The Big Ten has one last bowl game to make up for a New Year’s Day that was as painful as it was infamous.
↵THE Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the Arkansas Razorbacks, from the stadium that was the location of one of our biggest heartbreaks as Vikings fans, the Louisiana Superdome.
↵Ohio State is making their 9th BCS bowl appearance, the most all time, while Arkansas is in their first. The Razorbacks are lead by Ryan Mallett, who started his college career at…Michigan. Mallett has had back to back 30 TD pass seasons, and has a hefty payday awaiting him in the NFL, but first things first: he must solve one of the best defenses in the nation.
↵For Ohio State, if there’s a theme, it’s redemption. They started that long road back by throttling a high powered Oregon Duck team in last season’s Rose Bowl, and if they can finally get their 0-9 all-time record against the SEC in bowl games off their back, it will almost be complete.
↵But this is also about salvaging a BIg Ten reputation that is on the brink of tatters once again, because of the New Year’s Day Massacre.
↵Ohio State is lead by the enigmatic Terrelle Pryor, who along with five teammates, were involved in a high profile tattoo scandal during the lead up to the Sugar Bowl. Pryor is 30-4 as a starter, and his best game was on his biggest stage in Pasadena last year, but he has a penchant for coming up small when the stakes are biggest.
↵I think Ohio State is sick of hearing the 0-9 mantra, and they make a statement tonight.
↵SBN Minnesota Prediction: Ohio State 31, Arkansas 21.
↵SBN Minnesota Bowl Record Thus Far: 15-10.