Ohio State Football: Three Bold Predictions for Rutgers game
The Ohio State football team travels to New Jersey on Saturday as they meet up with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Here are three predictions for the game.
The Ohio State football team heads east to Piscataway as they have a date set with Rutgers on Saturday afternoon. These Scarlet Knights have been vastly improved this season under former Buckeye defensive coordinator Greg Schiano. Schiano has them standing at an impressive 6-2 record, including a 31-14 victory over Indiana two weeks ago.
The Scarlet Knights will come in rested following the off week, and Schiano and his staff have now had two weeks to prepare for this Ohio State team. And while the talent will be in no way equated, I believe Rutgers could be a feisty opponent for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.
The stats back up the record for Rutgers as they enter scoring 28.1 points per game and only allowing 15.8 points per game. Both are huge improvements over last season. The most notable difference for Rutgers would be the play at quarterback. Gavin Wimsatt has solidified the position and is playing good ball.
Wimsatt has thrown for 1,143 yards and seven touchdown passes on the season. And while he is only completing 50 % of his passes, the junior quarterback has also rushed for 362 yards and seven scores. Ohio State will need to keep their eye on his rushing ability in this game.
Here are three predictions for the game.
No. 1) The return of Dallan Hayden.
I believe that it is Ryan Day’s wish that TreVeyon Henderson makes it upright to the Michigan game. And now with Miyan Williams out for the season, the Buckeyes and running backs coach Tony Alford need to be extra careful on how they use Henderson. Enter Dallan Hayden, who we have not seen since the Purdue game.
It’s pretty clear that Ohio State would like to redshirt Hayden, and with three games left to burn on the season, this would be a perfect opportunity to let Hayden carry the load and give Henderson and Chip Traynum time to recoup following a tough Wisconsin game.
I’m predicting that Hayden gets at least 20 carries in this game and goes for 125 yards with a touchdown. Rutgers gave up 155 yards on the ground to Indiana two weeks ago, so I think the Buckeyes have a chance to play ball control and win the time of possession battle, much like they did in the Purdue game.