Ohio State Football: 2017 season predictions revisted
A look back at Ohio State predictions for the 2017 season.
Every August I make a set of predictions for the Ohio State football team and the upcoming season. Some are bold, others are obvious.
I like to think I know a thing or two about this program, but if we’re keeping score, I went 2-6-1 in my predictions for the 2017 season. I guess I won’t quit my day job.
Here were my nine predictions:
Nick Bosa will lead the Big Ten in sacks
I call this a half win because Bosa was not on the field the whole time. He finished with seven sacks and was named the Big Ten’s Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year for a reason. He was unblockable one-on-one.
J.T. Barrett will eviscerate his 2014 Stats
I should have said equaled. In 2014, Barrett started 12 games and finished with 2834 yards passing with 34 touchdowns and rushed for 938 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In 13 games this year, he passed for 2928 yards and 35 touchdowns and ran for 743 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Barrett did not play much in the fourth quarter in the blowout wins so it is likely he would have exceeded the 2014 production, but overall, 2014 was better.
J.K. Dobbins will rush for more than 500 yards
Killed this one. He almost tripled my prediction finishing with 1364 yards. He was the best offensive player in the Big Ten and he’s only a freshman.
Isaiah Prince will make First-Team All-Big Ten
Definitely missed on this one, but he did make the Media’s Third-Team All-Big Ten team. Prince was remarkably improved compared to 2016. If his work ethic continues to progress, he will dominate next year.
Defense will lead the FBS in scoring defense at 14.5 points-per-game
Shockingly, I was way off. The team finished No. 22 in the FBS allowing 19.9 points-per-game. This was only the seventh best scoring defense in the Big Ten. Ouch.
Offense will average 46 points-per-game
I put a lot faith into Kevin Wilson correcting the offensive woes and I was right. The unit finished No. 5 in the FBS averaging 42.5 points-per-game, three more points-per-game over 2016.
With another year in his system, I expect the offense to make that jump to 46 next year.
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Parris Campbell will return two kicks for touchdowns
He did come close a few times and was a threat earlier in the season. After the concussion he stopped returning kicks.
If he returns, Campbell might be the leading return man in the country next season.
Closest Big Ten game will be Iowa
Stuck between Penn State and Michigan State, I knew this would be a difficult game. I still got it wrong because of the lopsided loss, but the Hawkeyes decided to play their one great game of year against the Buckeyes.
Ohio State will win the Big Ten Championship
Mission accomplished. Surprisingly, this is just Urban Meyer’s second title.
Next: Buckeyes flip script, 2-0 start in Big Ten play
The win over Wisconsin was not enough to vault the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoff, but any season with wins over Penn State, Michigan State, Michigan and the Badgers is fantastic.