Before every Ohio State football game, Matt Tamanini will get you ready with all of the information that you need for that day’s game on the “Land-Grant Tailgate” podcast.
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No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (-29.5) vs. Ohio | over/under 50.5
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. ET
Location:
TV: Peacock
Radio: 97.1 FM/1460 AM
I realize that it has just been two games, and that those two games have been fairly extreme ones; going against the then-No. 1
team in the country, followed by a middling FCS team. But so far, this Ohio State squad has far exceeded my expectations.
The guys who have patiently waited their turns for years are performing at levels I didn’t anticipate them reaching so early in the season, and the new players – both transfers and freshmen – have stepped up in ways that far surpass their experience.
But that’s not all, the focus, attitude, creativity, and aggression that have been evident across every aspect of the program have been incredibly refreshing. It would have been very easy for the Buckeyes to rein things in after the win over Texas and take it a little easier against Grambling State. We have seen OSU teams sleepwalk through far too many games to think it not possible.
But that does not seem to be in the DNA of this year’s team. From the head coach to the coordinators to the starters to the last guys off the bench, everybody has been locked in for both games, and while execution hasn’t been perfect, it has been pretty dang impressive.
So I see no reason to assume that this evening will give us anything different. While another 10-touchdown victory might be a bit too much to hope for, I do think that the team will look to make another statement, especially since they will have next week off before opening up the Big Ten slate in Seattle against Washington.
I think that OSU will follow a similar offensive script to last week, giving Julian Sayin near complete control over a specific section of the offensive playbook, and he will be masterful. I foresee the freshman starting to move up some Heisman watchlists after a 21-of-26 passing performance where he goes for 315 yards and four touchdowns.
I think CJ Donaldson and Bo Jackson both get into the end zone, and that the Buckeyes will get a defensive and punt return touchdown.
On defense, I don’t see much reason for Matt Patricia to get too exotic along the offensive line, especially considering that Navarro is such a run threat. But it won’t matter, the Silver Bullets are just too good and will keep OU out of the end zone.
Matt’s Predictions: Ohio State 52, Ohio 6
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