ScoopDuck Roundtable: Score Predictions vs Ohio State

It’s hump day which means every second, every minute forward is closer to the game than when we started. Past the halfway point. It’s all downhill from here. Finish work, get to Autzen, get loud.

To help us get to that Autzen arrival time here is the roundtable you’ve been waiting for. Our score predictions. And for the first time all year, we have some non-Oregon picks. Which you might not like, but at least you know that means we aren’t complete homers.

Enough of the clever intro, here are the scores.

Linden Hile: Ohio State 28, Oregon 24

As volatile a sport as college football is, I do think there are noticeable differences in the top-end talent these two programs possess. Ohio State’s one-two punch at receiver with Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka will likely be problematic for Oregon’s defense which primarily starts two corners under 6ft tall.

On the flip side, the Buckeyes’ defense features two nearly surefire first round players in EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau and safety Caleb Downs who they plucked from Alabama following coach Nick Saban’s retirement. While Oregon likely has a mild edge in depth, I think the top-shelf talent on both sides of the ball for Ohio State will be enough to win a classic game.

Max Torres: Oregon 35 Ohio State 31

All signs point to this being a close one. I’m very confident in Oregon’s front seven, but the secondary has yet to face a challenge like Ohio State’s wide receivers. Can Jabbar Muhammad and Nikko Reed slow down Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka? Offensively the Ducks are starting to find themselves a bit more each week, specifically along the offensive line and Jordan James is a star. They’ll need to win the turnover battle, they’ll need some big plays from Gabriel and they’ll need to win the middle eight. I think the Ducks pull off the win, but it won’t be easy. Autzen Stadium should be a factor.

Doug Scott: Ohio State 30, Oregon 27

I think this one will be a close game early and throughout. Defenses will both start strong and limit scoring in the first quarter or so before the offenses eventually break through and get some more points on the board, particularly in the 2nd half.  I see the Ducks down 7 in the 4th but marching down to force a tie, only to see Ohio State pull off the victory on a late field goal.

Collin King: Oregon 35, Ohio State 31

Last week’s prediction I was off by only 6 points, and I’m hoping to be really close again this week. This matchup in Autzen is truly dependent on what type of team trots out for Oregon, and if they can force Ohio State into a hole. This game is definitely the hardest of the season and Oregon will be challenged mightily on both sides of the ball.

Jhop: Oregon 31, Ohio State 30

Good news, I don’t have to save the graphic. And I respect the two picking Ohio State as I’m really torn on this game. The best version of Oregon wins at home. I believe that. The one that shoots itself in the foot with penalties and mistakes, they lose. I’ve got Oregon kicking a 50+ yard field goal down 28-30 to win in on the last play of the game in dramatic fashion. Fans flood the fields and we dump field goal posts in the river. (Kidding)