Predictions: Ohio State Blows Out Minnesota In Primetime

Ohio State is looking to move to 5-0 this season with a primetime Homecoming matchup against Minnesota on Saturday. The Buckeyes are big favorites in the game and hope to also get their second conference win of the season after beating Washington on Sept. 27.

Here’s how the BSB staff sees the game againt Minnesota going:

Sam Cipriani: OSU Secondary Too Much For Minnesota Pass Attack

When the Buckeyes return home to face the Golden Gophers on Saturday, I expect another stout defensive performance from Ohio State.

Minnesota Drake Lindsey quarterback Drake Lindsey has been good this season, 958 passing yards and a 7-2 touchdown to interception ratio, but the best defense he’s seen has been California who ranks just No. 34 in scoring defense allowing 18 points per game. Ohio State is first by a significant margin allowing just 5.5 points from opposing teams.

I believe that trend is set to continue against the Golden Gophers as the Buckeyes defense doesn’t allow Minnesota into the end zone forcing them to take multiple field goals.

Additionally Ohio State’s passing attack should see an uptick after a solid, but unspectacular road trip against Washington. The Buckeyes dominate in Columbus.

Ohio State 45, Minnesota 6

Bobby Gorbett: OSU Defense Dominant Again

Ohio State should have no problems in its Big Ten home opener. Fueled by a defense that has allowed just 5.5 points per game so far this season, I see the Buckeyes shutting down the Golden Gophers in front of their home fans.

Minnesota proved it could move the ball against a Big Ten defense last week when it came back from a 14-point first-half deficit to defeat Rutgers 31-28. However, the Golden Gophers only totalled 35 rushing yards in that game, and for the season, they rank just No. 87 in rushing offense. Against Rutgers, Minnesota worked around its run game deficiencies through the air. Redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Although that approach worked against the Scarlet Knights, Ohio State’s secondary may be the best group in the country. I see the Golden Gophers struggling to move the ball well enough to keep the game competitive.

On the other end, Ohio State’s final point total will likely be determined by the Golden Gophers’ approach. If Minnesota decides to limit explosive plays at all costs, the Buckeyes may not have the opportunity to run up the score on their Big Ten foe. I see the Golden Gophers taking a more aggressive approach than what Washington went with last week against Ohio State. In that scenario, redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin will have chances to hit his receivers for long completions.

I believe the Buckeyes will be efficient again offensively and score enough to give rotational players the chance to get on the field.

Ohio State 38, Minnesota 7

Greg Wilson: Ohio State Continues To Dominate

It’s no question that the story of this team has been the defense through four games. Allowing just 5.5 points per game, they have been the best in the country.

The offense has been good, but not one of the more explosive units that Ryan Day has headed in his tenure. There are multiple reasons for that. The coaches want to ease quarterback Julian Sayin into the game as much as possible, so some of the play calling against Texas and Washington has been more conservative. Teams also have been trying to take away the talented duo of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate downfield as much as a team possibly can manage to.

The offense showed against Washington that it is perfectly content moving slowly down the field, and it is perfectly capable of doing so if necessary. But there will be a game that Smith and Tate break out, and I think this could very well be the one.

Whether the attack is downfield or more in the short game, Smith and Tate should be involved heavily, and I believe the two will combine for over 200 yards and three touchdowns.

Ohio State 35, Minnesota 7