I got a letter this week saying that my Predictor’s Guild dues were overdue, but they aren’t even due until the 23rd.
However, I wasn’t planning on paying until the first of the month anyway, which tells you how dang good the Predictor’s Guild is at predicting delinquent accounts.
I haven’t really felt like much of a predictor lately with the way that the Buckeyes keep failing me, but as we are taught, we can’t be wrong if we’re never truly at fault.
So how many players were at fault in last week’s game against Indiana?
Let’s find out.
1. Ohio State will outscore Indiana by at least 17 points in the second half.
Outcome: Failed it. The Buckeyes outscored Indiana 21-6, which is only 15 points. And it’s pretty dang frustrating.
2. The Buckeyes will throw for at least 319 yards.
Outcome: Nailed it. Dwayne Haskins threw for 455 yards, which is the most passing yards ever in a Buckeye win.
3. Ohio State will have at least one play on offense of at least 40 yards.
Outcome: Nailed it. In fact, they had just one play of 40+ yards, which was a 71-yard catch and run by Parris Campbell.
4. The Buckeyes will come away with at least two interceptions.
Outcome: Failed it. The Buckeyes didn’t intercept a single pass. Fire Schiano?
5. Tate Martell, Demario McCall, or Isaiah Pryor will be responsible for a touchdown.
Outcome: Failed it. Two of these guys didn’t even play, and the third only played in the second half.
Weekly Total: 2-of-5
Season Total: 15-of-30
As you can see, I am teetering on the brink of being wrong more often than being right. Since I’m married, this is nothing new for me, but I’d like to at least be right more often than not when talking about the team I cover.
Still, I won’t sandbag. I will still swing for the fences.
1. Ohio State will hold Minnesota under 106 yards rushing.
Ohio State is allowing 143 yards rushing per game this season, while Minnesota is averaging 145 yards per game on the ground. So how did I come up with 106 yards rushing? Well, I averaged the two totals, which comes to 144 yards rushing, and then I subtracted the number of days in October, then divided by the number of starts that Minnesota returns on the offensive line. Then I got confused and so I just thought, “Let’s go with 106 yards because that sounds like it’s possible.”
2. The Buckeye Z receivers will have at least 103 yards receiving.
Terry McLaurin and Johnnie Dixon man the Buckeyes’ Z receiver position and they average a combined 4.7 receptions per game for 82.5 yards. This week, however, that number will be a little larger. Last week, they combined for above average numbers and three touchdowns, which means that they are due for a letdown. This feels like a bit of a force, but I’m okay with it because these receivers seem pretty dang good right now.
3. An Ohio State running back will rush for at least 100 yards.
The Buckeyes have only had two 100-yard rushers this season. Mike Weber went for 186 yards in the season opener, and J.K. Dobbins went for 121 yards against TCU. The closest they’ve come since then was Dobbins rushing for 82 yards on 26 carries last week. Minnesota held Iowa to 106 yards rushing on 40 attempts last week, and didn’t even give up 100 yards rushing against New Mexico State, Fresno State, or Miami (Ohio). They did, however, give up 315 yards rushing to Maryland, so the Buckeyes have to like their chances here.
4. At least five different Buckeyes will score.
Six different Buckeyes scored last week, but only four scored against Penn State. Seven scored against Rutgers, but Minnesota’s defense is better than Rutgers’. But this isn’t just about the defense that the Buckeyes will face. The Ohio State offense is deep and has many different players capable of scoring. Any of the six starting receivers, or two running backs, or a random tight end, or even a Dwayne Haskins’ run could reach the end zone at any time. And don’t forget Sean Neurnberger, who I am definitely including in this prediction.
5. Ohio State will outgain Minnesota by at least 300 yards.
I’m really going all-in on the Buckeyes having around 600 yards of total offense and the Gophers getting stifled. Freshman quarterback Zach Annexstad has played okay this season, but he is being protected by an offensive line that doesn’t protect very well. The Ohio State offense will crank up the tempo in order to wear down the Minnesota defense and big plays will begin to happen. The scoreboard will force the Gopher offense to throw the ball, which won’t help the pass blocking at all.
Bonus: The Buckeye defense will hold the Gophers to less than two plays of 26 yards or more.
Minnesota is averaging two plays of 20 yards or more in Big Ten play, while the Buckeyes are giving up double that number. So, no, the Gophers aren’t the most explosive offense in the nation, but that hasn’t always mattered to Ohio State. But I expect the Buckeyes to play their best defensive game since Rutgers.
Bonus: Tate Martell will play.
I know, it sounds crazy, but I think this may actually be the week!