Josh Pate Makes Bold Prediction for Ohio State vs Iowa
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Where did these Iowa Hawkeyes come from?
No. 5 Ohio State was suddenly handed a top 15 opponent for its Week 5 contest after the Hawkeyes scored a touchdown on the final second to beat then-No. 18 Michigan 20-19 in the "Big House" in Week 4.
Iowa will host Ohio State on Saturday in a game that will have huge ramifications for the College Football Playoff and Big Ten championship.
After losing to Texas early in the season, the Buckeyes have little margin for error in their contest against Iowa. The Buckeyes will have to play No. 6 Indiana, No. 18 USC and No. 15 Oregon before Nov. 8.
During the "Josh Pate's College Football Show" on Tuesday, the host made a bold prediction for the contest between Ohio State and Iowa. He's picking the Buckeyes to not only win but win big, taking them as a 14-point favorite to beat Iowa.
Pate pointed to Iowa's secondary as being a concern for Saturday. The Hawkeyes allowed JJ Buchanan to record 130 receiving yards and two touchdowns and Andrew Marsh to record seven receptions for 106 yards.
Ohio State has an even more dangerous weapon for Iowa to face, as Jeremiah Smith rolls into Iowa City.
Still, Iowa's defense is no slouch. The Hawkeyes have the No. 10 defense through the first four weeks of the season. Iowa has pitched two shutouts so far.
However, the Hawkeyes were able to keep up with a Michigan offense that has been a bust this fall. It will be a stretch for Iowa to keep up with a much more robust Ohio State offense.
Iowa quarterback Hank Brown has thrown for 700 yards and five touchdowns this season. 227 of those yards and two touchdowns came against Michigan.
The Hawkeyes will have plenty of motivation to get the job done against Ohio State. They have a much more favorable schedule than the Buckeyes. Oregon, USC and Indiana are not on the schedule for Iowa. With a win over Ohio State, the Hawkeyes would have no other teams currently ranked on their remaining schedule.
Iowa would put itself in a great spot to make the Big Ten championship and make a bid for the College Football Playoff if it beats Ohio State on Saturday. The Buckeyes need to take note of that, because the Hawkeyes will give it all they've got at home in Week 5.
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