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.
Today, at 7:30 p.m. ET, the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0) will host the UCLA Bruins (3-6). As of the writing of this article, the Buckeyes are 31.5-point favorites, with the total points mark set at 47.5 points. So that means that the Vegas oddsmakers see the game as finishing somewhere in the ballpark of 40-8 in favor of OSU.
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.
Michael Citro
Score Prediction: Ohio State 41, UCLA 16
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith will keep clowning opponents even though he’s being double-teamed.
Major Storyline: Ohio State remains on course for a clash with Indiana in the Big Ten championship game.
Joey Gertz
Score Prediction: Ohio State 42, UCLA 10
Game MVP: I’m going to pick the whole defensive line. Buckeyes get 6 sacks and remain in Nico Iamaleava’s nightmares.
Major Storyline: The Buckeyes don’t get caught looking ahead. They remain focused on the task at hand while doing the little things they need to do to beat Michigan the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Justin Golba
Score Prediction: Ohio State 38, UCLA 6
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith will record 150 yards and three touchdowns.
Major Storyline: With this big game, Jeremiah Smith will propel into the Heisman race with Fernando Mendoza and Julian Sayin as one of the favorites.
Connor Lemons
Score Prediction: Ohio State 45, UCLA 10
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith is the game MVP (again). No need to complicate things, UCLA gave up 37 points to Penn State and 56 to Indiana, so I expect the best player in college football to have a huge day.
Major Storyline: The Buckeyes are embracing their identity as a pass-first offense, but will they deviate from that again when they go to Michigan in a few weeks?
Brett Ludwiczak
Score Prediction: Ohio State 41, UCLA 7
Game MVP: A week after sitting out the Purdue game, Carnell Tate gets back on the field in a big way, catching two touchdown passes from Julian Sayin.
Major Storyline: No news is good news. The Buckeyes put together another dominating performance, making life miserable for Nico Iamaleava at Ohio Stadium for the second time in less than a year.
Gene Ross
Score Prediction: Ohio State 42, UCLA 7
Game MVP: Bo Jackson rips off a long touchdown run (that counts this time) as part of a 150-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance.
Major Storyline: Ohio State finally replaces Tegra Tshabola at right guard, electing to go with some combo of Ian Moore/Ethan Onianwa/Phillip Daniels on the right side in any order.
Matt Tamanini
Score Prediction: Ohio State 49, UCLA 3
Game MVP: This week’s co-MVP awards will go to quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who will combine for 174 yards and three touchdowns.
Major Storyline: With a prime-time game in the middle of an ABC and ESPN blackout on the largest live TV streaming service in the country, I think that Ryan Day and company will look to further cement both Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith as Heisman Trophy leaders. Whether or not Carnell Tate returns to the lineup or not, J.J. will be a focus against the team that has given up the second-most passing touchdowns in the Big Ten this season.
Ryan Weckstein
Score Prediction: Ohio State 45, UCLA 10
Game MVP: Ohio State will finally figure out the run game. Bo Jackson has a fast start and finishes with 120 yards and two touchdowns.
Major Storyline: Ohio State looks as balanced as it ever has. Teams now must respect Ohio State’s pass and run game, making them even more dangerous just in time for the home stretch.
