Big Ten Football: Cotton Bowl Classic preview
By Dylan Burd
The Ohio State Buckeyes will face off against the USC Trojans in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
In one of the most highly-anticipated games of the 2017 bowl season, the No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes take on the No. 8 USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium on Friday in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Matchup: #5 Ohio State (11-2 overall, 8-1 Big Ten) vs. #8 USC (11-2 overall, 8-1 PAC 12)
Time: 8:30 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
If you like high scoring football with plenty of star-studded players, this is the matchup for you. It’s the Big Ten champion vs. the Pac-12 champion. What’s not to like?
Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes arrive in Arlington with a lot to prove to the nation, as the College Football Playoff Committee controversially left them out of the playoffs in favor of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Not only does the team have something to prove, but they have a leader to rally around. After four successful years, this will be Ohio State quarterback J.T Barrett’s last game with the Buckeyes. Barrett, who threw for 35 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more this season, is leaving the program as one of the most statistically successful quarterbacks in Ohio State history.
However, while Barrett may be the more statistically achieved quarterback, there is no doubt that Clay Helton and the USC Trojans have a great quarterback of their own.
Sam Darnold is projected to be a top 10 pick in this year’s NFL Draft if he decides to declare, and had a great season this year throwing for 3787 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Not only are both teams explosive in the passing game, but they also are powerful in the running game.
J.K Dobbins, a true freshman, ran for 1364 yards along with 7 scores on only 181 carries. Dobbins’ name will be thrown around for the Heisman Trophy in years to come.
For the Trojans it’s Ronald Jones II, a junior who will be a mid-round pick come April, who ran for 1486 yards and 18 touchdowns on 242 carries this season.
It’s clear that both teams have such high-powered offenses, which will make the turnover battle and defensive play so crucial in this game.
According to ncaa.com, Ohio State ranks eighth in the FBS in total defense whereas USC is ranked 77th. Ohio State allows 19.9 points per game compared to USC, who allows 26.3 points per game.
When you look at the play makers on each defense, the edge has to go to Ohio State.The Buckeyes possess one of the best corners in the nation, Denzel Ward, and also have one of the best defensive ends in the nation, Sam Hubbard.
Both Ward and Hubbard are mocked in the first round of the NFL Draft according to walterfootball.com.
However, USC has great defensive talent such as CB, Iman Marshall, and LB, Cameron Smith, who are also expected to be drafted in 2018.
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These two teams certainly match up well, and it could wind up being a bowl game for the ages.