Three bold predictions for the Ohio State football team against Iowa

The Ohio State football team is taking on a tough Iowa team this week. Iowa is a better team than they are being given credit for. Their offense is actually competent this year. Not only can they move the ball, but they can score some points without the help of their own defense.

Ohio State also hasn't faced a defense as strong as what the Hawkeyes will bring to the Shoe. The Hawkeyes have a top-20 defense in the country. There's a chance that this could be the best defense that the Buckeyes end up playing all year. Moving the ball will be harder.

Iowa also has one of the best running backs in the country. He will test the Ohio State defense in a way that they haven't been tested before. Kaleb Johnson is a really solid back and someone who can break off big runs. Jim Knowles better bring some safeties in the box.

There are three bold predictions that we have for this game. Not all of these are going to be positive for the Buckeyes. I just think that these are all realistic things that can happen in this game that aren't expected. I've been about 50/50 with my predictions so far this year.

The first bold prediction has to deal with what one specific Ohio State receiver will do.

1. Emeka Egbuka will have 70+ receiving yards and two touchdowns

Emeka Egbuka showed last weekend against Michigan State that he's still a pretty good receiver. After all of the hype around Jeremiah Smith reached a fever pitch, deservedly so with what he did against the Spartans, it seemed like some people had forgotten how good Egbuka is.

Egbuka went ahead and had seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown on fourth down. He is still the leader of the receiving corp, even if Smith is better. Smith is at the point now that teams are going to start putting more attention on him, opening up opportunities for others.

One of the beneficiaries will be Egbuka. I think he has a big game against the Hawkeyes. He'll have at least 70 receiving yards and two touchdowns in this contest. He's going to carve up the Iowa secondary and make them regret not giving him more attention.

By proxy, I think that Will Howard will have a solid game as well. Iowa is going to want to stop the run and force Howard to beat them. While I don't think the Hawkeyes are going to be able to completely stop the run, I do think Howard is going to be able to throw the ball well.

The second bold prediction for this game has to do with what the Iowa run game will do against the Buckeyes.