Here’s the deal — right now I’m in the passenger seat and typing this out. Sometimes when I’m writing in the car I get a little nauseous, so I’m on a ticking clock here and I can’t go back and look at how I did last week. I was told I was only 1-of-5, but I’m sure there’s a good reason for that.
That doesn’t mean my predictions for Ohio State at Iowa will be less researched, but it does mean I haven’t done as much research.
Without the time to study and use several forms of science to completely nail these predictions like I normally do, I cannot guarantee the veracity or voracity of these next five predictions. However, I can guarantee you that they are predictions worthy of your continued use of them during your Friday Family Reading Time around your dining room table.
Anyway, let’s do this. There’s a ticking clock, remember.
1. Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins will combine for at least 165 yards rushing.
Iowa is allowing 145 yards rushing per game, but I see J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber combining for 20 yards more than that. Interestingly, Dobbins and Weber are combining for 149 yards per game, which is almost exactly Iowa’s average. Tony Alford is trying to get Weber going, and maybe a road game is the time when he responds to that leaning. Or maybe Dobbins rushes for 110 yards in the first half and then gets two more carries in the second half to reach 165.
2. A cornerback will have an interception.
Iowa quarterback Nathan Stanley has only thrown four interceptions this season, but he has thrown one interception in each of the last three games. I would like to go ahead and call my shot with Denzel Ward, but there’s no point in me being so specific. You don’t come here for specifics, you come here for accuracy. I also think Kendall Sheffield is way overdue for an interception.
3. Nick Bosa will notch at least one sack.
Nick Bosa said he had nine quarterback hurries last week, which is nice, but hurries aren’t nearly as good as sacks. This dude is hungry and he is going to be spoonfed by a couple of freshman offensive tackles. Quarterback Nathan Stanley is a tall stand-in-the-pocket quarterback, which is exactly what Bosa is looking for.
4. Binjimen Victor will score this week.
I don’t know that Ohio State’s receivers ever really have big games back-to-back this season. It seems like it’s usually somebody else’s turn, which would mean Binjimen Victor after having zero catches last week. Originally I had Johnnie Dixon here, but I talked myself into Victor because I just remembered watching Michigan State wide receiver Felton Davis snatching touchdown passes over the top of Iowa’s defensive backs.
5. Ohio State will complete at least one 40-yard pass.
Iowa has given up four passes of 40 or more yards this season, which is second most in the Big Ten. Ohio State, meanwhile, leads the conference with seven such receptions. Oddly, they are tied with Iowa in that regard. I don’t expect Parris Campbell to play this week, so it will be up to Johnnie Dixon or a wheel route. We should chalk this prediction up to Stupid Tony. Or maybe Queasy Tony.
Bonus: Ohio State will hold Iowa under 100 yards rushing.
The Buckeyes are allowing 107 yards rushing per game, so what I am predicting here is bold and flavorful. The fact that Iowa is only averaging 130.8 yards per game on the ground does not diminish this prediction.
Bonus: J.K. Dobbins will have a carry of at least 27 yards.
I thought I’d honor Eddie George with this prediction. It was better than honoring Luke Fickell.