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Ohio State Football: 3 Predictions for the Sugar Bowl

By Frank Teriaca

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leads the team onto the field prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.ghows-OH-200819694-4c79cbeb.jpg
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leads the team onto the field prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.ghows-OH-200819694-4c79cbeb.jpg /
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Ohio State Buckeyes running back Trey Sermon should be looking for another big day against the Clemson Tigers.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Trey Sermon should be looking for another big day against the Clemson Tigers. /

Prediction No. 2: A steady rushing attack from Ohio State

I truly believe that the only way for Ohio State to win this game is to win the time of possession battle. Getting into a shoot-out with Trevor Lawrence against a suspect Buckeye secondary is a recipe for disaster.

Ohio State needs to control the ground game. Coming off a great performance against Northwestern, this Buckeye offensive line needs to continue to open up holes for the running backs. Trey Sermon is coming off a 331-yard rushing performance, the best for an Ohio State player in its storied history.

This Clemson defensive line is giving up 100 yards per game on the ground this season. The Buckeyes can run on them. Look for Ryan Day to change from his pass-first attack to more of a ball-control game plan.

A steady diet of Sermon and Master Teague will be important. But even more important will be the rushing ability of Justin Fields. He will need to be decisive in this game. If his first two reads are not there in the passing game he will need to pull it down and run. His legs could be the difference between a Buckeye win and a Buckeye loss in this game.

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