Who you got? LGHL staff predicts the score of Ohio State-Michigan State

This season, the LGHL staff is competing to see who is the best prognosticator!

By Matt Tamanini and Land-Grant Holy Land Staff Nov 10, 2018, 11:18am EST

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)