Predictions: Buckeyes Beat Miami To Move On To Fiesta Bowl

Ohio State is playing in the Cotton Bowl for the third straight season, the second straight time in the College Football Playoff. Last year at AT&T Stadium, the famous Jack Sawyer scoop-and-score secured the OSU victory there, and now the Buckeyes are hoping for more Texas magic to make it to the Fiesta Bowl and a second straight semifinal.

Here’s how the BSB staff sees this game going.

Cipriani: Ohio State Edges Miami (Fla.) In Defensive Cotton Bowl

Coming off a 13-10 loss in the Big Ten Championship Game to Indiana, Ohio State looks to bounce back against a surging Miami, fresh off a 10-3 victory over Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Hurricanes’ defensive front, featuring potential first-round draft picks Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, will be a priority for the Buckeye defense to stop.

If Miami is unable to consistently pressure quarterback Julian Sayin in the Ohio State backfield, the Buckeyes could pull away quickly if they return to the well-oiled form that powered them to three-score victories in their final 11 regular-season games. Though what I ultimately feel will decide the game is turnovers on the other side of the ball.

In Miami’s two losses this season, quarterback Carson Beck threw a combined six interceptions, and against the best defense the Hurricanes have seen all season, there is almost no room for error. I expect a defensive battle, with Ohio State’s top-ranked defense holding strong to pave the way for a Buckeye victory.

Ohio State 24, Miami 10

Bobby Gorbett: OSU Advances To Semis With Comfortable Win

Ohio State’s postseason play didn’t get off to a great start a few weeks ago when it lost in the Big Ten championship to Indiana. However, the Buckeyes have a chance to make up for that surprising loss to the Hoosiers with another run in the College Football Playoff.

I expect Ohio State to play well in its first game after a loss this season. At least on the offensive end of the ball, the Buckeyes will face a tremendous test against Miami (Fla.). In the first round of the playoffs, the Hurricanes proved they can shut down opposing offenses when they held Texas A&M to just three points and had seven sacks.

I think the Hurricanes’ defensive line has a big advantage over Ohio State’s offensive line. Against the Hoosiers’ talented defensive line, Ohio State struggled to run the ball and protect redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin. I expect the Buckeyes will have the same issues against Miami.

However, the Buckeyes have their own group of talented defenders and Miami hasn’t always been able to light up the scoreboard this season. In fact, it took Miami until the fourth quarter to finally score a touchdown against Texas A&M. The Aggies have one of the best defenses in college football, but in my opinion, the Buckeyes are even better.

Like many others, I think the Cotton Bowl will be a low-scoring game. I think each team will seriously struggle to score points in the first half, but eventually, the Buckeyes, with their elite wide receivers, will break through in the second half and score enough points to win the game.

Ohio State 20, Miami 10

Greg Wilson: Buckeyes Move On To Fiesta Bowl With Close Win

The Buckeyes got a tough draw in the quarterfinal round with Miami and Texas A&M facing off with the chance to take on Ohio State and the Hurricanes moving on for a rematch of the 2002 national championship.

This time around, the Buckeyes are the major favorites in the game and Miami is looking to pull off a huge upset. There aren’t many teams in the country that would be able to compete with the Buckeyes in terms of talent vs. talent, but the Hurricanes are currently one of them.

That begins with Miami’s defensive unit, specifically the defensive line, led by Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, two players who have the chance to be early draft picks after this season.

The Buckeyes offensive line was where the Big Ten championship went wrong, giving up five sacks in the game after having allowed just six through 12 previous contests. Now with Tegra Tshabola injured, Gabe VanSickle could be getting his first start of his college career as a redshirt freshman, replacing Tshabola at right guard.

How well the Buckeyes are able to protect Julian Sayin will likely be a major key of this game. If he’s able to make his reads and get the ball out quickly, that will also be a advantage for Ohio State if they are able to scheme their receivers open early on.

Ohio State 24, Miami 17