Outside of Alabama vs. Ole Miss, there may not be a better game in Week 3 of the college football season than Ohio State vs. Oklahoma on Saturday night. Here are five predictions for one of the season’s premier matchups.
In terms of the College Football Playoff (and next year’s NFL draft), no game on the college football slate this weekend may have more implications than Ohio State vs. Oklahoma in Norman, OK.
Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes have cruised through the first two weeks in Columbus, while Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma Sooners stumbled out of the gate in Week 1 against Houston, but bounced back at home last week against Louisiana-Monroe in a blowout.
The crazy thing about this Saturday night game is that it’ll mark just the third time that two of college football’s most prestigious programs have played against one another. The Sooners took the first meeting in a classic in 1977, while the Buckeyes got their revenge in a 24-14 victory in 1983.
It’s a tough game to figure out this time around. Both teams have a roster capable of winning a national title this season. A loss doesn’t eliminate the Bucks from title contention, but a loss for the Sooners would give them two in the first three weeks and would virtually eliminate them from returning to the College Football Playoff.
With that being said, here are five predictions for Ohio State vs. Oklahoma, including some trash talk from the home team…by a backup quarterback.
1. The Buckeye defense will contain Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield
It hasn’t been easy being Baker Mayfield since the Sooners got blasted by Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinals last season. Not only did Mayfield have to try and produce against a really good Tiger defense in January, he was beat up in Week 1 against an aggressive Houston defense (in a neutral-site game that felt like a Cougar home game).
Saturday night won’t be any easier for Mayfield.
It’ll take some time, but there’s a great chance that this version of the Ohio State defense, led by Raekwon McMillan in the middle, could be better than last year’s defense that produced countless draft picks this past spring.
Defense travels, and the Bucks will continue to play like they have against the likes of Bowling Green and Tulsa, despite the increase in competition. McMillan was rated as one of Pro Football Focus’ best defensive players last week and leads a ferocious and physical defensive attack for the scarlet and grey.
As good as the Oklahoma offense can be with Mayfield and Samaje Perine in the backfield, the Buckeyes have clearly shown they’re a title contender so far this season and the defense is a huge reason why.
Next: 2. J.T. Barrett will have a Heisman moment