The Buckeyes have one ranked win on their schedule already, taking down preseason No. 1 Texas in the season opener, though the Longhorns have since dropped out of the AP top 25. Now Ohio State looks for its second against No. 17 Illinois, this one a noon road game in Champaign.
Here’s how the BSB staff sees this game going:
Cipriani: Illinois O Not Enough Against Nation’s Best D
Despite the fact that Illinois suffered one of the worst losses in college football this season — a 63-10 bludgeoning by now-No. 8 Indiana — the Illini are still the best team Ohio State has faced this season.
Led by veteran quarterback Luke Altmyer, Illinois is putting up 37 points per game, but has yet to see a defense like Ohio State. Making things even tougher for Illinois, a stout defense is seemingly receiving more help from a Buckeye offense that is finally hitting its stride, especially through the air.
Though I feel the Illini offense and home crowd at Gies Memorial Stadium will surely cause Ohio State to adjust, Matt Patricia’s defense is one of the best in the country at making in-game changes.
With that in mind, I’m not taking any Buckeyes opponent to score more than twice against this Ohio State defense until I am proven otherwise, though I think Illinois will fare the best of any team to this point.
Ohio State 38, Illinois 14
Bobby Gorbett: OSU Cruises To Ranked Win
For the first time this season, Ohio State will go on the road to face a ranked team. The Fighting Illini have bounced back from a 53-point loss to Indiana with a couple of solid wins over USC and Purdue. Still, I don’t see the Buckeyes having many problems in Champaign-Urbana.
Ohio State’s offense has really started to come into mid-season form over the last couple of weeks, and I think the Buckeyes will be able to move the ball well against a Fighting Illini defense that ranks 96th in total defense.
The Hoosiers found success against the Fighting Illini both in the run game and through the air, and although I don’t expect Ohio State to hang 60 on Illinois, redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin will have another quality performance leading the Buckeyes’ offense.
Illinois may be the best offense the Buckeyes have seen so far this season. Senior quarterback Luke Altmyer is off to a strong start this year and probably won’t be too flustered by the different looks the Buckeyes will throw at him.
Still, Ohio State’s defense has been the best in the country for a reason. I don’t expect the Silver Bullets to give up more than a couple of lengthy drives.
Ohio State 34, Illinois 13
Greg Wilson: Buckeyes Continue Dominant Run In Champaign
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is likely going into this game knowing that this is his and the Fighting Illini’s last chance at making a case for the playoff picture. A two-loss Illinois team with those two losses coming as blowouts against Indiana and Ohio State has an extremely weak case. If one of those two losses is playing the Buckeyes close, or if they even beat the No. 1-ranked team, the Illini have a great chance at making it in.
Bielema is going to play this game like that’s the case. The problem is that Ryan Day and the Buckeyes understand that going in. Bielema will likely try to slow the game down and take as many possessions away from Ohio State as he is able to. But the Buckeyes have shown that they can play comfortably that way.
There seems to be no weird weather reports to worry about in Champaign, Ill., for the game so the play book will be wide open if needed. Illinois seems to have played above its head in terms of its record to this point while the Buckeyes might have a little more in them since Julian Sayin has been brought into this offense slowly. Now it seems like he’s fully ready to be let go.
In every single prediction I have made to this point, except Grambling State week, I have predicted that the Buckeyes would give up more points than they ended up allowing. The Illini have a good offense with experienced quarterback Luke Altmyer leading the way, but I’m not trying to make that mistake again this week. I’ll be predicting most teams won’t be able to score 10 or more on the Buckeyes until proven otherwise.
After a Carnell Tate week, Ohio State will be looking to get the ball back to the player whom Day described as the best offensive player in college football, Jeremiah Smith. I’m predicting 150 yards and two touchdowns from him with at least seven catches.
Ohio State 31, Illinois 6
