Paul Finebaum picks Ohio State to beat Oregon

Despite his expertise in the SEC, Paul Finebaum has ventured into making a pick for No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Oregon in the Big Ten.

Finebaum made his pick in the top-three matchup between the Buckeyes and Ducks on ‘The Tim May Show’ on Thursday. In Saturday’s biggest meeting, he went with Ohio State to win it this weekend in Eugene.

“It’s great to see Ohio State on a big stage. It is the biggest game in the country,” said Finebaum. “I’m going to end the suspense. I like the Buckeyes. I think they are, particularly, a great team. They’ve had six weeks to prepare for this one game so why wouldn’t they be ready?”

As for his focus for this game, Finebaum wants to see this Buckeye roster be tested for the first time this season. He thinks the Ducks will present them exactly that inside Autzen Stadium.

“I mean I’m fascinated by all the talent on Ohio State’s football team,” said Finebaum. “I want to see it in a really impressive live setting, which that is, against what I think is a good team. Oregon has been hard to figure out. That’s what this game is about.”

Actually, after their first six weeks, Finebaum is ready to see Ohio State at all.

“By the way, I realize Ohio State is royalty but where does it say Ohio State gets to begin the season in the second week of October?” Finebaum joked. “I haven’t been able to find one of their games until now because I don’t have the CNW and all these other off-brand channels.”

Finebaum is right in that has been a fairly uneventful opening to the year in Columbus. Ohio State has won by an average margin of almost 40 points with no opponent having come within four scores of them yet. That’s about what many expected from them early, even if a majority has come against lesser competition so far.

Saturday is a stage for Ohio State to finally announce themselves amongst the rest of the sport for this season. Finebaum thinks they’ll do so too after their first notable outcome of the fall over Oregon.

“Yeah, I can’t wait,” said Finebaum.

“Listen, everybody’s obsessed over Alabama, Texas, and Georgia. In the back of my mind? I remember telling you back in January or February. I thought Ohio State might be the best team,” Finebaum recalled. “We’re going to finally get a chance to figure that out.”