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Ohio State Football: Predictions for week 11 game vs. Michigan State

By Charlie Lockhart

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 1: Mike Weber #25 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a touchdown on a 49-yard run in the second quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Ohio Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 1: Mike Weber #25 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a touchdown on a 49-yard run in the second quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Ohio Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 15: J.K. Dobbins #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second quarter during The AdvoCare Showdown at AT&T Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 15: J.K. Dobbins #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second quarter during The AdvoCare Showdown at AT&T Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

CL:  On paper you wouldn’t expect this game to be close. Ohio State has one of the top scoring offenses in the country (42.2 points per game), Michigan State has one of the worst (23.4). The Spartans only have a slight edge in scoring defense (19 ppg to 23.8).

The problem with that is when these two teams face each other it’s hard to predict what might happen. Did anybody see the Buckeyes winning 48-3 in Columbus last year or the Spartans winning there in 2015?

Also, Michigan State has the No. 1 rushing defense in the country and until last week the Ohio State running attack had been anemic for several games. If the Spartans can make the Buckeye offense one-dimensional that could spell trouble.

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The Michigan State pass defense is better of late and held the talented Purdue receivers in check after they had torched Ohio State the week before. Also, the Spartans have intercepted 12 passes so far this season. If Dwayne Haskins is forced to throw 40+ times that would play right into Mark Dantonio’s hand.

I see Urban Meyer sticking to the run game, or at least I hope he will, and the majority of the game will be a slugfest with quite a few short drives and punts. However, I do think there will be quite a bit of scoring and here’s why.

Ohio State has too many weapons to hold down the entire game so there will be chunk plays. And let’s face it, the Buckeyes are bound to give up a few big plays as they have all season, and coach Dantonio will have trick plays up his sleeve as he always does.

Big Ten predictions for week 11. dark. Next

I see this as another hard-fought battle between the two rivals and it will go down to the end with Ohio State winning 30-27.

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