As promised in today’s Live Blog of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, here is your preview of Monday’s Tostitos Fiesta Bowl between the Ohio State Buckeyes. Game data, position by position breakdown, and a prediction before the DTI staff heads out to Phoenix tomorrow morning. Any comments or feedback please e-mail alex@dottingthei.com and they will be posted. Click the link below for the Fiesta Bowl Preview. Enjoy and Go Bucks!

Game Data

Date, Time, Location: Monday January 5, 2009, 8 P.M. ET, University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (capacit: 73, 000)
Team Records: #10 Ohio State Buckeyes 10-2 (7-1) #3 Texas Longhorns 11-1 (7-1)

Coaches: Jim Tressel-8th season at OSU; Career Record: 218-75-2 (83-18 at OSU); Record vs. Texas: 1-1; Bowl Record: 4-3/ Mack Brown- 11th season at Texas; Career Record: 200-100-1 (114-26 at UT); Record vs. OSU: 1-1; Bowl Record: 9-5

TV/Radio: Fox (Matt Vasgersian, Tim

Position Break-Downs

QuarterbacksTexas’s Colt McCoy was the Heisman Trophy runner-up and will have revenge on his mind after a 2006 loss to #1 Ohio State in Austin during Colt’s first year as the Longhorns starting QB. McCoy registered 3,445 passing yards, while completing an amazing 291 of 375 passes (77.6%), and throwing 32 TDs to just 7 INTs. McCoy also rushed 128 times for 576 yards (4.5 avg.) and 10 TDs. McCoy is a threat both on the ground and through the air, as you can see, and will be a tough task for the OSU defense to stop. Ohio State on the other hand, has two capable quarterbacks for Monday’s game. Freshman Terrelle Pryor will be the starter and threw for 1,245 yards on 95-152 (62.5%) passing. Pryor threw 12 TDs to just 4 INTs in his 9 games started. “TP” also ran for 553 yards on 124 carries (4.46 avg.) to go along with 6 touchdowns. The freshman phenom was unphased under pressure throughout most of the year and his only loss as a starter came in OSU’s 13-6 loss at home to Penn State. The Bucks’ other QB, senior captain Todd Boeckman, started the first three games of the season and did some spot up work throughout the way. Last year’s National Championship Game starter threw for 510 yards and 4 TDs to 2 INTs, while completing 64.2% of his passes (52-81). Boeckman would not be a factor in this game, but Jim Tressel has hinted that Boeckman and Pryor could be on the field at the same time. It will be a great QB match-up to watch, but experience may be the X-factor in this game.

Advantage: Texas

Running BacksStarting with Texas, OSU is going to have to stop a few different players who run the football for Mack Brown’s offense. McCoy was the leading rusher for the ‘Horns, but Vondrell McGee (376 yards 4 TD), Cody Johnson (336 yards 12 TD), Chris Ogbonnaya (331 yards 4 TD), Foswhitt Whittaker (261 yards 0 TD), and back-up QB John Chiles (131 yards 2 TD) did their fair share to contribute to the Longhorns offense. The Buckeyes defensive line and linebackers have done a good job slowing up backs this year, but Texas’s versatility makes them tricky. Look for Johnson to get most of the goal line touches, while McGee will get a majority of the other touches. Ogbonnaya is more dangerous as a receiver, tallying 42 receptions for 484 yards and 3 TD on the year. He could cause problems in the flats for OSU’s defense. Ohio State brings one of the best running backs in the nation to the game on Monday, and the worst news for Texas is that Chris Wells is healthy after 5 weeks off. Beanie was injured in the Youngstown State game and missed the Ohio, USC, and Troy games thereafter. He didn’t play much in the next game against Minnesota, and still managed to gain 1,091 yards on 191 carries (5.7 avg.) to go along with 8 TDs. Beanie will be the key to the Buckeyes’ potential victory in this game, as he might be the best player in the nation when healthy. Advantage: Ohio State

Wide Receivers Texas brings in two of the best receivers in the country in Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley. Cosby, a former Angels minor league outfielder, snagged 78 catches for 952 yards and 8 touchdowns on the year and still managed to finish SECOND on his team in receiving. The man who is first on UT is Colt’s favorite target in Shipley, who caught 79 passes for 982 yards and 11 TD on the season. Lesse-known Brandon Collins (28-370-3) and Malcolm Williams (17-304-3) have done a nice job contributing as well. Ohio State’s receivers have seen a drop in their numbers this year, but that is most likely a result of the switch at QB and the development in the passing game that has taken place this season. In my opinion, Brian Hartline has been the best receiver on the team this year, as he has caught 21 passes for 479 yards and 4 TDs on the year. Brian Robiskie has put up the best stats out of all the receivers catching 37 passes for 419 yards and 8 TDs. Dane Sanzenbacher (21-272-1) has proven himself as a reliable slot threat, while Ray Small (18-149-0), Lamaar Thomas (4-29-0), and DeVier Posey (9-104-1) have contributed in the passing game as well. Tight Ends Jake Ballard (4-52-0) and Rory Nicol (6-60-2) are very good at what they do, but Jim Bollman and JT have failed to get them involved in the offense all that much this year. Texas’s receivers produce offense, while OSU’s take a back seat to the running game. Advantage: Texas

Offensive LineBoth offensive lines played well down the stretch for their specific teams. Texas’s line has been solid all year, while Ohio State’s took some time as they had injuries, made some line-up changes, and gained an identity. Texas starts Adam Ulatoski (6′8″, 302 lbs.), Charlie Tanner (6′4″, 305 lbs.), David Snow (6′4″, 300 lbs.), Cedric Dockery (6′4″, 315 lbs.), and Kyle Hix 6(’7″ 320 lbs.). Snow and Ohio State’s Michael Brewster are both freshman, while Ulatoski and Tanner are juniors, Dockery is a senior, and Hix is a sophomore. Ohio State will start Brewster, Alex Boon, Jim Cordle, Steve Rehring, and Bryant Browning. Both lines could be the key to the game, as Texas brings a great rush defense and will have to stop Beanie Wells and Terrelle Pryor, and Texas needs to give Colt McCoy time to move around in the pocket to find his receivers. Texas’s consistency prevails in the end. Advantage: Texas

Defensive Line

This was once a “no-brainer”, but the gap has closed. Texas still has the advantage and the guys who starts it all is DE Brian Orakpo. Orakpo had 40 tackles (18.5 for loss) and 10.5 sacks this season. He is an outstanding player who will give OSU’s line problems all night long. He is joined by Defensive Tackles Roy Miller and Aaron Lewis, and fellow DE Henry Melton. The Buckeyes will counter with Thaddeus Gibson and Nader Abdallah on the ends. Abdallah moving to the outside is a new move by the staff, but Nader has been the best lineman all season long. The DTs will be Cameron Heyward and Doug Worthington, but OSU is very deep as Rob Rose, Todd Denlinger, and Dexter Larrimore should all expect to play. Once again, OSU’s defensive line has improved, but Orakpo ultimately gives Texas the edge. Advantage: Texas

Linebackers

Both units are very good and should be key in determining the outcomes of the game. Texas features Sergio Kindle and Roddrick Muckelroy on the outside, with Rashad Bobino in the middle. Kindle had 50 tackes (13 for loss) and 9 sacks on the season and Muckelroy had 106 tackles (4 for loss) off the edge, which is where the ‘Horns are fastest. The Buckeyes counter with three time All-American James Laurinaitis (121 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 INTs) in the middle, and Marcus Freeman (76 tackles-9 for loss, 3.5 sacks) and Ross Homan (64 tackles-6 for loss) on the outside. Ohio State’s unit is more experienced in BCS games like this and Freeman and Laurinaitis are playing in their last games, while trying to regain respect for their big game flops. I like the Buckeyes in this match-up. Advantage: Ohio State

Defensive Backs

While Texas’s DBs are good, none compare to Thorpe Award winner, Malcolm Jenkins. Jenkins had 54 tackles (3.5 for loss) and 3 INTs this year, but rarely got thrown at as he is the best lock down corner in the country. His fellow corners Donald Washington and Chimdi Chekwa are not too shabby either and should be able to help slow down the UT receivers. Safeties Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman have been very good all year, and there is no reason to believe that they will not continue to play at an optimal level in this one. Two players who can be expected to contribute a bunch are Jermale Hines and Tyler Moeller, who play the Star position. These hybrid linebacker-safeties will play on 3rd down and nickel situation and should help neutralize the abundance of receivers Texas will throw at OSU. Texas starts Ryan Palmer and Deon Beasley at corner back and Earl Thomas (SS) and Blake Gideon (FS) at safety. Thomas and Palmer are the stars of this unit, but neither compare to Jenkins. Advantage: Ohio State

Special Teams

Jim Tressel’s area of expertise is the Special Units, but Ohio State has underperformed in the kick return department the last two years. Lamaar Thomas was added to the unit to try and boost the production, and while he has done well, the Buckeyes still only average 19 yards per kick return. Texas, in return, averages 23.2 yards per return. The Buckeyes do have the edge in the punt return game, averaging 12.9 yards per return, while UT averages only 8.2 yards on the punt return unit. Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley handle the kick and punt return duties for Texas, and are as dangerous in the return game as they are as receivers. Texas has blocked an impressive 5 punts this year and they will look to gain field the position advantage in such situations that arise in this game. Kicker Hunter Lawrence was 9-11 on field goals this year, with a long of 46. He was a perfect 57-57 in PATs. Texas’s other kicker, Ryan Bailey, was 1-2 on the year, with a long of 30 yards. Texas has used three punters this year, but their starter for this game will be John Gold. Gold punted 21 times for a 45.0 average. His long was 59 and had 7 punts inside the 20 against 3 touchbacks. The ‘Horns may also use Justin Tucker who punted 9 times for a 44.3 average. He had 8 punts inside the 20 against zero touchbacks. OSU will use Lamaar Thomas and either Daniel Herro, Brandon Saine (sprained ankle), or Maurice Wells on kick returns and will use Ray Small to return punts. Kickers Ryan Pretorius (14-18, long of 50) and Aaron Pettrey (5-5, long of 54) will both be used to kick field goals, pending the distance. AJ Trepasso has handled punts the last four years and will continue to do so in the Fiesta Bowl. In his final season, Trepasso had 54 punts for a 41.3 average, 17 punts inside the 20 against 5 punts for touch backs. While OSU’s kickers are better than Texas’, the Longhorns return game gives UT the edge in the Special Teams area. Advantage: Texas

Coaching: Both coaches are all-time greats that will one day make the hall-of-fame, but one needs to prevail in this game. Tressel has fared well in the Fiesta Bowl, including the 2003 win over Miami for the National Championship, while Mack Brown has an impressive 9-5 record in bowl games at UT and North Carolina. Brown likes to play a high-octane styled offense and is aggressive on the offensive side of the ball, while JT prides his teams on defense, special teams, playing the field position game, and efficiency on the offensive end of the ball. Tressel would have the edge here if it weren’t for the flops on the big stage in the last two National Championship Games, against USC, and against Penn State at home. Tress has often been the brunt of criticism of playing games “not to lose” rather than to win, but there’s no better stage to silence those critics than in this game. Mack Brown will be trying to prove his team deserved a championship bid, and will make the effort not to let that distract his squad. My biased opinion says go with Tress, but I’m going to have to call this a push. Advantage: Push

Prediction

While many people expect Texas to blow out Ohio State, I think this will be a very close game. While my head and common knowledge say Texas will win, my heart and gut are telling me to pick the Buckeyes. I was not too impressed with Texas against Texas Tech, and their passing defense is average at best, but they know how to spread the field and will give OSU all they can handle and more. OSU has been up and down all year, but finally found an identity, and the extra bowl practice to get Beanie Wells healthy and further develop Terrelle Pryor can only help the Bucks. I’m going to say OSU pulls a shocker and wins this one. Beanie Wells will have 27 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown. Terrelle Pryor will go 8-14 for 118 yards 1 TD and 1 INT, but will have 14 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown. The other touchdown will come via Boom Herron. Colt will have a very good game for Texas, but UT will have a costly turnover in the fourth quarter that seals it up for Ohio State. Prediction: Ohio State wins 28-24