Ohio St at Oklahoma – Preview and Prediction
OHIO ST 1.5 OKLAHOMA (63.5)
Implied Projected Score: Ohio St 32.5 Oklahoma 31
MEGALOCKS LINE – Ohio St pk
The Game
Kudos to both programs for making this game happen ! This should be a fantastic game. Ohio St has won their first two games by a combined score of 125-13. Yes, those contests were against Bowling Green and Tulsa. The Sooners were upset in week one by the JUGGERNAUT Houston Cougars and then evened up their record last week with a pasting of ULM. Here we go !
The Match-Up
Ohio St offense vs Oklahoma defense
The stats can be misleading after two games against lesser opponents, but make no mistake, the Ohio St offense is going to be a major handful this week. You have an efficient and dangerous mobile QB in JT Barrett. A potential star RB in Mike Weber. And how about Curtis Samuel ? He has 162 yards rushing and 239 yards receiving in the first two games of 2016. We are still not clear on the quality of the WR group.
Oklahoma’s defense is ranked 76th in total yards, but once again, stats can be misleading this early in the season. The Sooners bottled up Houston’s mobile QB but got shredded through the air. Can the Buckeyes do the same thing ? Hmm. Not sure. We do think that the Sooners can have some success against the run given how Tulsa played for a half against the Ohio St OL. The problem is the variety of running plays that the Buckeyes throw at you. Always creating mismatches. The Sooners are going to have to hold tight in the red zone (Ohio St #1 RZ efficiency) and get a couple of turnovers. Barrett is not beyond making a bad throw or two.
Oklahoma offense vs Ohio St defense
By now, everyone probably understands that it comes down to this. Can Ohio St stop the Perine/Mixon combo from going nuts ? Perine was banged up in the Houston game and should be good to go. Mixon is very underrated. And by the way, Baker Mayfield is a crafty runner and is always looking down the field to make big plays when he gets out of the pocket. Ohio St probably feels that their secondary can win most of the battles with the Sooner receivers so just have to keep Mayfield from making too many big plays while scrambling around. The Sooners OL has been up and down so far this season. Ohio St DL has not been great yet statistically. This is an interesting match-up.
MEGA morsels
Urban Meyer is 18-0 in road games with Ohio St…..not bad….The Buckeyes are a mind-numbing 40-16-1 ATS in their last 57 road contests (71%)….The last time the Sooners were a home dog the #1 movie in the USA was a black and white silent picture starring Charlie Chaplin. CROWD WILL BE ROCKING GUY is jacked up for this one.
Summary
Ohio St is really confident right now. They are young but have HC Urban Meyer leading the way. Until Ohio St actually loses a road game under his watch we have to lean in the Buckeyes’ direction. Having said that, you cannot underestimate the emotion and urgency that the Sooners will bring to the table on Saturday night. Yes, Big 12 play has not even started yet, but a playoff berth was certainly their ultimate goal, and a second loss would probably end that possibility.
Conclusion
Official play: None
Lean: Ohio St at any number -2 or better. Still examining our options on this game.