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

Well here we are, the final road game of the No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes’ (9-1, 6-1) season. They are visiting beautiful, scenic College Park, Md., this afternoon to take on the Maryland Terrapins (5-5, 3-4). However, for some OSU players and fans they might have an eye on next Saturday as the Bucks host rival No. 4 Michigan in a game that will determine the Big Ten East Champion and could have major ramifications in the hunt for the College Football Playoffs.

The beat up Terps will look to grind the Buckeye defense down via the run game, where it is often feast or famine for Maryland. If the Ohio State defense can limit the big plays, the Buckeyes should be able to head home with a solid victory to get to 10 wins on the season. The game will be broadcast today on ABC at 12 noon ET.

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 33, Maryland 20
Season Point Total: 619 | Place: 1 out of 13

(He’s THE Matt Brown, he doesn’t need to give an explanation.)

Alexis Chassen

Ohio State 36, Maryland 24
Season Point Total: 485 | Place: 11 out of 13

Hear Alexis and Matt Tamanini break down their predictions on Friday’s episode of The Hangout in the Holy Land podcast.

Because I’m stubborn, and because I still don’t have total confidence in this Buckeye defense, I’m going 36-24. Maryland is still Maryland, but those players have a whole lot more to play for this season, and I think it’ll make for a closer contest than normal.

Colton Denning

Ohio State 38, Maryland 17
Season Point Total: 487 | Place: 9 out of 13

On Thursday’s episode of The Hangout in the Holy Land, Colton said that he has renewed confidence in the defense. And he said, “A confident Mike Weber is good.”

Grant Freking

Ohio State 35, Maryland 17

Ohio State rode some good special teams luck vs. Michigan State in a closer-than-the-final-score-indicated victory last week. I’m interested to see how Dwayne Haskins plays in his home state; his yards per attempt and completion percentages have taken a hit over the last month.

The new-look Buckeye defense was surely aided by an inept Michigan State offense last week, but there’s no denying that some strides have been made, even if the overall talent level compared to years past just isn’t there.

I’ll take OSU here, barely covering the spread, but keeping Maryland at arm’s distance the whole game. The real question will be can Urban Meyer motivate this team to new heights vs. Michigan when so many are giving them no chance at home in a rivalry they’ve dominated since 2001.

Geoff Hammersley

Ohio State 37, Maryland 17
Season Point Total: 578 | Place: 3 out of 13

Buckeyes show marginal improvements in the ground game. Defense holds their own, but it’s inconclusive to how good they really are because UMD is dealing with injuries in key offensive positions.

Dan Hessler

Ohio State 34, Maryland 17
Season Point Total: 491 | Place: 8 out of 13

The Buckeyes get another solid victory leading into Michigan week.

Meredith Hein

Ohio State 35, Maryland 14
Season Point Total: 554 | Place: 4 out of 13

With renewed confidence after a road win over a ranked opponent, the Buckeyes will earn a definitive, three-score victory over the Terps. Dwayne Haskins looks to again be the best player on offense, and he is set to break more school records on the road against Maryland. He needs just three touchdowns to beat J.T. Barrett’s mark set in 2017.

Caleb Houser

Ohio State 41, Maryland 10
Season Point Total: 541 | Place: 5 out of 13

Buckeyes keep it rolling over Maryland. Defense puts some more proof to their name by keeping the Terps in check.

Offense scores three rushing TDs, with one being from Tate Martell. Dwayne Haskins throws for two more TDs, and for good measure OSU kicks two FGs.

Max Littman

Ohio State 35, Maryland 17
Season Point Total: 506 | Place: 7 out of 13

Offense struggles a bit, but hits its gear second half. Defense gashed by a few big plays as per usual.

Brett Ludwiczak

Ohio State 45, Maryland 24
Season Point Total: 530 | Place: 6 out of 13

Ohio State just has too much talent and depth for Maryland to keep pace with the Buckeyes in this one. With next week’s matchup with Michigan on the horizon, Ohio State will want to head into “The Game” with a strong showing. Maryland hasn’t had much success passing the football this year, which will allow Ohio State to focus on stopping the run, which they have been better at lately. Much like the Wolverines, the Buckeyes win by 21 points this week.

Patrick Mayhorn

Ohio State 31, Maryland 21
Season Point Total: 594 | Place: 2 out of 13

On Thursday’s podcast linked above, Patrick said that he thinks that the game will be close going into the fourth quarter — thanks in no small part to Matt Canada’s penchant for pre-play motion on offense — but that OSU will pull away late.

Tony Mazziotti

Ohio State 38, Maryland 13

I think the offense gets rolling early and finds a way to put up some points. The boys will be ready to go from the start.

Chad Peltier

Ohio State 41, Maryland 17
Season Point Total: 474 | Place: 13 out of 13

Maryland’s offense struggles apart from a few big runs. Ohio State improves on offense, but not enough for us to feel optimistic about next week.

Matt Tamanini

Ohio State 42, Maryland 16
Season Point Total: 481 | Place: 12 out of 13

Now that I am no longer confined by the trappings of trying to predict scores in order to move up the LGHL rankings — since I wrongly predicted an MSU upset last week — I can now prognosticate with reckless abandon.

As I wrote last Sunday, while the improvements have been incremental, I am feeling optimistic about the changes that the coaching staff has made, and I have my fingers crossed that that will continue against Maryland as the Buckeyes clear one more hurdle before heading into the home stretch of “Beat Michigan Week.”

You can read more of my thoughts on today’s matchup in a Q&A that I did with Maryland blog Testudo Times:

Dan Vest

Ohio State 40, Maryland 13
Season Point Total: 486 | Place: 10 out of 13

The Buckeyes build a little momentum beating up on an average team that’s missing its quarterback.

Ok, after 10 games, let’s take a look as to how our staff’s picks are looking.

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)