EDITORIAL BY GRAYDON FOX

Overview:

On Saturday, November 10^th, the (8-1) Ohio State Buckeyes will be on the road to take on the (6-3) Michigan State Spartans.

The Crowd:

The Crowd projects a final score of Ohio State 31.1 – Michigan State 25.6 with an over/under of 56.7.

Lou Holtz and Mark May:

Lou is predicting a final score of Ohio State 31 – Michigan State 27.

Mark is predicting a final score of Michigan State 27 – Ohio State 24.

2018-19 Statistics (130 total teams):

Passing offense: Ohio State 369.1 YPG > Michigan State 234.8 YPG

Rushing offense: Ohio State 178.1 YPG > Michigan State 125.6 YPG

Scoring offense: Ohio State 42.2 PPG > Michigan State 23.4 PPG

Scoring defense: Michigan State 19.0 PPG > Ohio State 23.8 PPG

Passing defense: Ohio State 243.9 YPG > Michigan State 253.4 YPG

Rushing defense: Michigan State 71.7 YPG > Ohio State 153.4 YPG

Turnover Margin Per Game: Ohio State +0.4 > Michigan State +0.3

Summary:

Ohio State is (8-1) with wins over Oregon State, Rutgers, #15 TCU, Tulane, #9 Penn State, Indiana, Minnesota, and Nebraska.  Their lone defeat was an embarrassing 49-20 road loss to Purdue.  Ohio State narrowly got by Nebraska 36-31 at home last week.  The Buckeyes rank 10^th in points per game (42.2) and 45^th in scoring defense (23.8 PPG).  Quarterback Dwayne Haskins has completed 69% of his passes for 3,053 yards with 32 touchdowns to 6 interceptions.  Ohio State has two running backs with over 600 yards in J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber Jr..  The Buckeyes also feature a pair of receivers in Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill with over 600 yards receiving.  Ohio State really misses All-American defensive end Nick Bosa who is out for the season with injury.  The Buckeyes’ defense ranks 85^th against the pass (243.9 YPG) and 56^th against the run (153.4 YPG).

Michigan State is (6-3) with victories over Utah State, Indiana, Central Michigan, #8 Penn State, Purdue, and Maryland.  They were defeated by Arizona State, Northwestern, and #6 Michigan.  The Spartans rank 111^th in points per game (23.4) and 16^th in scoring defense (19.0 PPG).  Quarterback Brian Lewerke has completed 55% of his passes for 1,740 yards with 8 touchdowns to 8 interceptions.  Lewerke has obviously struggles be he has gotten no help from a running game that is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry.  The Spartans have gotten virtually nothing from running back L.J. Scott and their best receiver, Felton Davis III, is out for the season.  The Spartans’ defense ranks 98^th against the pass (253.4 YPG) and 1^st against the run (71.1 YPG).

Bottom Line:

Ohio State has been struggling for weeks and this is probably the worst defense they’ve had since Urban Meyer took over.  Michigan State is the best in the nation at stopping the run so it will be up to Dwyane Haskins and the passing game to make plays.  The offensively challenged Spartans will keep it close at home but, ultimately, Ohio State wins ugly again.

Ohio State wins 28-17

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