WATCH: Preview and Pick Before the Cotton Bowl Classic Between Ohio State and Miami
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The wait is officially over!
26 long days, three-and-a-half long weeks, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are finally back on the football field Wednesday night against the Miami Hurricanes.
The Buckeyes are the heavy, heavy favorites in this matchup. They currently have the biggest spread of the entire quarterfinal, sitting at a whopping -9.5 point difference between them and the Hurricanes.
As I have sat here over the past 10 days preparing for this football game, I have been trying to come up with ways that I think Miami could beat the Buckeyes, and none have come to mind. My mindset flipped to not, how can Miami win, but how can Miami cover, and those scenarios are few and far between.
Ohio State is the flat-out better football team at every position group and at all levels. Miami has a couple of guys who are individually very good, but the Buckeyes, I think, are just too much for the 'Canes.
Famous last words.
Everything that has been said, everything that has been written, and everything that has been discussed is meaningless at the kickoff. Whether it's me saying the above, or Chris Fallica saying the Hurricanes will win outright, or Nick Saban saying that the offense needs to be better, all can get thrown out the window. It's time for this game to happen on the turf.
For the Buckeyes, it starts with winning the line of scrimmage on offense. The two game wreckers that Miami has will have their hand in the dirt going against the Buckeyes' offense. Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor have game-wrecking tendencies and could shake this thing up.
The Miami secondary is very good, but it is a product of a nasty pass rush and a rushed quarterback. If Ohio State wins the line of scrimmage and gives Julian Sayin plenty of time, look out. Prime Deion Sanders could cover Jeremiah Smith for five seconds.
On defense, the Buckeyes need to force Carson Beck to win the football game. Simple as that.
In the Hurricanes' two losses, Beck has thrown for a combined six interceptions in those two games. The Canes were in chase mode against Louisville, and it resulted in four interceptions, and then against SMU, in the most high-leverage situation, Beck turned the ball over in overtime.
If Ohio State makes him beat them, it's going to be a problem for the Hurricanes. To do that, they have to stop Mark Fletcher Jr. and the Miami rushing attack. Just one week ago, he rushed it 17 times for 179 yards in their win against Texas A&M. I don't envision a big day like that against Ohio State, but if he can consistently keep the chains moving, it keeps the pressure off of Beck.
Two major variables come to light in this one is basically winning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football. I believe that the Buckeyes will be able to do that, and do it with relative ease.
My official and final prediction: Ohio State 27, Miami 10. Buckeyes cover the spread and move on to the Fiesta Bowl for the semifinal.
Game Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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