We're about three hours from kickoff, so I thought I'd get it on record. Sure hope I'm wrong.

No kidding OSU fans are concerned. Even if you throw out the Bucks' recent history vs. the top national teams, this doesn't set up very well.

On defense, the Buckeye pass defense will be trying to stop Colt McCoy who averages 77.6% and 287 yards per game. The secondary will be hard-pressed if OSU doesn't show more of a pass rush than they have all year. Frankly, I'd be surprised if Ohio State can even slow up Texas.

On offense, OSU will lean on Wells to carry the mail, but Pryor and his receivers are going to have to exhibit a consistent passing threat  The Buckeye OL isn't good enough if Texas can focus on stopping the run. If Pryor can complete a few early, maybe the Horns will loosen up. Obviously turnovers can't happen.

Ohio State is still more ball-control than quick-strike. The start of the game will be critical, because a big comeback doesn't seem likely.

Looking at this as optimistically as possible, I'll call it a 42-24 Texas win. I don't see Texas having a lot of problem scoring and the Buckeyes won't be able to keep up.

The Cincinnati Cyclones watched a 5-1 lead almost disappear in the third period on Friday night against the Dayton Bombers at the E.J. Nutter Center in Fairborn.

Dayton scored three times in the final stanza before the buzzer ended a 5-4 Cincinnati win.

It was an even start to the game with both netminders, Dayton's Paul Drew and Cincinnati's Martin Houle giving up soft goals in turn. Jimmy Kilpatrick beat Drew with a slap shot. Six minutes later, Les Reaney wristed one past Houle. Both were unscreened and from the outside of the faceoff circle.

Things came unglued for the Bombers towards the end of the first period. Lax defense found Cincy's Ryan Toomey and Barret Ehgoetz all alone in the slot. Toomey ripped home the Ehgoetz feed to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead.

Before the first period ended, Ian McKenzie got to a loose puck in the middle of scramble and whipped it past Drew.

The second period didn't start any better for the Bombers. A defensive zone turnover resulted in Ehgoetz goal at the 2:32 mark and Kilpatrick scored his second marker of the night five minutes later to stake the Cyclones to a 5-1 lead.

Nearly 20-minutes of uninspired hockey followed stradling the second and third periods, before the Bombers woke up and it was Cincinnati's turn to fall asleep.

A high, floating shot by Dayton's Mike Looby alluded Houle, who appeared to be screened by several players. That goal seemed to energize Dayton and put Cincinnati on their collective heals.

Kilpatrick, Ehgoetz, Conrad Martin and T.J. McElroy all took two-minute trips to the penalty box in the third period. The Bombers were able to convert with power play goals by Danny LaPoint and Dominic D'Amour. D'Amour's tally came with 3:02 left in regulation.

The Cyclones were able to regain some equilibrium and hold on through the final three minutes.

Again, to my few fellow hockey fans.

Desharnais just signed a two-way contract with the Canadiens. Seems that he's been turning heads in Hamilton with 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 11 games.

It's a two-year deal, so if he keeps at it, we may see him skate for the big club before too long.

Your other guy, Desjardins, has been backing up vet Marc Denis. In three games he's 1-2 with a 3.35 GAA and a .891 save percentage. I'm kind of surprised they haven't given him more work so far. Denis is a known commodity, Desjardins is hopefully still developing.

Overall, the Bulldogs are 8-2-1. A good start for them just like the Habs.

Incidentally, Montreal's playing C-bus tommorrow. Anyone going?

For the couple of hockey fans on this site, I caught the Bombers-Clones game on Saturday night and here are some thoughts. Dayton won 5-4 in OT.

For a game that went to overtime, it was remarkably one sided in shots (47-21 Dayton). When the teams were 5-on-5, Dayton held the zone for long periods of time. Cincy seemed to have a lot of difficulty getting through the neutral zone and when they did, they'd usually need a shift change.

Both goalies looked bad. Cincy's Kyle Gajewski and Dayton's Mike Brown both let  in some softies in the first period. Dayton's first goal from Ryan Smith was a very ordinary slap shot from the far side of the circle that beat Gajewski low short side. Some other long shots went in untipped. Although it was on the other side of the ice, I saw that Brown took a roughing penalty. Did anyone get a good look at that?

I understand that Gajewski also struggled Friday night in Wheeling. Anyone concerned?

Mistakes aside, I thought the pace was relatively decent, but the second period was just miserable. Things didn't seem to get back into gear until the Riedel goal that gave Dayton a 4-3 lead at the time.

I guess we had the Cylcone booster club in attendance. I was impressed so many Cincy fans showed up. Lord knows the Bombers can use all the ticket sales they get.