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Inside Texas Roundtable: Score predictions, keys to the game, matchups to watch

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•about 10 hours•

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Texas HC Steve Sarkisian
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The Texas Longhorns are back in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff and face a difficult challenge in the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Inside Texas staff provides score predictions, keys to the game, matchups to watch, and more in the roundtable.

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Is there a position battle where you see Texas with the decided advantage?

Eric Nahlin – Barry Sorrell, Colin Simmons, Trey Moore, and Ethan Burke against their OT’s. However, Ohio State does a good job of getting the ball out of Will Howard’s hand.

Justin Wells – The Texas WRs vs Ohio State’s secondary. The corners can be had.

Ian Boyd – The Texas EDGEs against Ohio State’s offensive tackles could definitely be the matchup which defines the narrative in the event of a Longhorn victory. The Buckeyes can’t block Colin Simmons.

Joe Cook – I’ll join the chorus and mention the pass rush versus the Ohio State offensive tackles but I do wonder if Texas can make things work against the Buckeye defensive interior.

Charlie Williams – Texas EDGEs vs. Ohio State’s tackles. Colin Simmons, Trey Moore, and Barryn Sorrell go have a game!

Paul Wadlington – The Texas defensive line has a decided advantage over the Buckeyes OL. The key is running coverages that force Howard to hold the ball and bring those advantages to bear and understanding the schematic shift that their run and pass game has undergone since the regular season.

RT Young – I think the Texas interior defensive line has a big time advantage and AC and Broughton have a chance to disrupt many of the Buckeye plans. Get pressure from the interior and allow Simmons and Moore to close in from the edge on Will Howard.

James Hayden – Texas D-Line versus the banged up OSU O-Line

Fill in the blank: Texas will be more than happy if Ohio State passes for under ___ yards

Eric Nahlin – 250 yards.

Justin Wells – 200 yards. Will Howard probably won’t be.

Ian Boyd – I’ll say under 300. You have to consider the possibility of Texas building a big lead and Ryan Day abandoning the run to throw endlessly in hopes of making a comeback.

Joe Cook – 225. That seems to be the line between good Howard and bad Howard this year.

Charlie Williams – 250 yards

Paul Wadlington – 225

RT Young – 300

James Hayden – 250

What part of the Ohio State defense can Texas attack?

Eric Nahlin – The secondary outside of Caleb Downs.

Justin Wells – The secondary, namely the two corners.

Ian Boyd – The cornerbacks are probably the most important weakness. Texas needs to hit some big plays outside.

Joe Cook – Try running it right at them instead of with zone. I think there’s an opportunity there.

Charlie Williams – Perimeter. Attack their corners who will be on islands deep and with quick screens. Make them prove they can tackle in space.

Paul Wadlington – There are opportunities to hit the cornerbacks outside of the hashes and our TEs and RBs matched up on their blitz happy LBs. Ewers has to take a profit when available. Don’t bypass a 5 yard gain hunting for hope.

RT Young – Their corners can be exploited by the speed of Golden and Wingo plus a hopefully healthy Bond.

James Hayden – Back half of the secondary

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Texas vs. Ohio State score prediction

Eric Nahlin – 27-21, Ohio State

Justin Wells – 28-24, Ohio State

Ian Boyd – 31-21, Ohio State

Joe Cook – 31-17, Ohio State

Charlie Williams – 34-24, Ohio State

Paul Wadlington – 30-21, Ohio State

RT Young – I can’t pick against the Horns. 31-30 Texas

James Hayden – 28-17, Ohio State

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