The #6 Ohio State Buckeyes and the #8 Arkansas Razorbacks will go at it tomorrow at 8:30 PM ET on ESPN. I am going to say who has the better team when it comes to offense, defense, and special teams. I will also include my prediction.
OFFENSE- Arkansas. The Hogs have a future NFL star, I believe. They have Ryan Mallet. Mallet has passed for 3592 yards this year, and as a team, Arkansas averages 338.4 passing yards per game, which is 3rd in the NCAA. Mallet has some good receivers to go to, like Wright, who has 718 receiving yards. Their leading rusher is Davis, who has rushed for 1183 yards. Let's look at Ohio State's offense. The Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor has passed for 2551 yards this season, and as a team the Bucks average 229.2 passing yards per game. As you can tell, Mallet is a better QB when it comes to passing. Terrelle Pryor does have an advantage over Mallet though. Pryor can actually run. He has rushed for 4 touchdowns off of 639 yards, and 120 carries. Mallet has rushed for -46 yards....yes NEGATIVE 46 YARDS, but still does have 4 touchdowns on the ground. Back to Pryor, he has better receivers than Mallet. Ohio State's best WR is Dane Sanzenbacher, who has caught for 889 yards. Ohio State's RB, Dan Herron, has rushed for 1068 yards. But, besides all these stats, there is only one thing that matters....points. Ohio State averages 39.4 PPG, while Arkansas 37.3 PPG.
DEFENSE- Ohio State. The Buckeyes defense is among the best in the nation with guys like Brian Rolle, Cam Heyward, Checkwa, Nate Williams, Devon Torrence, etc. The most points the Bucks have allowed all season long was to Wisconsin, where OSU lost. Ohio State holds opponents to only 13.3 PPG, that's getting it done. Arkansas defense hold opponents to 22.8 PPG. The Buckeyes have a great secondary and pass defense, so it will be tough for Mallet to do all that much through the air. But, they can just run the ball right? Maybe not, Ohio State has a EVEN BETTER rushing defense. It will be tough for the Hogs to score too many points on the Silver Bullet defense.
SPECIAL TEAMS- Both. Ohio State struggles when it comes to playing on the defensive side of special teams, but when it comes to the Bucks returning it, they are pretty good. Arkansas is solid on both, and nothing to really brag about either way. Ohio State's field goal kicker, Devin Barclay, the former pro soccer player, has made 19/22 field goals, with a long of 48 yards, and has been perfect in extra points, 58/58. The Razorbacks kicker, Zach Hocker, has made 13/16 field goals, with a long of 51, and has been perfect on extra points, going 55/55.
PREDICTION- I say since Ohio State has a decent offense, going up against a defense that is not as good as their own, they will be able to put up some points. Since the Buckeyes defense is so good, I think they will be able to stop Arkansas from scoring too many points. I am gonna go with the old saying "defense wins Championships", just like in the 2010 Rose Bowl vs. Oregon. I say the Buckeyes get it done, and beat Arkansas, silence the SEC, and win it 36-27.
Until then....GO BUCKEYES!!!!
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