The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
OSU has more than a shot
For a team that’s 10-1, there are seemingly-negative vibes for the Ohio State football team — at every corner and from all directions.
Most of it stems from the mess left over from the Zach Smith controversy and Coach Urban Meyer’s subsequent three-game suspension. Plus these factors:
• The defense is not championship material. Critics scoff at the unit, but after 11 games it is what it is. Buddy Ryan of the famed 1985 Bears’ 46 Defense couldn’t fix the issues leading up to the Michigan game. The Buckeyes’ identity at this point is to outscore the opponent.
• The running game isn’t up to OSU standards. That’s true, but to an extent. Save a mid-season slump, there’s been solid production from sophomore J.K. Dobbins, who rushed for 203 yards vs. Maryland Nov. 17, and 163 vs. Nebraska Nov. 3. The Wolverines’ D is in a different class, so expect traction for Dobbins and others to be difficult.
• The 49-20 loss at Purdue on Oct. 20, and the stench left in its wake won’t go away. Fans and the media have long memories, so the only way to have any chance of eliminating that is with a win over Michigan.
Three wild cards are in OSU’s favor against the Wolverines:
1. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who’s been spectacular this season with 3,685 passing yards and 40 total touchdowns. As good as he’s been, Haskins will need to be even better against Coach Jim Harbaugh’s tough defense. The QB has delivered in most spots this season, but this should be Haskins’ biggest test.
2. Urban Meyer does some of his best work as the underdog. The Ohio State coach hasn’t been an underdog much in his career, but when he is the results are pretty good:
• In 2006 at Florida, Meyer and the Gators were underdogs to No. 1 Ohio State in the national championship game, and buried the Buckeyes, 41-14.
• In 2014 during their national championship season, the Buckeyes were underdogs in their final three games but beat Wisconsin, 59-0, in the Big Ten Championship Game, No. 1 Alabama, 42-35, in a national semifinal, and then Oregon, 42-20, in College Football Playoff title game.
3. Ohio Stadium. It’s home-field advantage in a rivalry game, and that is always important.
The Buckeyes haven’t been a home underdog since 2004, when former Coach Jim Tressel and Troy Smith overwhelmed the Wolverines, 37-21. On Nov. 18, Michigan is expected to be a slight favorite.
Top games to watch
Nov. 22 Mississippi State at Ole Miss, 7:30 (ESPN) Nov. 23 UCF at South Florida, 4 (ESPN)
Oklahoma at West Virginia, 8 (ESPN)
Washington at Washington State, 8:30 (WJW) Nov. 24 Florida at Florida State, noon (WEWS)
Michigan at Ohio State, noon (WJW)
Auburn at Alabama, 3:30 (WOIO)
Illinois at Northwestern, 3:30 (WEWS)
South Carolina at Clemson, 7 (ESPN)
Notre Dame at USC, 8 (WEWS)
Bowl predictions
College Football Playoff: Cotton — Alabama
vs. Michigan; Orange — Clemson vs. Notre Dame
New Year’s Six: Peach — UCF vs. Georgia; Fiesta — Penn State vs. Texas; Rose — Ohio State vs. Washington State; Sugar — Oklahoma vs. LSU
Top 10
1. Alabama 11-0 (1): Beat The Citadel, 50-17
2. Notre Dame 11-0 (2): Beat Syracuse, 36-3
3. Clemson 11-0 (3): Beat Duke, 35-6
4. Michigan 10-1 (4): Beat Indiana, 31-20
5. Georgia 10-1 (5): Beat UMass, 66-27
6. UCF 10-0 (8): Beat Cincinnati, 38-13
7. Oklahoma 10-1 (6): Beat Kansas, 55-40
8. Washington State 10-1 (7): Beat Arizona, 69-28
9. Ohio State 10-1 (10): Won at Maryland, 52-51 (OT)
10. LSU 9-2 (NR): Beat Rice, 42-10
Watch list: Penn State, Texas, Washington, Northwestern, Utah