Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0)
Remaining Schedule: at Purdue | vs. Nebraska | at Michigan State | at Maryland | vs. Michigan
Despite sitting at 7-0 and as the second-ranked team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes have been far from perfect this season. In their third game of the year against the TCU Horned Frogs, they felt the heat for the first time. Two games later, Penn State pushed them to the absolute brink as the Buckeyes needed a second-half comeback and a big fourth-quarter defensive stop to secure the victory.
Without Nick Bosa on the field, the Ohio State defense has looked like a lesser version than it did with him. Dwayne Haskins and the offense, on the other hand, have continued to look like an impressive unit capable of putting points on the board against any defense they face.
Working in Ohio State’s favor as you look at their outlook for the remainder of the 2018 season is the fact that they don’t have a tough schedule ahead. Their next two opponents, Purdue and Nebraska, both aren’t near their talent level, and neither is Maryland, who they play on the road in Nov. 17. And while Michigan State is ranked, Ohio State even anywhere near their best should handle them easily.
Having said that, the Buckeyes, as always, finish the season against the rival Michigan Wolverines. Though Urban Meyer and Co. have dominated that matchup in recent years, it truly appears that the Wolverines have turned a corner this season. What’s more, with their offense hitting its stride, I think they can over-power the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball and ultimately pull off the win in Columbus.
First Loss: Nov. 24 vs. Michigan