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Ohio State Football vs. Arkansas State: Three bold predictions

By Frank Teriaca

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day prepares to lead his team on the field during the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. Ohio State won 54-7.Ohio State Buckeyes At Indiana HoosiersSyndication The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day prepares to lead his team on the field during the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. Ohio State won 54-7.Ohio State Buckeyes At Indiana HoosiersSyndication The Columbus Dispatch /
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The Ohio State football team takes on Arkansas State University Saturday in The Shoe. Here are three bold predictions for the game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes and coach Ryan Day came out last Saturday and took care of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 21-10. The game was sloppy at times, and the offense was a bit stagnant through three quarters. But in the end, the running game and defense took control for a two-score victory over a top-five opponent.

I’m not a huge fan of scheduling legitimate opponents in Week 1 of the season. I think it’s okay to schedule an Arkansas State for the first week and treat it as an exhibition game. So, for not having that tune-up game under its belt, the Buckeyes did what it needed to do last weekend. Win.

Ohio State does get that tune-up game for week two as the Arkansas State Red Wolves come to Columbus, led by former Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones. And they are coming off an impressive 58-3 beat down of Grambling State.

Here are three bold predictions for the game.

C.J. Stroud should look better for the Ohio State football team. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Robertson-USA TODAY Sports
C.J. Stroud should look better for the Ohio State football team. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Robertson-USA TODAY Sports /

3.) C.J. Stroud gets back on track for the Ohio State football team.

This should go without saying as everybody in the world is expecting C.J. Stroud to have a big game this Saturday. After Notre Dame forced Stroud to throw underneath by dropping eight, the Buckeyes can expect to see that look all season long until they prove that they can beat it.

Expect a heavy dose of TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams early to loosen up the defense, followed by a big day of Stroud throwing the ball down the field and getting big chunk plays. The final stat line for Stroud should see him at over 400 yards passing and four scores on the day.

That will be plenty for the Buckeyes to pound Arkansas State and should get Stroud back in the conversation for the Heisman race after just a pedestrian Week 1. Even if he doesn’t have his biggest weapon, he should still be extremely effective.

The second bold prediction for this game has to do with one of his other weapons.

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