Blazers vs Buckeyes NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes escaped with a 35-28 victory over Cal last week, but there is no doubt that Ohio State must play much better moving forward. The Golden Bears could have easily won the game, and they actually outgained the Buckeyes in Columbus.
UAB Blazers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio Stadium, Columbus Ohio
Saturday September 22, 12:00 PM EST on BigTenNetwork
College Football Betting Odds from Bovada
Moneyline: Off
College Football Spread: Ohio State -37 (-110) vs. UAB +37 (-110)
Over/Under: 59
UAB comes into this one at 0-2, and the Buckeyes are likely to take their frustration out on the Blazers this Saturday.
UAB
This past weekend South Carolina beat UAB 49-6. The Blazers had 42 carries for 27 yards (an average of 0.6 yards per carry). Garrick McGee is the new coach at UAB, and many think he can turn this program around in time. Right now, McGee has a very tough job because the Blazers simply don’t have enough talent.
Last year’s team went 3-9, and this year’s team probably has a little less talent than that group. UAB’s defense allowed 37 points per game in 2011, and they have given up 39 and 49 points in their first two games this year.
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UAB will have to find a way to contain Braxton Miller in this one. The Blazers defense is very weak in the front seven, so I find it hard to believe that they will shut down Ohio State’s ground game. On the other side, UAB’s offensive line is a major problem this year.
The Blazers have four new starting linemen, and they have been getting beaten on a constant basis so far this season.
Ohio State
Braxton Miller has all the tools to succeed in an Urban Meyer offense. Miller leads all quarterbacks in the nation in rushing, by a large margin so far in 2012. Miller has 377 rushing yards, and he is averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Miller still needs to become a better passer. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
He hasn’t shown the ability to throw it deep very much yet, and that will catch up to the team in bigger games this season.
Ohio State needs a running back to step up and take some pressure off Miller in the running game. In the long run, the Buckeyes can’t afford to have Miller taking so many hits.
The Ohio State defense has a couple stars on the defensive line. John Simon and Johnathan Hankins are both potential NFL stars on the line. Nathan Williams is a very good pass rusher on the outside.
The line is great, but the linebackers aren’t as good as normal at Ohio State.
The secondary has been picked on early in the year. Bradley Roby is a very good corner, but the rest of the secondary is questionable.
Overall, the Buckeyes defense should be good this year, but they aren’t dominant right now.
UAB is outclassed in a big way in this contest. Ohio State should be able to do whatever they want in this one. Look for the Buckeyes offense to put up a load of points here.
The over is probably the best value.
Free College Football Pick: Over 59
