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Ohio State Football: Predictions for conference championship games

By Charlie Lockhart

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches a replay on the scoreboard during a timeout during the second quarter of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 18, 2017 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches a replay on the scoreboard during a timeout during the second quarter of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 18, 2017 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Predictions for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin and the other conference championship games.

What a weekend this will be for Ohio State fans. Not only will it be important for the Buckeyes to defeat the Wisconsin Badgers, results of other conference championship games will determine whether or not the Buckeyes have a chance to make the College Football Playoff.

Thomas Scurlock and I have been making our weekly predictions for Ohio State and Big Ten games and now will do so with postseason games. I certainly hope I will do better than I did in the regular season.

I’ll let Tom get things rolling as usual. Expect him to give me a dig before he makes his predictions. See, the guy just doesn’t have any respect for his elders.

TS  The regular season is over and now it’s time for the conference championship games to be played.  For the first time in the playoff era, the top 11 teams have a shot at making it to the final four.

Clemson, Auburn and Oklahoma feel like locks, but the way this season has unfolded, this weekend will almost certainly bring surprises.

Charlie and I have battled all season predicting the Big Ten games.  This week we turn our attention to the conference championship games.  I will dominate again.  Here we go.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

Let’s just start with that this game will not be like the 2014 game.  The Badgers are a much better team, especially on defense.

The Buckeyes have a chance to win their second title under Urban Meyer, which seems low given the talent they have had over the last six years.

Many are saying Wisconsin’s schedule has been soft, but it is 6-0 against similar opponents that Ohio State played, including beating Iowa.

Granted, Wisconsin did not play Michigan State or Penn State, but the Badgers are solid across the board.

At this point, we know both teams run the ball very well.  That won’t change in this game, but the team that stretch the field with a few big plays will win the game.

J.T. Barrett had surgery on his knee over the weekend and is technically probable. Seems unlikely that he’ll be at full health.  Will Meyer lean on him or turn to Dwayne Haskins?

He’ll start Barrett, but if the offense is not productive, I expect to make a change.

Alex Hornibrook is an effective quarterback, but his accuracy is often an issue.  He is best when the running game is effective.  I expect the Silver Bullets to sell out to stop Jonathan Taylor and force Hornibrook to win the game.

Unless one team gets hot, this will be low-scoring game.  It is tough to make this prediction, but I feel the Badgers will win the game 27-24.

CL  Tom still doesn’t get it. He still underestimates the Ohio State offense which won’t be held to 24 points.

At least that will be the case if offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson has finally realized nobody can stop JK Dobbins and Mike Weber running the football. Especially when it’s a steady diet of running between the tackles which lets the offensive line tee off on the defenders.

Since JT Barrett is coming off surgery, and Dwayne Haskins isn’t a read option quarterback, I expect Dobbins and Weber to be featured. At least I hope that’s the case.

If it is that will open up the passing game. Even though the Wisconsin Badgers have a solid pass defense, they haven’t faced the speed the Ohio State receivers possess.

I do think Wisconsin will score points because their power running game and play-action passing game will be difficult to stop. But the Ohio State offense will put up big numbers.

I have this an Ohio State 45-17 victory.

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