Ohio State Buckeyes at TCU Horned Frogs: Preview and Prediction

Date: Saturday, September 15
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Network: ABC

The past couple of years it has been Oklahoma that has challenged Ohio State early in the season. That all changes this year as the Horned Frogs of TCU get a chance to prove themselves on a national stage in prime time. Ohio State has been dominating so far this season but the competition has not been great, to say the least. The Horned Frogs have one of the best programs in the country under Head Coach Gary Patterson but never seem to get the credit they deserve. To beat this Buckeyes team Patterson will have to pull out all the stops on defense and if anybody in the country can design a defense to slow down this high-powered Buckeyes offense, it is Gary Patterson.

Why will the Buckeyes win?

OFFENSE! No. 1 in the nation in third-down conversion, No. 1 in completion percentage and No. 2 in total offense (Ohio State has that after two cream-puff games). With a breathtaking array of weapons to keep it all going, TCU doesn’t have the offensive firepower to keep up. Add in the fact that the Buckeyes have one of the best pass rushes in the nation and it all adds up to a long day for TCU. The TCU offensive line hasn’t given up a sack so far this year but they have played Southern and SMU and that is no way to prepare for what the Buckeyes defense will give them.

Why will TCU win?

I might be grasping for straws here but I do think they are legitimate straws at least. Number one it will be this Buckeyes first road game and it should be a pumped-up crowd in Texas. The Horned Frogs will have to pressure Buckeyes QB Dwayne Haskins and make him uncomfortable, and the Frogs have the athletes up front to do that. TCU also has a young quarterback in Shawn Robinson who must take care of the ball and make an occasional downfield throw to keep the Buckeyes honest. If they can do all of that they will have a chance.

Prediction: If any coach can figure out how to slow down the Buckeyes it’s Gary Patterson and I think he will slow them down, but will he slow them down enough? I don’t think so! I see the Buckeyes pulling away late in this one.

Ohio State 34  TCU 17