Matt Tamanini
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Ohio State vs. Oregon: Land-Grant’s experts make their picks
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Every week, we will be picking the score, MVP, and major storyline for each Buckeye game.
Being the Buckeye beat’s black sheep blog, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to pat ourselves on the back. So, throughout the season, members of our staff will be making predictions about that day’s game. They will go on the record with what they think the final score will be, who the game’s MVP will be, and what the major storyline will be coming out of the day.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will square off with the Oregon Ducks in the Grandaddy of Them All with a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals on the line. The Rose Bowl is scheduled to kick off around 5 p.m. ET and will be aired in various forms on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, and ESPN Deportes.
As of this article’s writing, the Bucks are 2.5-point favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook. College football’s gold-standard advanced analytics model SP+ is predicting a score of 26-25 in favor of Ohio State.
Check out what our staff members think and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments below. As we move forward with the season, you will be able to keep up with just how well our prognosticators do on a weekly basis HERE.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 28
Game MVP: Emeka Egbuka
Major Storyline: Jayden Fielding will make a 36-yard field goal to win the game and move Ohio State onto the semifinals of the playoff.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 34, Oregon 30
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith
Major Storyline: Ryan Day and Ohio State get the much-needed win over a top-tier team and Jeremiah Smith continues to prove he is the best wide receiver in college football.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 38, Oregon 35
Game MVP: Will Howard
Major Storyline: Will Howard is going to throw for two touchdowns and run for two more. The Ohio State defense will get a late stop, giving the ball back to the Buckeye offense to get in victory formation. See you in the semis.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 35, Oregon 33
Game MVP: Will Howard
Major Storyline: Redemption for Will Howard. After the heartbreaking slide potentially cost the Buckeyes the first matchup between the teams in October, he gets the job done this time, and has the potential to lead his team to a national championship.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 35, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Cody Simon
Major Storyline: It took a few years, but Jim Knowles’ defense is finally cooking. Ohio State’s offense has always been what grabs headlines, but the Buckeyes’ defense — especially the secondary — has been stellar during the second half of the season and could be the reason they win it all.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 27
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith
Major Storyline: In another thrilling battle between these two schools, Ohio State exacts some revenge for the loss in Eugene in October. Unlike the first meeting, the Buckeyes are able to get to Dillon Gabriel and make the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket. Will Howard finds Jeremiah Smith for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter to send the Buckeyes to the Cotton Bowl.
Score Prediction: Oregon 31, Ohio State 28
Game MVP: Dillon Gabriel
Major Storyline: Ohio State plays well, but ultimately Oregon’s defensive line overpowers the Buckeyes’ offensive line and causes a late turnover to win the game. Jeremiah Smith goes off, but Ohio State comes up just short. Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel runs for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 38, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Jack Sawyer
Major Storyline: In the first meeting between the two teams, Ohio State’s offense wasn’t the problem (although it was far from perfect). The reason Ohio State lost that game was because the defensive scheme put no effort into trying to disrupt Dillon Gabriel in the pocket. Following that mid-October loss, OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles reengineered the defense and the Silver Bullets have gotten home via increased blitzes and from creative play design across the defensive line.
In this rematch, Will Howard, Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, et. al will continue to move the ball against the Ducks’ defense, but it will be the Buckeye defenders who will be the talk of Pasadena.
For the second straight season, Jack Sawyer has played his best football at the end of the year, and that continues this afternoon as the senior defensive end records three sacks on Gabriel and breaks up a pass.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Caleb Downs
Major Storyline: The Ohio State defensive game plan will be the major storyline. Whether from the pass rush or blitzing, the defense will cause Oregon to make a mistake or two that determine the game. Will Howard redeems himself and Jeremiah Smith goes off for two touchdowns.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Every week, we will be picking the score, MVP, and major storyline for each Buckeye game.
Being the Buckeye beat’s black sheep blog, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to pat ourselves on the back. So, throughout the season, members of our staff will be making predictions about that day’s game. They will go on the record with what they think the final score will be, who the game’s MVP will be, and what the major storyline will be coming out of the day.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will square off with the Oregon Ducks in the Grandaddy of Them All with a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals on the line. The Rose Bowl is scheduled to kick off around 5 p.m. ET and will be aired in various forms on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, and ESPN Deportes.
As of this article’s writing, the Bucks are 2.5-point favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook. College football’s gold-standard advanced analytics model SP+ is predicting a score of 26-25 in favor of Ohio State.
Check out what our staff members think and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments below. As we move forward with the season, you will be able to keep up with just how well our prognosticators do on a weekly basis HERE.
Justin Golba
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 28
Game MVP: Emeka Egbuka
Major Storyline: Jayden Fielding will make a 36-yard field goal to win the game and move Ohio State onto the semifinals of the playoff.
Dan Hessler
Score Prediction: Ohio State 34, Oregon 30
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith
Major Storyline: Ryan Day and Ohio State get the much-needed win over a top-tier team and Jeremiah Smith continues to prove he is the best wide receiver in college football.
Caleb Houser
Score Prediction: Ohio State 38, Oregon 35
Game MVP: Will Howard
Major Storyline: Will Howard is going to throw for two touchdowns and run for two more. The Ohio State defense will get a late stop, giving the ball back to the Buckeye offense to get in victory formation. See you in the semis.
Jami Jurich
Score Prediction: Ohio State 35, Oregon 33
Game MVP: Will Howard
Major Storyline: Redemption for Will Howard. After the heartbreaking slide potentially cost the Buckeyes the first matchup between the teams in October, he gets the job done this time, and has the potential to lead his team to a national championship.
Connor Lemons
Score Prediction: Ohio State 35, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Cody Simon
Major Storyline: It took a few years, but Jim Knowles’ defense is finally cooking. Ohio State’s offense has always been what grabs headlines, but the Buckeyes’ defense — especially the secondary — has been stellar during the second half of the season and could be the reason they win it all.
Brett Ludwiczak
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 27
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith
Major Storyline: In another thrilling battle between these two schools, Ohio State exacts some revenge for the loss in Eugene in October. Unlike the first meeting, the Buckeyes are able to get to Dillon Gabriel and make the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket. Will Howard finds Jeremiah Smith for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter to send the Buckeyes to the Cotton Bowl.
Gene Ross
Score Prediction: Oregon 31, Ohio State 28
Game MVP: Dillon Gabriel
Major Storyline: Ohio State plays well, but ultimately Oregon’s defensive line overpowers the Buckeyes’ offensive line and causes a late turnover to win the game. Jeremiah Smith goes off, but Ohio State comes up just short. Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel runs for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Matt Tamanini
Score Prediction: Ohio State 38, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Jack Sawyer
Major Storyline: In the first meeting between the two teams, Ohio State’s offense wasn’t the problem (although it was far from perfect). The reason Ohio State lost that game was because the defensive scheme put no effort into trying to disrupt Dillon Gabriel in the pocket. Following that mid-October loss, OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles reengineered the defense and the Silver Bullets have gotten home via increased blitzes and from creative play design across the defensive line.
In this rematch, Will Howard, Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, et. al will continue to move the ball against the Ducks’ defense, but it will be the Buckeye defenders who will be the talk of Pasadena.
For the second straight season, Jack Sawyer has played his best football at the end of the year, and that continues this afternoon as the senior defensive end records three sacks on Gabriel and breaks up a pass.
Jordan Williams
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Caleb Downs
Major Storyline: The Ohio State defensive game plan will be the major storyline. Whether from the pass rush or blitzing, the defense will cause Oregon to make a mistake or two that determine the game. Will Howard redeems himself and Jeremiah Smith goes off for two touchdowns.
Continue reading...