The-Ozone Staff Picks: Florida Atlantic at Ohio State

There is a certain danger in trying to predict scores the first week of the season.

All we know at this point is what we think we know, and most of us think we know a whole helluva lot more than we actually do.

This week, the fifth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes take on the unranked Florida Atlantic Owls, and the person who gets their prediction the closest will no doubt be filled with false bravado.

Unless it’s me.

Ohio State is currently 27.5-point favorites in this one.

Do we think they will cover?

Let’s find out.

[Feel free to add your predictions in the comments below.]

Caroline Rice

The biggest thing Ohio State has to do in this game is answer the questions about themselves that they still have. To do that, I think they will focus on playing good, sound football, but things will start slow and there will be jitters and mistakes. Everything is new for Ohio State.

I expect a lot of J.K. Dobbins early on because of FAU’s weak defensive line. But I think Justin Fields will start to get comfortable and the passing game will take over in the second and third quarters. But I think the Ohio State defense is going to be flashy and they will have some swagger in the backfield. They are ready to get out there so people can stop talking about last year.

Because FAU and Lane Kiffin like to be innovative and they have a real weapon at tight end with Harrison Bryant, they will make some big plays. They will confuse Ohio State’s defense at times. FAU has also been a popular destination for transfers, so they certainly have a talented group of players and a smart coach. But they have lost their last 23 games against Power 5 teams, and I don’t see this game or Ohio State snapping their streak.

Ohio State 49, Florida Atlantic 13

Michael Citro

I honestly have no idea what to expect from this game. That seems like a bad way to go into our “staff picks,” but here we are. So much rides on Justin Fields’ grasp of the offense at game speed, the defense being “fixed,” and the cohesion of a new offensive line. I’m going to assume most of that stuff will be OK.

I still expect FAU to find some mismatches when the Owls are on offense and take advantage of some favorable situations, either when OSU has the wrong personnel on the field or the wrong defense is called for a particular play. That said, I think the Buckeyes will be harder to score on in 2019 and I think Ryan Day will want to get both JK Dobbins and the O-line established early. I believe in the pass rush.

It won’t be perfect, as openers usually aren’t, but I think Ohio State finishes comfortably even if it doesn’t start that way.

Ohio State 49, FAU 20

Brandon Zimmerman

I’m not even going to waste my time talking about the offense too much. They are going to look really good. Justin Fields will open some eyes and allow the pessimists to pop out and say “It was ONLY FAU, he still sux.” I would not be shocked if JK runs for 200+ as I am fully on board with him running for 2K this year.

I’m anxious to see the new simplified defense. Last year, Oregon State ran all over them and shredded them to the tune of 31 points in game one. FAU potentially has a better offense than the Beavers did last year, so I’m curious to see how they respond in this opener. Seeing how Brendon White and Shaun Wade are used will be interesting. I think Jashon Cornell will explode onto the scene from his new DT spot with 2.5 TFLs and 2 sacks. (Editor’s note: This pick was made before the depth chart came out, so if Cornell goes for 2.5 TFLs and 2 sacks at defensive end, this prediction will technically be incorrect and will be stricken from the record.)

Ohio State 63, Florida Atlantic 13

Adam Borland

Lane Kiffin’s rush and pass defenses were 87th and 79th, respectively, in the nation last year. FAU has a lot of defensive weaknesses.

Ryan Day is very good at exploiting defensive weaknesses and despises owls (maybe).

OSU will give the ball to JK Dobbins, push the Owl front line back at will, and rush for as many yards as is deemed necessary. Once they’ve established the run, they’ll let loose with Justin Fields’ arm and test out the secondary.

FAU has some talented players, just not enough of them.

Ohio State will dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and ensure that this game does not stay close. The Buckeyes and Ryan Day roll to an easy victory.

OSU 59, FAU 17

Jared Ilovar of the Buckeye SloopCast

Let’s not waste words, Ohio State will win this game. Like so many other September games, we won’t tune in to see if they win. We will tune in Saturday to see if Justin Fields is worthy of the recruiting hype and the coaches’ praise. We will tune in to see if the offensive line is as talented as advertised. Unfortunately, FAU’s defense won’t be enough of a challenge to answer these questions. Ohio State’s offense can score 30+ points with half their cylinders blown and Aunt Edna strapped to the roof.

Lane Kiffin and the FAU offense can present enough of a challenge to answer our concerns on the defensive side. We will see Jeff Hafley and Greg Mattison’s defense for the first time. We will see if the CBs turn their heads and if the linebackers took enough of a step forward under Al Washington. My prediction is a resounding… I don’t know. I think the defense will do well enough to give us hope, but not well enough to make us feel great. Because we all know, even if they do, we’ll say “meh… it was just FAU.”

Ohio State 49, Florida Atlantic 24

Michael Meihls

Game Number Four of the Ryan Day era begins with a…bang sign out of a toy gun? But even that can’t stop the excitement that is the return of college football! So what should we expect for Ohio State against the fightin’ Kiffins? I expect three things, besides a big blowout when it’s all done.

1) An entirely new defense compared to what we witnessed last year. The linebacker play will be improved. They will be allowed to react.
2) The defense will give up a stupid long TD. It’ll be something really dumb like a screen play. It always happens early against subpar competition.
3) Fields will not be Dwayne Haskins, nor will he be JT Barrett. He will have a good passing day, and he will have a decent rushing day. But I expect JK and the running backs to eat all day, letting Fields continue to grow and learn how to start at Ohio State.

Ohio State 48, Florida Atlantic 17

Chip Minnich

How do we begin? A first-time, first-year head coach has a starting quarterback with zero starts, combined with an overhauled defensive staff, taking on a first-time ever opponent with a quirky head coach who seems to have the idea of career advancement in reverse. It is a riddle, wrapped in mystery, inside an enigma, but hey, at least you know that the Ohio Stadium WiFi is osuFanWiFi.

Seriously, the biggest thing I am looking for is how well Brendon White plays at the Bullet position versus lauded Owls TE Harrison Bryant, with a close second being how the Ohio State coaching staff manages Justin Fields. Fields needs lots of reps, but the backups in Chugunov and Hoak need to get playing time too.

Ohio State 42, Florida Atlantic 14

Tom Orr

Florida Atlantic has some very talented players in a few spots on the field. Tight end Harrison Bryant is 6-foot-5 and caught 45 passes for more than 600 yards last year. That included 6 catches for 133 yards against Old Dominion and 6 for 138 against North Texas. He’s basically the prototype of the kind of player the new Bullet position was designed to defend.

Bryant probably won’t get close to those numbers against OSU on Saturday, but he can make things happen.

FAU has a handful of guys like that on each side of the ball. That will be enough to allow the Owls to score a few times and give everyone something to grumble about on the way back to their cars after an otherwise comfortable win.

Congratulations, Buckeye fans: You get to start the season with your very favorite kind of game.

Ohio State 45, Florida Atlantic 17

Tony Gerdeman

I expect Ohio State to win on Saturday. I’m not gonna build up drama with this pick. As the only person who waited to write their prediction until the injury report and depth chart were released, I feel pretty confident in my assessment of OSU’s oncoming victory.

Justin Fields and JK Dobbins will run the ball well, Master Teague will get some work as well. The play-action will be exceedingly effective and I see Chris Olave catching at least one deep ball in this game. Jaelen Gill could hit the century mark in receiving yards as well tomorrow.

Defensively, look for some turnovers from a defense that forced them routinely in camp. The defensive line was hit by a ton of injuries, but that’s good news for defensive ends Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Zach Harrison, who could be the Wiley and Boston of the defensive line this week (even though JJB is a redshirt freshman and not a true freshman.)

Ryan Day wants to see the secondary perform. There are some playmakers here. It’s going to be fun.

Ohio State 49, Florida Atlantic 10