5 bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Kent State Saturday for Week 3

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It's time to wash the sour taste out of the mouth from what occurred just a week ago in Austin. Ohio State had the game won and let the Longhorns storm back, score 21 unanswered points, and escape with a victory in one of the most highly anticipated games of the year.

Now, the Buckeyes must get back on the field and get the rest of the season going with a margin of error that is thinner than it seemed it was going to be through three quarters of the game last week. There's a good chance this week is just a speed bump with Mid-American Conference and in-state foe Kent State coming to the 'Shoe, a game in which Ohio State is massively favored.

There's little doubt about whether this one will be a scarlet and gray victory, but what might happen in the game. We often forecast and pick out some bold predictions for the upcoming Ohio State game, and we'll do it again here. Remember, these are bold predictions and not just your standard, easy, run-of-the-mill variety.

Here are five bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Kent State on Saturday.

The Ohio State defense will not give up a touchdown

I know, I know, the Golden Flashes aren't expected to do much, and that includes on the offensive side of the ball, but it doesn't take much to get a touchdown. A bounce here, a bounce there, an untimely penalty, or the dual-threat at quarterback Kent State has could get it in the red zone and knocking on the door. From there, it's a matter of making one play, and we say the Buckeye defense rises to the challenge after the meltdown fourth quarter we saw last Saturday in the heat of Texas.

The Buckeyes may allow a field goal or two, but nothing will be cashed in for six. It's about pride after the last quarter of football played, and you can expect this unit to come out firing and frothing at the mouth.

Ohio State running back Legend Bey will score two touchdowns

The Ohio State offense got stuck in the mud last week in the second half, and there was a guy glaringly missing. Freshman phenom Legend Bey was on the side of a milk carton, only seeing one snap on offense. It seems like the coaching staff fell into a trap of going with experience in a hostile environment, keeping talented freshmen like Bey and receiver Chris Henry Jr. on the shelf.

That can't happen any longer, and Day himself said the coaching staff will be looking at the personnel groupings and most likely getting some of the younger, talented guys more in the mix going forward. The OSU offense is going to be a more dynamic one with him in the lineup, and that starts against Kent State Saturday, resulting in a couple of highlight touchdowns.

The Ohio State defense records at least five sacks

The Buckeye defensive line got almost no pressure on Texas quarterback Arch Manning last week. Much of that was by design because defensive coordinator Matt Patricia dropped the second layer back in coverage and rushed only three down linemen an awful lot, but you still have to get pressure on the quarterback with what you bring.

The coaching staff will reflect hard on what didn't go right against the Longhorns and make a shift beginning on Saturday. No longer will the defense sit back and let the opposing quarterback sit in the pocket and ready thing, but will now look to employ more pressure packages. Couple that with a dual-threat option at quarterback for Kent State, and he'll hold the ball a little longer than he should at times, and the OSU defense will get him on the ground behind the line of scrimmage at least five times.

Ohio State will rush for over 275 yards on the ground

Yes, that's a lot for a team that will look to take advantage of a mismatch through the air often on Saturday, but Ohio State also has to get the offensive line going when it comes to the running game, especially outside the tackles. Almost all of the damage the Buckeyes did on the ground last week was between the tackles, and with the speed of Bo Jackson and perhaps Bey, the edges have to start blocking better.

If Ohio State has designs on making a deep run again in the College Football Playoff, it has to have balance, and look for the Buckeyes to keep things on the ground a lot to get the offensive line some confidence and development. It'll be a lot of air miles early on, and then the ground game will be leaned on heavily in the second half.

Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith will catch three touchdowns in the first half

You read that right. It's going to be a laser light show early on, with the coaching staff looking to get quarterback Julian Sayin on track after a less-than-ideal second half in Austin. Sayin will look for the open guy, but more often than not, he's going to look Jeremiah Smith's way, especially in the red zone on fades or one-on-one coverage.

The Ohio State coaching staff will never play up a Heisman campaign over winning, but when you have the best player on the field, and there's so much of a mismatch in the secondary, those two things can be a marriage made in the 'Shoe. Smith will be out of the game early in the second half, but he'll have already grabbed three touchdowns before he takes the helmet off.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: 5 bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Kent State Saturday for Week 3

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