August 18, 2008 - Buckeyes Rule Ohio Sports, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds Word format Ohioans prefer Cleveland professional sports teams to the ones in Cincinnati, but they save their hearts for the Ohio State Buckeyes, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Looking at Major League Baseball, Ohio voters prefer the Cleveland Indians to the Cincinnati Reds 51 - 34 percent. Turning to the National Football League, the Browns top the Bengals 55 - 30 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. But by a 58 - 28 percent margin, voters back the Ohio State Buckeyes over their favorite NFL team. By a smaller 42 - 38 percent margin, they support Buckeye basketball over the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers. "Ohio is the Buckeye State and Ohio sports fans give their heart to the college team, unlike some states where college football isn't strong and professional sports are what matters," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "This may be due partially to the Buckeyes being more successful than the pro franchises, but the margin shows that it is more than just winning and losing." Asked to name their favorite among the state's five professional sports teams: 24 percent name the Browns; 17 percent pick the Cavaliers; 15 percent each for the Indians and the Bengals; 14 percent root for the Reds. From August 5 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,342 Ohio voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 26. Of the five major professional sports teams in Ohio - baseball's Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, football's Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati's Bengals, and basketball's Cleveland Cavaliers, which is your favorite? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Reds 14% 17% 11% 13% 14% 13% Indians 15 18 15 13 12 18 Browns 24 24 24 24 30 18 Bengals 15 18 13 17 17 14 Cavaliers 17 11 19 20 15 18 DK/NA 15 13 17 14 12 18 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Reds 17% 2% 5% 20% 35% 25% Indians 10 27 18 7 2 4 Browns 26 31 35 19 7 14 Bengals 17 1 4 23 43 28 Cavaliers 13 27 18 12 1 9 DK/NA 17 12 20 19 12 21 27. When it comes to baseball, do you root more for the Cincinnati Reds or the Cleveland Indians? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Reds 34% 40% 30% 34% 37% 31% Indians 51 50 55 48 49 52 DK/NA 16 11 16 18 14 17 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Reds 37% 2% 17% 45% 87% 69% Indians 41 88 56 24 5 13 DK/NA 22 10 27 31 9 18 28. When it comes to football, do you root more for the Cleveland Browns or the Cincinnati Bengals? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Browns 55% 52% 60% 51% 55% 55% Bengals 30 34 25 33 32 28 DK/NA 15 15 15 16 13 17 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Browns 47% 83% 63% 42% 13% 28% Bengals 33 6 13 34 78 51 DK/NA 20 11 25 24 8 20 29. Do you root harder for your favorite professional football team or the Ohio State Buckeyes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Professional 28% 27% 32% 26% 31% 25% Buckeyes 58 61 56 59 56 61 DK/NA 13 12 12 15 13 13 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Professional 15% 35% 19% 19% 45% 16% Buckeyes 74 51 66 72 41 68 DK/NA 10 14 15 9 14 15 30. Do you root harder for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers or the Ohio State Buckeyes basketball team ? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Cavaliers 38% 32% 46% 32% 38% 38% Buckeyes 42 48 37 47 43 42 DK/NA 20 20 17 21 20 20 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Cavaliers 22% 66% 18% 23% 16% 18% Buckeyes 61 20 55 58 56 56 DK/NA 17 14 27 20 27 26
