Or up 7 or 10.How fun would it be to be down only 10 or 7 headed into the fourth
TheChief4Life said:Our 2007 would be 26 point favorites against this team too. Honestly, the 14 point spread at the time was more about how good Ohio State was than Illinois was bad. Illinois was 2 stupid plays away from being 10-1 at that point. They had lost three games by a total of like 14 points; two of them in games in which they had the ball to end the game I think (including that bullcrap Iowa hidden receiver call).
Been watching the Fox pregame and I'm about to puke. Give me Brian Barnhart and the guys on WDWS -- PLEASE!
(Let's quiet the crowd, the FOX broadcast team, and especially Urban Myer with a stellar first half!).
Let's see where this team finishes before comparing non conference 2026 to 2007 end of season. I wouldn't bet on this team to win one of PSU, UW, or OSU like 07Uhm no, it wouldn’t. I can’t find the SP+ numbers from 2007 for a 1:1 comparison, but our 2007 team finished ranked #35 in FPI. This year’s team is currently ranked #33 in SP+, #44 in FPI, #39 in Slate, and #30 in FEI for an average ranking of #37. So the matchup would be closer to a pick ‘em than either team substantially favored.
And that Ohio St team wasn’t that good either. They finished the year ranked #7 in FPI (+19.1) They’re currently #1 in FPI (+28.2) and #1 SP+ (+29.7). So this year’s Ohio St would be a 10’sh point favorite on a neutral field.
Oh man... I looked into this more, and you're right. I feel like even I'm remembering the '07 team more fondly than it actually was and '07's OSU team WAY more fondly than it was. Refusing to believe I could be wrong, I had AI run some algorithms using cross ERA SP+ ratings and tools used today to set lines, etc etc and it told me that on a neutral field (which I think is hilarious) '26 would be about a 6 to 6.5 point favorite over '07's team. That's crazy!Uhm no, it wouldn’t. I can’t find the SP+ numbers from 2007 for a 1:1 comparison, but our 2007 team finished ranked #35 in FPI. This year’s team is currently ranked #33 in SP+, #44 in FPI, #39 in Slate, and #30 in FEI for an average ranking of #37. So the matchup would be closer to a pick ‘em than either team substantially favored.
And that Ohio St team wasn’t that good either. They finished the year ranked #7 in FPI (+19.1) They’re currently #1 in FPI (+28.2) and #1 SP+ (+29.7). So this year’s Ohio St would be a 10’sh point favorite on a neutral field.
Let's turn some heads.
Nostalgia’s a hell of a drug. The ‘07 team is likely my favorite team ever too so I get it. Had season tickets with my dad that year. Such a fun team to watch.Oh man... I looked into this more, and you're right. I feel like even I'm remembering the '07 team more fondly than it actually was and '07's OSU team WAY more fondly than it was. Refusing to believe I could be wrong, I had AI run some algorithms using cross ERA SP+ ratings and tools used today to set lines, etc etc and it told me that on a neutral field (which I think is hilarious) '26 would be about a 6 to 6.5 point favorite over '07's team. That's crazy!
So, my bad! I retract my previous comment! that said, it's still early season. Like pvaughn said, let' see how conference play turns out... lol