Bold Prediction No. 1: Ohio State will bottle up Travis Etienne on the ground
The Prediction:
The Buckeyes have been very stingy against the run this year, giving up less than 100 yards total per game. OSU has a scheme that plays downhill in support against the run, and the front seven is very violent and gap sound.
Ohio State kept the wraps on Etienne on the ground last year, and look for that to be the case again in this one. The Buckeyes will have to do a better job finding the All-American back in the passing game, but he won’t get loose too often with handoffs.
How we did:
Pat on the back time here. We felt good about Ohio State’s defensive line to control the line of scrimmage, and the linebackers behind it to fill gaps and stretch things out to the sideline. All told, Etienne had just ten carries for 32 yards. In all honesty, seems we gave the Tigers’ offensive line too much credit. Clemson got almost all of its big plays through the air.