Match up: Virginia Tech Hokies at Ohio State Buckeyes
Place: Ohio Stadium, Columbus Ohio
Time: Saturday, 9/6/14, 8 PM
Channel: ESPN
After an exciting 34-17 victory over Navy last Saturday, the #8 ranked Buckeyes are coming home for their first game at The Horseshoe in Columbus Saturday night at 8 PM on ESPN. Thankfully, most of us will be able to see the game instead of digging through our channel guides to see where the heck CBS Sports Network was located (turns out if you have DirecTV you were able to watch it).
The young Buckeyes will be facing another young team in the Hokies. Thankfully for the Bucks defense, they do not run a triple option offense. But the offense and special teams will be facing "Beamer ball", with it's emphisis on special teams and defensive play making. Will it be enough to defeat a very fast and talented Buckeyes team in prime time?
Who to watch: J.T. Barrett will be under the bright lights of his first nationally televised game. Can he rise to the occasion and make the big plays he did in the second half of the Navy game? It should also be a good test for Ezekiel Elliot and freshman phenom Curtis Samuel against the young Hokie defense.
Defensive stand: Will the defense make a stand and show that last weeks game was a fluke? You have to know Joey Bosa is licking his chops to get to quarterback Michael Brewer, who threw for 251 yards and 2 TD's against William & Mary last week. True freshman running back Shai McKenzie had a big game as well but the Buckeyes should be able to contain him as well as his fellow running backs. The Buckeyes secondary need to keep themselves in front of the receivers and not miss tackles like they and the rest of the defense did against Navy.
Prediction: The Buckeyes win 37-20, lead by Barrett and the tandem of Elliot/Samuel with a much improved defense.
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