The Pokes are -4 for the season in turnover margin. Decided advantage for us.
WHEN they allow kickoff returns (rare), they give up some of the longest in NCAA.
They obviously play at a faster offensive pace. If I were OSU, I would try to force the issue on offense, put 8 guys in the box on defense, and try to make it a shootout, hope that Klein finally makes some mistakes in the passing game. As with the rest of the season, we should win as long as we limit our own mistakes.
Could be noted that against Tech there were a few significant "spectacular" or "close" plays that helped break it open: Klein threading the first (?) TD pass just past the defender's lunge, Lockett's tiptoe-dragging catch on the sidelines, the fumble by the Tech WR that stayed in just long enough to be a catch. Now, there were also plays that weren't made (like the dropped INTs), we would have still won because we were by far executing better than Tech after the 1Q, and our players have consistently made "spectacular" plays. But if there's an off night where we don't hit on those plays, then it stays a closer game for a longer time.
Love watching this team. They seem to just be getting better. It's still possible they may lose focus because they're 18-22 year old kids, but I've never seen a group whose chances I like better to stay focused and steady than these guys.
