Charles Davis: Ohio State deserves title shot if it beats Michigan State

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Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press has Ohio State ranked eighth on his Associated Press ballot. While that’s a bit extreme, I also can’t say that I am all that impressed with the Buckeyes.

In the two games I saw Ohio State in person this year, they gave up to 72 points to Northwestern and Michigan, two teams that had offensive struggles. Florida State might hang 50 points on the Buckeyes if they advance to the BCS title game.

While Charles Davis also has some reservations about Ohio State, he has the Buckeyes at No. 2 in his poll. And sorry Auburn, if they beat Michigan State Saturday in the Big Ten title game, he thinks they deserve a shot at the championship.

Davis and Gus Johnson will be on the call for Saturday’s game in Indianapolis, which should do a terrific rating for Fox Sports.

“If Ohio State wins, I’d be shocked if they aren’t the No. 2 team in the country,” Davis said. “I don’t think you can look at schedules as being apples to apples. When Ohio State scheduled Cal, Cal was a top program under Jeff Tedford.

“It’s still the Big Ten. Anytime you go through a major conference undefeated, there’s something to that. Auburn played great in the SEC, but they lost to LSU, which had three losses.”

But can Ohio State beat Michigan State? Davis thinks a couple of factors come into play.

“The game comes down to (Michigan State quarterback) Connor Cook,” Davis said. “Does he accept the challenge to become a better runner? He’s more capable than what he’s shown. His legs could be the big pressure release for that offense.”

Also, win or lose, Michigan State is guaranteed a bid to the Rose Bowl.

“The Spartans don’t want to be the team that goes to the Rose Bowl through the back door,” Davis said. “They want to earn their way to Pasadena.”

This is the third year Fox will televise the Big Ten title game. I think it foreshadows what will happen when the Big Ten’s TV contract expires with ESPN/ABC in 2016. Fox, which already owns a share of the Big Ten Network, will make a major push to acquire conference rights for Fox and Fox Sports 1.