Records
Ohio State (0-0), Florida Atlantic (0-0)
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Saturday, August 31
Game Time: Noon ET
Network: FOX
Venue: Ohio Stadium – Capacity – 104,944
All-Time Series: No previous matchups
Last Meeting: This will be the first meeting of the two programs
It almost feels like Christmas… we’re just days away from the Ohio State opener and we can hardly contain our excitement!
Saturday at noon, the Buckeyes kick off the 2019 campaign against the Florida Atlantic Owls. And just like Christmas morning, this season comes with so many unknowns. Like unwrapping a present and having a hunch of what it might be, but you won’t know for sure until you rip into it.
Will Ryan Day continue the Big Ten dominance of Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel? Can Justin Fields follow in the footsteps of Dwayne Haskins? Will a revamped defense bring back the silver bullets? So many questions, so much excitement!
Let’s get ready for week one!
Next … The game plan
Ohio State game plan for victory
Ohio State comes into the new season with a No. 5 ranking in both major polls. The Bucks have talent on paper with a plethora of four and five-star recruits up and down the roster. But can they put it all together?
Led by Lane Kiffin, Florida Atlantic is coming off a 5-7 season. But don’t let the record fool you. The Owls were potent on offense putting up 31 points per game in 2018. Of course, they weren’t facing the likes of Ohio State each week, but FAU does have some talent.
While Kiffin has a reputation for being creative and somewhat aggressive, his defense was a problem last year. FAU gave up over 425 yards a game to opposing offenses. This should give a brand new Buckeye quarterback ample opportunity to calm the butterflies and show what he can do.
Speaking of the new OSU quarterback…
Next … The key players for Ohio State
Two Key Players For Ohio State
Justin Fields, Quarterback. Many want to compare Fields to Dwayne Haskins, however that really isn’t a fair comparison. Yes, Haskins was a first year starter as Fields will be, but Dwayne Haskins was in year three of the program by the time he was given the reigns. Justin Fields only has about eight months under his belt at OSU. Either way, when you are the starting quarterback at Ohio State, you’re going to be under a microscope. And everybody is going to be watching to see how the Georgia transfer fairs.
Chase Young, Defensive End. Chase Young is on everyone’s pre-season All-American team and with good cause. Coming in at 6’6″ and 270 lbs, Young burst onto the scene in 2018 with 15.5 tackles for a loss and 10.5 sacks. And he’s looking to pick up right where he left off. Most everyone believes Chase Young will throw his name in the NFL Draft following this season and can be a top five pick. If he continues to play at the same level as last year, he’ll be a lock.
Next … How it’ll all do down
The prediction
Ohio State has the talent to play with the likes of Clemson, Alabama, and anyone else in the country. But will they be able to put it all together under first year head coach Ryan Day?
Things will start slow with some first game jitters. I expect Coach Day to ease Justin Fields into the flow of the game with a heavy dose of JK Dobbins to lead the way. Dobbins will have a field day with a lesser talented FAU defensive front. After the Owls are on their heels, Fields will be let loose to get comfortable playing in front of 105,000 Scarlet and Gray fans.
The newly remade Silver Bullets flaunt their stuff and the defensive unit we’re used to seeing at Ohio State keeps Florida Atlantic in check. Look for a great deal of pressure in the backfield and new swagger in the secondary.
Ultimately, the Buckeyes prove to be too much for the Owls. Ohio State takes a healthy lead into halftime before pulling away in the third quarter and giving the backups some playing time in the fourth.
Final Score
Ohio State 56, Florida Atlantic 10
Line
Ohio State -27.5
