It’s another crimson and gray Saturday, and Ohio State isn’t expected to win easily. However, the results don’t happen on paper, and both teams have to get out of the car for an actual, live American football game.
That being said, the Buckeyes should still be dealing with their in-state MAC rivals when Toledo runs out of the tunnel at the Big Horseshoe on Saturday night.
We believe Ohio State won’t have much of a problem with the Rockets, and we’re here to give you five reasons why.
athlete
Except for the David vs. Goliath showdown. There are plenty of kids in Toledo who would love to be recruited by Ohio State. The MAC is a solid conference, but it’s built on a group of players who aren’t your four- or five-star kid. While there are obviously a lot of kids being ignored as rough diamonds, it’s not a hot topic most of the time. When the Buckeyes line up, it’s going to be a better athlete against an athlete who needs to prove. Advantage Ohio State University.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming return
Despite some game play there, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said earlier this week that he expects receivers Jaxson Smith-Njiba and Julian Fleming to return to the lineup against Toledo . The Buckeyes’ offense hasn’t shown the same explosiveness as last season, but look for something to be more efficient against Toledo and put a bushel of yards and points on the board. The Rockets will have a hard time keeping up.
Ohio Defense
Weaknesses from last season now seem to be strengths. Those numbers are skewed when you look across the landscape now due to the level of competition that others have and haven’t played in, but there’s no doubt that Ohio State’s defense is a more aggressive unit that could lead to There is a problem with the opponent’s attack. Toledo has moved the ball well in both games so far, but things aren’t going so well in a Jim Knowles-led defense.
home cooking
It would be one thing if Ohio State had to go down the road trying to beat an opponent who didn’t have as much talent. Hosting that team is an even bigger hurdle, though. While the afternoon crowd at Ohio State Stadium can get stale at times, it’s not. An unknown opponent, the night race shouldn’t be like that. Look for a crowd for this event to power the team dressed in scarlet and grey.
Ohio State’s line plays on both ends
Ohio State is bigger and stronger on both sides of the line. The defensive line is one of the deepest and most talented in the country, while the offensive line is a collection of veterans capable of pushing some of the best defensive units. Toledo will be undersized and understaffed in the trenches, and the Buckeyes should be able to lean on those fronts and knock the Rockets out.
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Story originally appeared on Buckeye Wire