn in their minds.

They are on a mission, their defense will grow up and they'll win 27-21.

Of course, Ohio State will have to break a serious sweat, and the Texas heat is a concern. But, as John Kelso knows, all Ohioans live in trailer parks and can't pay for air conditioning. So, as far as the toothless Buckeyes are concerned, it's just another day in paradise.


Why Texas will win
Dueling columns from Texas, Ohio.
By John Bridges
Friday, September 08, 2006


What do you get when you cross a Longhorn and a Buckeye?
Fifteen to life.
Ba-da-boom.

So much for the moral high ground in Columbus and Austin (and Norman and Boulder and Miami . . .). We're just going to have to settle this high-caliber matchup on the field.

Many things have changed since the last time we chatted, Buckeye fans. Let's see . . .
  • The Longhorns are sporting some gaudy new rings this September — at least those that didn't make it to eBay. (Thanks for your role in the national championship run down here. Surely you remember what that's like.)
  • You've got the quarterback this time. In Austin, we've just got questions.
  • We get to host this year's game. As we know, home field isn't much advantage in this storied rivalry. Why, the visiting team has never lost a Texas-Ohio State game.

Yes, everything is pointing toward a Buckeye victory Saturday.

Everything except the scoreboard. And we've got a Texas-sized one in Austin these days.

That scoreboard will read Texas 23, Ohio State 21 by midnight Saturday.

Once again, the Longhorns will find a way to contain Ted Ginn Jr. It wasn't even that hard last year. Shoot, Jim Tressel did it all by himself.

No doubt that Troy Smith will do his best Vince Young impersonation. Never mind that it took college football 120 years to produce one Vince; I don't expect to see another one anytime soon.

More important, who's going to impersonate A.J. Hawk? We're pretty confident that if 5-foot-7-inch Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe can rack up 171 yards, then Texas' full-sized backs should be good for 200 against Ohio State's no-name defense. (We're sure that they actually do have names; we just haven't learned them yet.)

The Longhorn offense has a thoroughbred at quarterback (OK, he's a Colt) and more weapons at his disposal than Maurice Clarett on opening day of witness season.

As I said, we left the high road a long time ago.

But I will offer up some neighborly advice for those making the trip from autumnal Ohio this weekend:
  • Leave your sweater vests at home. Ever seen Tressel in Bermuda shorts on the sideline? You will Saturday night.
  • The Hook 'em, Horns sign is made with two fingers. I recall seeing mostly one-fingered salutes in Columbus last year.
  • Bulletproof vests are out of style down here. Our athletes won't be armed this weekend — but they will be dangerous.