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Well, fam, here we are. The No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1, 5-1) will take on the No. 18 Michigan State Spartans (6-3, 4-2) today in what will be a game that can either make or break the OSU’s season. A loss to the Spartans would almost certainly end any and all Buckeye hopes for a Big Ten Championship game and a College Football Playoff appearance.
If you have been paying attention over the past six+ seasons, you will know that matchups between OSU and MSU have been pretty competitive during the Urban Meyer and Mark Dantonio eras; so why should we expect anything different when the two B1G East foes kick it off at 12 noon ET today on FOX?
Over the course of this season, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land are competing to see who the best prognosticator is on staff.
How this is working is that every week our writers and editors will predict what think the final score of the Ohio State game will be. If a forecaster foresees the game’s correct winner, he or she will receive 75 points. If the expert gets the score exactly right, they will receive a bonus 25 points. However, for every point that a prediction is off, one point will be subtracted—with a max total of 25 points getting subtracted. Get it? Got it? Good.
With every new week of predictions, we will update the standings, so that you can follow along and see who the best handicapper on the LGHL staff is. Current standings are below this week’s predictions.
Matt Brown
Ohio State 20, Michigan State 14
Season Point Total: 546 | Place: 1 out of 13
This is going to be like almost every other OSU/MSU game. Very ugly and you won’t enjoy watching it.
Alexis Chassen
Ohio State 36, Michigan State 24
Season Point Total: 435 | Place: 13 out of 13
Hear Alexis and Matt Tamanini break down their predictions on Friday’s episode of The Hangout in the Holy Land podcast.
Colton Denning
Ohio State 20, Michigan State 24
Season Point Total: 487 | Place: 5 out of 13
On Thursday’s episode of The Hangout in the Holy Land, Colton says that he has full confidence in the Buckeyes players’ ability to “stomp” Michigan State, but he doesn’t have confidence in the coaches’ ability to put them in position to do that.
Grant Freking
Ohio State 21, Michigan State 17
With Ohio State’s season on the brink, I figured what better time than now then to slingshot a prediction out of nowhere. History says Ohio State finds a way in East Lansing, but it’s going to be cold and windy, thereby at least partially negating the Buckeyes’ aerial advantage. And this OSU team has both an on- and off-the-field unquantifiable malaise about it. That said, the Spartans just aren’t as good offensively as they’ve been in the past, giving an average Ohio State defensive a good matchup -- save for the inevitable trick plays. The visitors barely out-talent their way to victory, prompting a fresh round of questions for an embattled coaching staff.
Geoff Hammersley
Ohio State 24, Michigan State 21
Season Point Total: 516 | Place: 3 out of 13
Defenses will shine, but the Buckeye offense does just enough to squeak by in the end.
Dan Hessler
Ohio State 30, Michigan State 27
Season Point Total: 441 | Place: 12 out of 13
This one will be almost as tough to watch as it will be to win. I think the Buckeyes pull it off because they know they have to in order to preserve their season.
Meredith Hein
Ohio State 24, Michigan State 21
Season Point Total: 492 | Place: 4 out of 13
Ohio State’s defense hasn’t shown it can make stops where it counts, so even a struggling Michigan State offense might find some bright spots. Haskins, meanwhile, will have to contend with a powerful defense on the road.
Caleb Houser
Ohio State 31, Michigan State 21
Season Point Total: 486 | Place: tied 6 out of 13
Max Littman
Ohio State 31, Michigan State 21
Season Point Total: 451 | Place: 11 out of 13
Brett Ludwiczak
Ohio State 30, Michigan State 23
Season Point Total: 476 | Place: 9 out of 13
If this line was more than a touchdown, I would likely be on the side of Michigan State, but I think the Buckeyes can manage this line. The Buckeyes aren’t playing sharp football right now, but this feels like a game Urban Meyer has his team ready for. Ohio State knows their backs are against the wall if they want to make the College Football Playoff and they get the job done and win by a touchdown.
Patrick Mayhorn
Ohio State 21, Michigan State 17
Season Point Total: 525 | Place: 2 out of 13
Michigan State’s offense helps make Ohio State look competent, as the Buckeyes win on a late game defensive stand.
Matt Tamanini
Ohio State 27, Michigan State 28
Season Point Total: 481 | Place: 8 out of 13
For the first time all season, I am not going to predict an Ohio State victory. While I know that Michigan State’s offense isn’t exactly prolific this year, I think that they match up well with the Buckeyes’ porous defense. Brian Lewerke won’t need to complete 75 percent of his passes, he just needs to have a few key completions go for big plays to get the job done.
I also think that Connor Heyward is the type of back that can give Ohio State’s poor tackling linebackers tons of problems. So, while I don’t like it, and will obviously be very happy if I end up being wrong, I am going to take the Spartans 28-27.
Read more of Matt’s thoughts on today’s major matchup in a Q&A that he did with Michigan State blog The Only Colors:
Ok, after nine games, let’s take a look as to how our staff’s picks are looking.
LGHL Predictions Scoreboard
Place | LGHL Staff | Total Points | B1G Points | TTUN Points | Maryland Points | Mich. St. Points | Nebraska Points | Purdue Points | Minnesota Points | Indiana Points | Penn State Points | Tulane Points | TCU Points | Rutgers Points | Oregon St. Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place | LGHL Staff | Total Points | B1G Points | TTUN Points | Maryland Points | Mich. St. Points | Nebraska Points | Purdue Points | Minnesota Points | Indiana Points | Penn State Points | Tulane Points | TCU Points | Rutgers Points | Oregon St. Points |
1 | Matt Brown | 723 | 54 | 0 | 50 | 73 | 70 | 71 | 64 | 48 | 58 | 64 | 61 | 60 | 50 |
2 | Meredith Hein | 715 | 61 | 50 | 50 | 62 | 69 | 0 | 56 | 66 | 61 | 54 | 62 | 74 | 50 |
4 | Caleb Houser | 712 | 71 | 50 | 50 | 55 | 71 | 0 | 50 | 62 | 66 | 65 | 55 | 67 | 50 |
5 | Brett Ludwiczak | 704 | 74 | 50 | 50 | 54 | 68 | 0 | 50 | 61 | 59 | 61 | 62 | 65 | 50 |
6 | Geoff Hammersley | 703 | 75 | 0 | 50 | 62 | 73 | 72 | 64 | 64 | 0 | 64 | 74 | 55 | 50 |
7 | Patrick Mayhorn | 695 | 51 | 0 | 50 | 69 | 63 | 64 | 60 | 69 | 50 | 44 | 64 | 61 | 50 |
8 | Dan Vest | 673 | 64 | 73 | 50 | 0 | 70 | 0 | 62 | 58 | 63 | 58 | 61 | 64 | 50 |
9 | Dan Hassler | 662 | 71 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 53 | 0 | 58 | 55 | 57 | 51 | 65 | 52 | 50 |
10 | Alexis Chassen | 656 | 71 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 65 | 0 | 54 | 60 | 50 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 50 |
11 | Matt Tamanini | 642 | 61 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 56 | 59 | 61 | 59 | 72 | 57 | 50 |
12 | Max Littman | 628 | 72 | 0 | 50 | 55 | 60 | 0 | 58 | 41 | 62 | 57 | 56 | 67 | 50 |
13 | Colton Denning | 604 | 67 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 59 | 62 | 56 | 68 | 68 | 64 | 50 |
13 | Chad Peltier | 578 | 54 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 66 | 0 | 60 | 66 | 55 | 54 | 73 | 50 | 50 |
So, to recap our oddly overly complicated scoring system:
Correct Winner Prediction: 75 points
Perfect Prediction Bonus: 25 points
Point Total Deductions: Subtract 1 point for every point off total score (cap 25 points)