Five Predictions: Indiana at Ohio State

On Monday, I sent out the October edition of the Predictor’s World Newsletter. It’s something that I came up with to bring America’s — and three of Canada’s — predictors together and to provide us with a forum for discussion, debate, and basic human contact. All via a monthly email.

The theme of October’s newsletter is that the more incorrect your prediction, the more forceful your blame needs to be. If you ever want to make it as a predictor, then you have to know exactly why you were “wrong” and then you have to attack whatever party ruined your perfect prediction.

The rest of the newsletter is basically just cool ideas for revenge, ranging from hilarious to “don’t get caught or you will go to prison again.”

(I try to provide a full-service newsletter.)

Anyway, I told you that story to tell you this story — I don’t expect to be blaming anybody this week.

Looking at last week’s predictions, however, and I might have to get a little yelly.

Here’s what I said a week ago.

1. Ohio State’s defense won’t give up more than two plays of 36 yards.

Outcome: Failed it. This one is pretty weak. Trace McSorley had a 51-yard run and K.J. Hamler had a 93-yard catch. Then in the fourth quarter, Hamler was credited with 36 yards on the play that Isaiah Pryor got flagged for targeting. If you watch the play closely, you can clearly see the referee giving Hamler an extra yard. Please see the video below for confirmation.

This beyond me!! Short until foot steps in ?? pic.twitter.com/hzOBXw8z5u

— South Florida Air Raid (@SFAIRRAID) October 4, 2018

2. Dwayne Haskins will set a career high in something.

Outcome: Nailed it. Haskins set a career high in pass attempts (39) and incompletions (17).

3. Jordan Fuller will be one of Ohio State’s top two tacklers.

Outcome: Nailed it. Fuller tied for the team lead with eight tackles with Malik Harrison and Tuf Borland.

4. J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber will combine for at least 175 yards rushing.

Outcome: Failed it. Weber and Dobbins combined for 108 yards rushing. You have to think that pretty soon there will be some justifiable scholarship reductions if the running game doesn’t pick up.

5. The Buckeye defensive tackles will combine for at least 2.5 tackles for loss.

Outcome: Failed it. Dre’Mont Jones and Davon Hamilton combined for 1.5 TFLs. Robert Landers was too hurt to help me and Chase Young was too selfish to allow defensive tackles to make TFLs.

Weekly Total: 2-of-5
Season Total: 13-of-25

The pressure is on the Buckeyes to keep me above .500 this week.

1. Ohio State will outscore Indiana by at least 17 points in the second half.

There are three things in this world that we know for sure: 2% milk is the best milk; Grandma’s meatloaf is best; Ohio State will start slowly this week. There will be a letdown at the outset, but eventually the Buckeye offense will get going and Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell will move the ball throughout the second half. Indiana will then need to take more risks in the second half, which leads to prediction No. 4 as well.

2. The Buckeyes will throw for at least 319 yards.

Indiana is only giving up 163.6 yards passing per game, so I was going to go with the Buckeyes doubling that number. Instead, however, I checked to see the season-high in yards given up by the Hoosiers. It was 219 yards to Michigan State, so I went 100 yards better than that number because that’s how things work around here. Dwayne Haskins will probably be around the same 270 yards he hit last week, but Tate Martell will put them over the top.

3. Ohio State will have at least one play on offense of at least 40 yards.

The Buckeyes have cobbled together eight plays of at least 40 yards this season, so expecting that to happen this week against Indiana is no big deal. However, the Hoosier defense has only allowed two such plays. This is the biggest group of playmakers that Indiana’s defense has seen, so a better prediction would probably be two plays of 40 yards, but have you seen my yearly record?

4. The Buckeyes will come away with at least two interceptions.

Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey has thrown five interceptions in five games, so that isn’t quite two interceptions per game, but it sounds pretty close. Ohio State only has four interceptions this season, but those four interceptions came via two interceptions against Rutgers and TCU, respectively. After no interceptions last week, the Buckeyes are due for another two this week. The way Ramsey will be forced to throw in the second half will give the Buckeyes the opportunities they need. Also, it’s time for a defensive back to score a touchdown. And it’s beyond time for a cornerback to score. The last corner touchdown was Marshon Lattimore against Tulsa early in the 2016 season.

5. Tate Martell, Demario McCall, or Isaiah Pryor will be responsible for a touchdown.

I wanted to have Tate Martell and Demario McCall predictions this week, but I ran out of room, so I decided to combine them into the same prediction. If they both score, then I’ll credit myself as getting two predictions correct. Also, the Isaiah Pryor prediction could be a touchdown he scores or allows. If you think about it, I could credit myself for FOUR correct predictions here. That will get my season average back to where we all expect it to be.