Three Shots
Football

Three Shots: Oregon

Fortunately the Buckeyes are performing better than I am in this ‘Three Shots’ feature.

In my defense, I am taking it seriously, I am not just trying to load up on sure points. But I am not even hitting my easy shots, so that is problematic.

I am taking the same approach that Tom and Tony have put in their bold predictions for some time, but I am finding it even more difficult to connect.

Yes, the Buckeyes are 5-0, playing their toughest regular season foe, at their building, across the country, and I am going to make sure I do my part and get at least one point.

Last week

Free Throw – Ohio State will score no less than two rushing touchdowns

Status: Miss

This probably should have been the three-pointer, Iowa had not given up a single rushing touchdown on the year, and Ohio State did manage to land one of those, as Will Howard called his own number and found paydirt, to mix in with four passing touchdowns, three to Emeka Egbuka and one to Jeremiah Smith.

Ohio State is an amazing 20 of 21 when it comes to red zone touchdowns and the last attempt was a made field goal, so that means the Buckeyes are getting inside the 20.

And while the Buckeyes are still putting up big rushing numbers, it just wasn’t meant to be, this time around.

Three Pointer – Ohio State will score at least 14 points in the first quarter

Status: Miss

This one had some possibilities and was properly graded out as Iowa had not allowed a first drive touchdown in 27 straight games and going into the Ohio State game, Iowa had only given up 17 first quarter points on the season.

The Buckeyes were their own worst enemy in the first quarter and half, after those first points. Turnovers, the inability of converting on a 4th down, and just other errors kept the Buckeyes off the board until the 3rd quarter, when the team would put up 21 points.

Full Court – Either Henderson or Judkins will outrush Kaleb Johnson

Status: Miss

This one looked like it was going to be a slam dunk, both of the Ohio State backs were running at a high level and Johnson was MIA for much of the day.

A 28-yard run by Johnson well after the game was decided ended all hopes, putting Johnson ahead of Quinshon Judkins, who would finish with 78 yards to Johnsons’s 86.

The full court shot probably shouldn’t have been this straightforward, but we were also talking about one of the nation’s top runners and there were questions to the level the Buckeyes would be able to shut down the run game.

Current Score: 2

free throw

Jeremiah Smith will have a touchdown reception (two-handed counts)

Smith has had a touchdown in each of the first five games, why not load up and count on one in this game.

Oregon’s defense is impressive but we are not talking about UGA in the Peach Bowl.

Oregon won’t be able to load up on any one receiver as Emeka Egbuka would run wild if single covered, as would several other receivers, including Carnell Tate.

three pointer

Ohio State will double up the net rushing total over Oregon

This may be a little aggressive, but I still am not sure what is a three-pointer versus a full court shot.

Ohio State has pulled this feat off four times, in the first four games of the season, but there is a major step up going to Oregon from any of the non-conference foes or even Michigan State.

It is more likely that Ohio State accomplishes this if the Buckeyes run for more than 250 yards.

full court

Ohio State will hold Oregon to fewer than 10 points

When was the last time that Oregon was held to single-digit scoring? That would be at the start of the 2022 season against UGA.

That was a “Bad Bo” Nix game for the Ducks, and since then, scoring has not been an issue for the green and yellow.

I think this one is pretty unlikely, but I also want to try and mix things up, not pick the same thing over and over again until it hits or I grow bored of it.

Call me skeptical, but I think it would take this kind of defensive effort for some people to move the Buckeyes up to No. 1 over Texas, especially with Texas taking on a bitter rival in Oklahoma, even if the Sooners are not all that special this season.

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