Ohio State Football: Three bold predictions for Purdue game
![Oct. 7, 2023; Columbus, Oh., USA;Ohio State Buckeyes safety Lathan Ransom (8) celebrates with Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (10) and Ohio State Buckeyes safety Josh Proctor (41) after intercepting off a pass during the second half of Saturday's NCAA Division I football game against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium. Oct. 7, 2023; Columbus, Oh., USA;Ohio State Buckeyes safety Lathan Ransom (8) celebrates with Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (10) and Ohio State Buckeyes safety Josh Proctor (41) after intercepting off a pass during the second half of Saturday's NCAA Division I football game against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/393f50b9d26a57c13813bc86b5ffd2838f9feca88c792a9c9d6c8142101128da.jpg)
The Ohio State football team travels to the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday afternoon. Here are three predictions for the game.
The Ohio State football team takes on the Purdue Boilermakers this upcoming Saturday in West Lafayette. Purdue enters the game with a 2-4 overall record including a 20-14 loss last weekend at Iowa.
New Purdue coach Ryan Walters has had his hands full since taking over this program last offseason. At the top of his list was to find a quarterback to replace the NFL-bound Aiden O’Connell. He found one in the portal from Texas in Hudson Card.
Card, the former five-star recruit, has had an up-and-down season thus far. While he’s thrown for nearly 1,500 yards, he also has only six touchdown passes compared to five interceptions. He has a total QBR of 48.2, which is 88th in the nation. If Purdue wants to pull the upset, it will need to have Card playing up to his full potential.
Here are three predictions for the game.
No. 1) Kyle McCord has his finest game as a starter.
There is little doubt left as to how Ohio State has to win this season. It seems as if the running game won’t be there for the Buckeyes this year as this offensive line just cannot do what’s required of them. This will mean that Kyle McCord will need to grow up quickly for the Buckeyes to win big games.
Ryan Day should use Saturday as a game to get McCord’s confidence up for the home stretch of the season, including a massive game next week at home against Penn State. Especially if TreVeyon Henderson doesn’t suit up, look for Day to let McCord off the leash this upcoming Saturday.
I’m predicting a stat line of 25-30 passing for 375 yards and four touchdown passes. This Purdue secondary has not seen an attack like Ohio State yet. In fact, they will be in shock after they faced Iowa’s Deacon Hill last week, who only completed six of 21 pass attempts.