Suppose you're a football fan who likes to see heavy-hitting defenses and big playmaking offenses go to work. In that case, this match between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Tennessee Volunteers is the game for you. But for a winner to be decided for this game, it would be determined by which quarterback can manage their offense better between Tennessee's Nico Lamaleva and Ohio State's Will Howard. While both teams are similarly suffocating on defense, they possess a completely different style from each other on the offensive side.
The Buckeyes are more explosive, with more dynamic playmakers to showcase. The Volunteers have a steadier-paced offense, with most of it surrounding tailback Dylan Sampson, their lethal touchdown maker. Both offense lines have also struggled to protect their quarterbacks, so this will be one game dictated inside the trenches. This matchup between two of the top five nationally ranked defenses in fewest points and fewest yards allowed is expected to become a slugfest.
Tennessee Volunteers
Offense
Since their running back, Dylan Sampson, will be the central focus of Ohio State's defensive game plan, their passing game should have opportunities to spot the seams through their pass defense. More attention will be paid to Sampson, which means less attention will be paid to Nico and his receivers. It should be that simple, right? Except they are facing a defense that can shut down the pass just as well as it can slow down the run.
Nico Lamaleva hasn't been an explosive playmaker like experts expected him to be before the start of the season. Especially against currently ranked opponents, as his stat line combined from his outings with Alabama and Georgia reads one touchdown and two turnovers (one interception and one lost fumble). He also passed for under 200 yards and completed under 65 percent of his passes in those two games. Neither of those defenses finished the regular season ranked inside the top 20 for passing defense. The offensive line also allowed eight sacks in those two games combined. Hopefully, they cracked on the game reel of Ohio State's pass rush with how they mix up their stunts and blitzes or would unleash their skilled rushers like Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, and Tyleik Williams to win one-on-one battles like they always do.
Suppose Nico and the passing game want to move the ball effectively against the number one passing defense in the country. In that case, they will have to attack them hard and deep. If they watched the film of them against Oregon, Penn State, and Michigan. They would see that their pass coverage sometimes exposes gaps for opposing quarterbacks to shoot through for significant gains and six-pointers. They would see how Michigan's offense took many trips across the fifty against Ohio State in Columbus and saw how quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Drew Allar were having their way with Ohio State's defense through the air with 10-to-20-yard slingshots downfield.
This is the moment for Nico to put his big boy pants on and cease this moment confidently. A black mamba mentality that contains patience and quick strikes that he must possess if he wants to get past the Buckeyes' defense. It will depend on how well they manage their time of possession so their defense can have as much time on the sidelines to keep themselves warm for the damage they plan on causing.
Defense
Behold a defense that has allowed only two opponents to score 20 points or more in a game this season. Ohio State runs a similar offense to Alabama, and Tennessee limited that same Crimson Tide offense to 17 points the entire game in week eight and forced their star quarterback Jalen Milroe into throwing two interceptions. They even cuffed down Milroe's running ability by limiting him to 11 rushing yards on 14 run attempts. They will face another dual-threat quarterback in Will Howard and two wide receivers like Alabama's Ryan Williams.
The Freshman phenom caught a touchdown and eight passes for 73 yards while averaging 9.1 yards per catch against the Volunteers during the week eight contest. Their secondary will face another Freshman pass catcher who is just as eye-popping as Williams, and that is Jeremiah Smith. The other side of him will be projected first-round draft pick Emerka Egbueka, and trying to put these two in check at the same time will be like covering two Ryan Williams.
The Volunteers' defense has a projected first-round draft pick of their own in the SEC's best edge rusher, James Pearce. With his 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble that he recovered, he also leads a defense against an offensive line that has allowed 35 sacks this season. This offense has only the 25th-highest-scoring offense in the land, and Tennessee has permitted the fifth-fewest points per game this season. Trying to limit the abilities of Will Howard and the Buckeyes' passing attack would resemble how they completed their mission of putting the Crimson Tide's high-powered offense in shackles back in week eight.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Offense
This offense seriously needs to utilize their running game much better. Especially when they have two of the most dangerous running backs in the nation with Quinshon Judkins and TreyVeon Henderson. Chad Kelly and Ryan Day call in too many run plays designed to go into the belly of the line of scrimmage. They need to send in run plays that will direct them toward space to roam free and make amazing things happen. I'm talking about off-tackle, outside-zone plays that will have them make sprints down the sideline. It's a rushing offense that has rushed for 169.2 yards per game because of it. That number stands as just the 59th-most in the nation.
Quarterback Will Howard will also need to take better care of the ball. His previous game against Michigan was, without a doubt, his worst performance of the season. He threw two costly interceptions and completed just 19 of his 33 passes for 175 yards. His fumble at the goal line against Penn State before halftime almost became the turning point of the game, the kind of opportunity that Tennessee loves to capitalize on. He also, at times, missed badly on his passes to his star targets.
As harsh as it may sound, Howard is not one of those quarterbacks who should be throwing the football 30 times a game. He fits more with the game manager style, which depends on the running game's support without having to have a big passing day. This complimentary gameplan would be ideal for a defense that is as stingy as the Tennessee Volunteers. A way to wear down their defense and keep the chains moving. Quick and short to medium passes should give Tennessee's rushers little time to get to Will Howard.
Defense
All-American Safety Caleb Downs isn't a stranger to studying how an SEC offense moves the football. The guy transferred from Alabama, leaving behind a spectacular freshman season for them to recall. His blend of solid tackling, ball instincts, coverage skills, and punt return ability makes him an Ed Reed clone. He and the rest of the Buckeyes' secondary gave up the nation's second-fewest passing yards per game. They allowed just 144.3 passing yards per game, and the Volunteers' offense passed for 230.9 yards per game, which is ranked the 62nd most in the country.
Their biggest concern will be Tennessee's star ball carrier, Dylan Sampson, after a 22-TD season. The conference leader in rushing yards and touchdowns is the only guy in Tennessee's backfield besides the quarterback that Ohio State will have to zero in on. He has rushed for 100 yards in 10 of 12 games while scoring a touchdown in everyone except one. Ohio State has given up 96.8 rushing yards per game and has allowed close to a single-digit number of points per game, with 10.9 permitted points per game. They are also the best in the FBS in total points allowed, with 131 total points allowed during the regular season.
Suppose they can replicate their best defensive performance of the season against the Indiana Hoosiers against the Volunteers. In that case, a first-round victory will be smooth sailing for them. They sacked Indiana's quarterback five times with stunts and blitzes on Kurtis Rourke and recorded eight tackles for loss. They held down one of the most efficient offenses in the country to 153 total yards for the whole game, an offense that allowed just 11 sacks coming into the contest with Ohio State.
Prediction
Ohio State's defense will pressure Nico Lamaleva as much as Tennessee's defense will pressure Will Howard. Ohio State has a more mobile quarterback in Will Howard than Tennessee does in Nico Lamaleva. Nico is still young and, starting in the biggest game of his college career will also battle an atmosphere that breathes football in weather elements that would be difficult for Knoxville folks to adapt to. The Buckeyes have home-field advantage and Mother Nature on their side, as the temperature in Columbus is expected to be around the mid-twenties with the possibility of snow. With Ohio winds to come at cruel speeds, Tennessee's offense would be forced to run the football as much as possible. This means that all eyes will be on Dylan Sampson, and the Buckeyes are the nation's best at shutting down the run.
Final Score: Ohio State Buckeyes 26, Tennessee Volunteers 13
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