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C.J. Stroud passes Ohio State football’s Heisman Trophy contender torch, but not to a quarterback

Published

2 years ago

December 12, 2022

C.J. Stroud passes Ohio State football’s Heisman Trophy contender torch, but not to a quarterback

COLUMBUS, Ohio — C.J. Stroud took the baton with a objective, following in a line of Ohio State soccer Heisman Trophy contenders below Ryan Day.

Dwayne Haskins handed off to Justin Fields, who made the change to Stroud in Miami after the 2020 nationwide championship sport. First-year quarterbacks below Day usually are not simply potential contenders to achieve New York. Their efficiency is judged by that commonplace.

So perhaps that’s excellent news for Kyle McCord, this season’s backup to Stroud, and Devin Brown, the true freshman who will attempt to catch up and problem him for the starter’s job. They are going to have the confirmed teaching and path to improvement. They are going to have, as all the time, an abundance of top-shelf weapons. They are going to actually have a pretty difficult street schedule — 4 of OSU’s 5 hardest video games come away from Ohio Stadium — on which to show themselves.

In addition they have competitors for that journey to New York on their very own roster. No OSU participant goes into 2023 with extra identify recognition, star energy and electrical capability than Marvin Harrison Jr. He will probably be a consensus All-American, or probably a unanimous one, by the top of this week. Many have been shocked he didn’t win the Biletnikoff Award because the nation’s prime receiver this season. That’s his award to lose subsequent season.

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Some have already taken discover. Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel tweeted that he listed Harrison third on his Heisman poll this yr. So did Matt Brown of The Athletic. Since some porttion of the voting block units apart bias in the direction of quarterbacks and voted on the pound-for-pound greatest soccer participant you noticed, assist for Harrison is smart.

The Heisman solely releases the highest 10 vote-getters, so we don’t know what number of Harrison acquired. Cracking that prime 10 subsequent yr will probably be powerful sufficient. Successful it requires an ideal storm.

Harrison’s numbers this season are nice. Solely thee receivers have greater than his 12 touchdowns. Solely 4 Energy 5 receivers common greater than his 96.4 yards per sport. His 72 receptions are technically greater than Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson ever achieved, although the pandemic-shortened 2020 season could be blamed for that.

To win it, although, Harrison’s numbers might want to overwhelm. Alabama’s DeVonta Smith didn’t win the Heisman merely by handing over spotlight reel performs on the common. He additionally needed to pile up the numbers. He totaled 1,511 yards and 17 touchdowns on 98 receptions in 13 video games. That’s earlier than the playoff.

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So subsequent yr, when Harrison is much more of a marked man on each snap than he’s this season, his counting stats might want to undergo the roof.

But Smith additionally had narrative in his favor, too. Jaylen Waddle, initially anticipated to contend for the title of greatest receiver within the nation, acquired harm and missed many of the season. Smith not solely took on a lot of these catches, yards and touchdowns, he additionally absorbed a whole lot of credit score for serving to save a nationwide championship season.

That in the end is why Smith turned the primary receiver in 19 years to win.

So these are the obstacles. Now to the explanations it may occur.

Harrison just isn’t merely one other good Buckeye receiver. He generally does unusual issues on the sphere. Along with his breakaway velocity, he can twist and contort himself above, round and seemingly by means of defenders.

He’s the participant most certainly to make school soccer cease and take note of him on any given weekend.

We must always not assume Harrison may even replicate this season’s efficiency with out the assistance of Stroud. Their shared belief, and Stroud’s precision, created the circumstances for a few of Harrison’s most bewilderingly spectacular catches.

But the man throwing to him subsequent yr may very well be McCord, his outdated teammate from St. Joseph’s School Prep. The duo got here in collectively, began exhibiting up on the Woody Hayes Athletic Heart to run early morning routes as freshmen and have constructed a connection for years.

Day has stated the quarterback at Ohio State ought to all the time be a Heisman Trophy contender. In an offense this prolific and for a crew this seen and profitable, finalist standing is all the time inside attain.

Harrison doesn’t have historical past on his aspect, however the whole lot else may line up for a uncommon alternative.

For those who or a liked one has questions and desires to speak to knowledgeable about playing, name the Ohio Drawback Playing Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the Nationwide Council on Program Playing Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700.

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No matter who wins between Notre Dame, Ohio State, this bettor’s positioned to profit

Published

2 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

No matter who wins between Notre Dame, Ohio State, this bettor’s positioned to profit

LAS VEGAS — Notre Dame and Ohio State winning their semifinal playoff games meant the wisdom of Tom Petty, once again, rang true.

“Even the losers / Get lucky sometimes.”

Sometimes, fortune smiles upon minnow bettors whose stacks of losing tickets provide so many bookmarks, coasters and, yes, even novel wrapping paper.

On Dec. 12, I studied the new 12-team College Football Playoff with a keen eye to newly released title-game exacta odds.

My college-pigskin rudder is points-per-play, ratios available at TeamRankings.com. The tale of teams is contained in those fractions.

On offense and defense, and overall margins, Notre Dame had sparkled since early October. “Past three games” reveals how teams are currently running.

I applied those figures to project each playoff game, best squad moving on. I played out the tournament, producing the finale exacta. I aimed to go into the championship game with a sweet ticket on both teams, guaranteeing profit.

That exercise compelled me to obtain South Point tickets on Notre Dame over Ohio State, 30-to-1 odds, and Ohio State over Notre Dame, at 25-1. Alas, the Buckeyes and Irish play for the national title Monday night.

“That’s awesome!!!” Long Island handicapper Tom Barton wrote in a text message.

“Looks like you played it 100% correct,” Southern California professional bettor Tommy Lorenzo told me. “Bull’s-eye, well done. TeamRankings is a great tool. I use a lot of its info for my power rankings.

“You’re sitting pretty, my friend.”

The two best teams

Barton entered the week 3-0 in this new playoff, and he sounded as if he’d be fine taking a pass on the championship game.

Unless the point spread ekes up to 10 somewhere. It mostly opened around 9 to 9.5 points in favor of Ohio State. Last Sunday night, it got shaved to 8. Monday afternoon, it hit 7.5 before pumping back to 8.5 by Wednesday.

“I haven’t finished my homework on the championship game,” Barton said. “I tend to lean with the points. The over looks interesting, too, but I’m not sure if I’ll play anything.”

Monday, DraftKings posted a 45.5 total. Wednesday, it hit 46.5, -108 over (or risk $108 to win $100), -112 under. Odds subject to change.

Lorenzo said he felt fortunate to be holding a title ticket on Notre Dame, at 11-1, plus Ohio State at +340.

They represented the two top teams in his power ratings, “so I pulled the trigger.” He added, “I do kick myself, however, for not attacking the championship exacta on those two, given my conviction on those two being the best teams overall.”

More maneuvering

I have more work to do, since I’ve been on Notre Dame since the summer. I’m bullish on Irish coach Marcus Freeman, so I bought a 22-1 Irish title ticket Aug. 31.

It lost early to Northern Illinois but has won 13 in a row, and I nabbed a 30-1 ducat on the Irish on Nov. 21 at the Westgate -SuperBook. So I reap more profit with a Notre Dame victory.

To even that out, I’ll stake positions with Ohio State, likely via in-game maneuvering.

Should the Irish tally an early touchdown, say, the Bucks’ moneyline will shrink closer to even (from around -380), providing an optimal situation to bet on Ohio State and ensure my dividends will be nearly equal, no matter who wins.

I did scramble for a +560 Penn State ticket on New Year’s Eve, just in case, among other moves. I had already bought into the Nittany Lions, at 24-1, on Aug. 31 at William Hill.

There are other debits, and credits. For the semifinals, I played a moneyline parlay of Ohio State to Notre Dame, turning two units into five. In sum, I’ll likely net around 55 units of playoff profit.

Howard’s Will

A lifelong Notre Dame supporter, Lorenzo said he ultimately believes Ohio State will get the victory; the figures back up that outcome.

Ohio State boasts a 0.617 points-per-play ratio over its last three games; Notre Dame’s offense, at 0.374, has been faltering.

Turnovers might be an equalizer, though, as the Irish’s ball-hawking defenders snatched an NCAA-best 32 combined fumbles and interceptions this season. Senior free safety Xavier Watts yanked down six of those picks.

All of which funnels into this column’s final words from Paul Stone, arguably the country’s finest purveyor of college-pigskin prognostications.

He noted the game opening Ohio State -10.5 at Circa Sports, which drew early action on underdog Notre Dame. Wednesday, Vegas had the Buckeyes as consensus 8-point favorites.

From East Texas, Stone said he respected those early waves of cash on the Irish, but he views Ohio State as the “more-complete team” and will back the Buckeyes on the point spread.

“They have found another gear in the playoffs and have too much firepower for Notre Dame, in my opinion,” he said. “Ohio State defeated a talented trifecta of teams — Tennessee, Oregon and Texas — all by 14 points or more.

“The Buckeyes have averaged 7.5 yards per play in those victories, while allowing only 4.2 yards per play.”

The key is Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, the 6-4, 237-pound senior who left Kansas State for Columbus.

“If [he] takes care of the ball and the Irish don’t post a defensive or special-teams touchdown,” Stone said, “I think the Buckeyes win by double digits.”

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Notre Dame vs. Ohio State: Championship history and stats

Published

10 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State: Championship history and stats

Jan 15, 2025, 05:27 PM ET

Notre Dame and Ohio State will be facing off in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship game. How did each team get here? Notre Dame — coming off playoff wins against Indiana, Georgia and Penn State — is riding a 13-game winning streak. But the Irish are a heavy underdog in the title game matchup. Ohio State — which went through Tennessee, Oregon and Texas in the playoffs — brings its top-ranked defense in a quest to capture its ninth national championship. This will be the first time Notre Dame reaches the title game in the CFP era after falling in the semifinal in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons. The Buckeyes will be playing in their third CFP title game since winning the inaugural game in 2014.

Here’s a tale of the tape between the two squads ahead of Monday’s CFP National Championship game.

Established: 1890

Conference: Big Ten

Stadium: Ohio Stadium (102,780 capacity)

Head coach: Ryan Day (2019-present)

2024 season record: 13-2

2024 season leaders:

2024 AP Top 25 final ranking: No. 6

Total championships: Eight (2014, 2002, 1970, 1968, 1961, 1957, 1954, 1942)

All-time record: 977-335-53 (.744)

Bowl record: 26-23 (.531)

Heisman winners:

Head-to-head vs. Notre Dame: 6-2, 25.6 points scored per game

Established: 1887

Conference: Independent

Stadium: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795 capacity)

Head coach: Marcus Freeman (2021-present)

2024 season record: 14-1

2024 season leaders:

2024 AP Top 25 final ranking: No. 3

Total championships: 13 (1988, 1977, 1973, 1966, 1964, 1949, 1947, 1946, 1943, 1930, 1929, 1924, 1919)

All-time record: 962-338-42 (.740)

Bowl record: 23-18 (.561)

Heisman winners:

Tim Brown, 1987
John Huarte, 1964
Paul Hornung, 1956
John Lattner, 1953
Leon Hart, 1949
John Lujack, 1947
Angelo Bertelli, 1943

Head-to-head vs. Ohio State: 2-6, 17.4 points scored per game

Check out the ESPN college football hub page for breaking news, features, schedules, rankings and more.

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Ohio’s first Zaxby’s is coming to Greater Cincinnati

Published

18 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Ohio’s first Zaxby’s is coming to Greater Cincinnati

Zaxby’s, a popular fried chicken chain, is getting its first Ohio location in Liberty Township.

A 56-seat Zaxby’s restaurant and drive-thru is planned to open at Freedom Pointe, next to Costco. The development, which was initially planned to be a hotel, will also house three other eateries: E+O Kitchen, which has locations at The Banks, Hyde Park and Loveland; Bismarck Donut and Coffee Shop and El Rancho Grande, said Christy Gloyd, Liberty Township’s marketing and events manager.

Costco opened near Interstate 75 on Cox Road in 2022. Construction on the new restaurants starts this summer, Gloyd said.

“We’re just really excited to be growing over there at Freedom Pointe,” she told The Enquirer. “Having Costco as the anchor is huge. Just to have another family-friendly restaurant and have the variety – to have the Zaxby’s and E+O and El Rancho Grande – I think it’s really going to be a nice offering for our residents.”

Atlanta-headquartered Zaxby’s has over 900 locations in 17 states, mostly in the South and Midwest. The chain is known for its chicken fingers and wings, sandwiches and salads. The closest Zaxby’s locations currently open are over an hour away, in Shelbyville, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky.

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