Five Predictions: Michigan State at Ohio State

I have put off tallying up my predictions over the previous three games due to outstanding excuses. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s thinking of reasons why I can’t do something right now.

That being said, I’ve put this stuff off too long. I won’t run through it all, but I will let you know that before tallying up these last three games, I was 19-of-30 (63.3%).

I don’t know exactly how this is gonna go, but I know it’s not gonna be good.

Be right back.

Woof. So this was worse than I thought.

Nebraska: 1-of-5

Penn State: 1-of-5

Iowa: 1-of-5

This is the kind of thing that happens when I rest on my many laurels. I have fallen victim to the treachery of my many yaysayers. It’s a danger for all great men. The only honest person that I can truly trust is me. Of course, I’m also my biggest fan, so I have to be careful.

Anyway, when we add this horrific and unprecedented 3-of-15 slate to the previous 19-of-30 mark, we come up with a just-under-50-percent 22-of-45 record.

It’s a frustrating thing when bad things happen to good people who are me.

But I am about to attempt to get back on the right side of the 50% mark with five outstanding predictions that have yet to be proven false.

1. J.T. Barrett will have a completion of at least 36 yards.

If the Buckeyes are going to score in this game, they will have to beat Michigan State’s press coverage over the top. The Spartans have been pretty stingy in that area this year, but Ohio State won’t have much choice here. They have done well against man coverage this season, and explosive passing plays have sort of become the norm for the Buckeyes. They lead the B1G in 30-yard completions (17), 40-yard completions (8), 50-yard completions (6), 60-yard completions (3), and 70-yard completions (2). Surely they can manage one meager 36-yard pass-and-catch.

2. J.T. Barrett will throw an interception.

I expect J.T. Barrett to be a little more careful this week, but the Buckeyes are going to have to throw the ball to win. One of those deep passes will be picked off. Or, perhaps, a linebacker will step in front of a slant and take it back 48 yards for a pick six. I also wonder if last week’s game is gonna make him a step slower thanks to a loss of confidence. Whatever the reasoning or the combination of factors, I think it leads to at least one interception.

3. There will be less than 263 yards rushing total in this game.

I don’t know how I came to this number, but Michigan State hasn’t rushed for 100 yards in their last three games. If the Buckeyes can hold MSU to around 80 yards and then turn around and rush for 180 against the Spartans, that would be a pretty good day. If Michigan State has half of the 263, however, then that would be bad for the Buckeyes. It is not going to be easy to run the ball in this game — especially if J.K. Dobbins doesn’t get involved.

4. Binjimen Victor will have a reception.

This might seem like a silly prediction, but Binjimen Victor has gone two games now without a reception. He was just starting to come on, which is the most disappointing part about his lack of catches. He had four catches against both Maryland and Nebraska, but nothing since then. J.T. Barrett threw the ball 73 times the last two weeks and Victor didn’t come down with any of them. That changes this weekend. Probably.

5. Parris Campbell will return a kickoff out to at least the 40-yard line.

Parris Campbell is playing this week and that’s good news for the Buckeyes. They missed him last week on kickoff returns, but he should be back there this week and look out for him to get a big hit. Michigan State is second-to-last in the Big Ten in kickoff return average allowed (23.4), and they have given up one touchdown return already this season. Could Campbell make it two? Nobody cares. We only care if he brings it out to the 40-yard line.