Three Shots: Purdue

We are turning the corner into the back stretch of the season and my score throughout this series is, well… not good.

If this were about picking winners and losers, I would be doing a lot better, but when you drill down to just one player or position group, not knowing what the week of practice looked like (on either side), you are left grasping for straws.

But finally, I hit something better than just a free throw (don’t worry, I missed my free throw, wouldn’t want to score too many points) last week.

For those who are new to the site or to the piece, I am making three predictions a week, one that should be as basic as hitting a simple free throw, one that is more difficult like a three-pointer and then even more difficult, a full-court shot. Points will be given out as one, three and 10, but I have gotten nowhere close to a full-court shot. How do I see things going for the Purdue game?

last week

Free Throw: Ohio State will have at least two rushing touchdowns

Status: Miss

If you are going to miss, miss big. Even coming off of the Nebraska game, I felt that hitting two rushing scores was not all that bold.

Ohio State’s running game played very well on Saturday, but it was more about moving the chains and chewing up the clock. Will Howard coulda, shoulda, woulda had a rushing score, except for the fumble out of the end zone.

But even if that one would have been good, that is just one score, and there wasn’t really one that was all that close to a second one.

I am fine missing this one however, the team looked good and that meant that the fanbase behaved (largely) well.

Three Pointer: Ohio State will not allow a rushing touchdown to Penn State

Status: Hit

Okay, so Ohio State didn’t score any rushing touchdowns, but neither did Penn State and that was good for my first three-point make of the year.

Penn State only put up 13 points as a team, six on offense (Will Howard’s interception accounted for the other seven).

Now, Penn State has a great rushing attack with Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Tyler Warren and a pair of quarterbacks who are not statues. Penn State went to the red zone three times and came away with three points (along with throwing a pick to Davison Igbinosun and getting stopped on downs).

I didn’t feel great about this pick when I made it, but I feel great about it now.

Full Court: Ohio State shuts out Penn State

Status: Miss

Was there any chance of Ohio State shutting out Penn State? No.

Has Ohio State ever shutout Penn State? No.

But give me a break, I had to make this one difficult, it is worth 10 points.

I made this pick on the back of Ohio State making some defensive changes and Penn State sometimes just not really having things in working order when it comes time to play Ohio State.

Will I make this pick again? Spoiler Alert, I don’t think Purdue is going to score against Ohio State, but I also don’t think that it is worth a 10-point pick, if we are being honest.

Is there a chance that I hit one of these this season? Doubtful, but I will be insufferable if I do.

Current Score: 7

free throw

Jeremiah Smith will score a touchdown and restart a new scoring streak

This one feels like a low-pressure free throw but then again, it all depends on what the play calls are and if everyone is on the same page.

Smith is starting to break freshman wide receiver marks and one more touchdowns would separate Smith from Cris Carter for touchdowns.

I have not seen anything from the Purdue defense that leads me to believe that they will have an answer for him, so I am going to try and make sure I get one point this week, at least.

Three pointer

Will Howard will throw for 300 yards despite not playing a full game (subbed out)

Howard has only had one 300-yard game for the Buckeyes and that was against Oregon, when the Buckeyes had to really focus on the pass in a back-and-forth game with the Ducks.

The thing that is working against me here is that Howard may only get to lead the Buckeyes for a half if the outcome goes the way that I am expecting. This means that the Buckeyes would need to have four drives of 75 yards or a 5th and 6th drive that could help offset things, and additionally, that would be all passing yardage.

I felt better about this pick before I really started to sound it out, but too late now.

full court

Seven different Buckeyes will score touchdowns (rushing or receiving)

This means that Ohio State will have to score at least 49 points and have no repeats if it is just at that level.

Ohio State subbing players out to the 2nd and 3rd teams will help me here but there are times where favorite targets are favorites. I think that the 49-plus points is totally doable but just being able to spread it out may be the challenge.

Go to discussion...