Three Shots: Marshall

It is humbling to roll out a new feature and put up a big goose egg when it comes to predictions, but it also goes to show just how difficult it can be, if you are bold enough in your picks.

Sure, I could have taken the easy route and say that Jeremiah Smith will have a touchdown or that the defense will do this or that.

But what fun is that?

I am not going to lower the level of my picks here in this feature, I am just going to lower my expectations.

For those who didn’t read the feature last week, I am taking three shots in predictions for the upcoming Ohio State game. One will be considered a free throw, or something that I should have a high percentage of hitting, maybe nine in 10 times. The next will be a three-pointer, something that I would like to hit one in three times. The last will be a full court shot, something that maybe I hit once over the course of the season, maybe not.

Each week I will make the picks as well recap how I did the previous week.

last week

Free Throw – Jeremiah Smith will lead the team in targets

Status: Miss

Outcome: I felt good about this one, just with the talent level of JJ Smith and the connection he seems to have with Will Howard. But this one did not come home as Emeka Egbuka led the team in targets, with eight compared to Smith’s 6. Smith did lead the team in receiving yardage, but that was not the shot that I took.

Three Pointer – Ohio State will record at least two defensive scores, again

Status: Miss

Outcome: This should have been a full court shot, looking back at it. I didn’t have much faith in the Western Michigan offense, especially without the top receiver. It would have been smarter to call for a shutout, which is more of a skilled thing than the two defensive scores, or even one, which sometimes has a little luck involved because you have to be in the right place at the right time.

Full Court – Julian Sayin will throw for and rush for a touchdown

Status: Miss

Outcome: I got halfway there as Sayin hit Bennett Christian for a fourth quarter touchdown, but Sayin was not in the game long enough to really put two prolonged drives together. But it is a full court shot for a reason.

Current Score: 0

free throw

Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson will each rush for 70 yards

Am I lowering the level of my pick on the free throw? I don’t feel so. The Jeremiah Smith prediction seemed simple at the time, as does this one.

If anything, this one maybe a little more difficult.

Why?

While Judkins has averaged 81.5 YPG, Henderson is only at 65.5 YPG. Sure, that has a lot to do with the passing offense clicking, the depth of the running back room, and just really making sure to keep tread on the tires of each player.

I just think that the Buckeyes will come out and try and have another big ground game against Marshall, especially with the team averaging 221.5 YPG on the ground.

three pointer

Brandon Inniss will return a punt for a touchdown

It has almost been 10 years since the Buckeyes have returned punt for a touchdown, going all the way back to Jalin Marshall in the 2014 National Championship season.

Inniss has come close a couple of times already through two games and this seems like a fair bet to happen this season.

Will it be this week? Sure, why not.

If Ohio State’s defense can do what it has the past two games, there will be ample opportunity for Inniss to take one to the house. But it has almost been 10 years, so that is why we are calling this a three-pointer, and probably one with a hand in our face as we take the shot.

full court

Ohio State will hold Marshall to less than 90 yards of total offense

90 yards is not a lot, even if the Buckeyes held Western Michigan to just 99 yards a week ago.

Marshall had 271 yards of offense against Virginia Tech in a loss, and we know that the Stony Brook game isn’t indicative of much.

At first, I thought about saying 100 yards, but that would have been a three-pointer, those extra 10 yards make all the difference.

Marshall is a better team than Western Michigan in terms of personnel and running back AJ Turner has home run hitting ability, with an 80-yard and 69-yard touchdown already on the season.

This one could be over before it ever begins. But isn’t that what these types of picks are all about?

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