Final Score Predictions for Ohio State at Washington: Julian Sayin set to make his first road start for the Buckeyes
The predictions are in for the Week 5 game between Ohio State and Washington.
Week 5 of the college football season has the makings of being a special one with a bunch of intriguing matchups on tap. One of those will be the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes on the road taking on the Washington Huskies to begin Big Ten play. It’ll be a battle of 3-0 teams in Seattle for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, which has become a rarity for Ohio State fans.
Ohio State Buckeyes at Washington Huskies score predictions
Ohio State 31, Washington 20: Ohio State started the season with a tough one against Texas before two games where they were heavy favorites with Grambling State and the Ohio Bobcats. Now, the Buckeyes getting their first road test is a good measuring stick of who this team really is. A ton was lost from last year’s team and the Buckeyes look new in a lot of places, most importantly at quarterback with Julian Sayin. How Sayin plays in his first road start as a true sophomore will have a heavy impact on this game. Expect Sayin to go to his top targets Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate a bunch as he tries to get in a groove in a hostile environment.
The key for the Buckeyes will be keeping Demond Williams in the pocket and not letting him burn them with his legs. Ohio State’s defense is elite and they need it to travel like it against Washington on the road. I think the Buckeyes can maintain the lead in this one and win by two possessions in the end. The talent difference, as well as the coaching difference should be enough to avoid any kind of upset. – Brandon Little, A to Z Ohio State
Ohio State 31, Washington 17: The Buckeyes enter this matchup with many eyes looking to see how Julian Sayin will handle his first road start. It’s a tough one, as Washington boasts an elite home crowd and environment. The Huskies also have an annoyingly talented quarterback in Demond Williams to account for, and the Buckeyes have traditionally struggled against dual threats like him. However, some of the worries are overblown. Washington has several key injuries at receiver and cornerback, further creating a talent gap where they couldn’t afford a larger margin. Ohio State is far too talented and established to lose this matchup, and Washington is at least a year away from playing spoiler to this level. This will be a fun midday contest but the Buckeyes will win the physicality battle before burning out the clock. – Ian Valentino, A to Z Ohio State
Ohio State 28, Washington 24: This game has been a trendy upset pick this offseason, and there is a lot of excitement surrounding the Washington program with head coach Jedd Fisch in year two. If you aren’t excited about this team, then just go watch their dynamic dual-threat quarterback Demond Williams. Along with star running back Jonah Coleman and wide receiver Denzel Boston, this is one of the better playmaking trios in college football. This will be the biggest test of the season for the Ohio State Buckeye defense, and I do expect the Huskies to make some plays.
The biggest difference in this contest will be some timely plays from the Ohio State offense. While the Huskies have a couple of taller cornerbacks that can match his size, Jeremiah Smith will still be the best player on the field. I predict a big connection with Smith from quarterback Julian Sayin down the stretch of the football game. Washington gives it a great effort, but the Buckeyes come out on top to stay undefeated. – Ryan Roberts, A to Z Notre Dame
Ohio State 38, Washington 35: We’re now four weeks removed from the Buckeyes defeating Texas in the Horseshoe. Some of the kinks have been ironed out, especially on offense. Quarterback Julian Sayin has started to come into his own at the position and has started to develop a rapport with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. That will be huge for the Buckeyes moving forward.
However, it’s going to be the defense that gets tested. Sophomore quarterback Demond Williams looks like the real deal. A dual-threat, he has shown a lot of growth this season. It helps that Jonah Coleman is playing like the best running back in the country and Denzel Boston, son of former Buckeyes wide receiver David Boston, has been lighting the world on fire. The Huskies are riding high after a 59-point outburst in their Apple Cup victory. Who gets the win? Well, this is a potential trap game for the Buckeyes, as the Huskies can put up points. However, the sheer talent of the Buckeyes will get them the win. – Tyler Forness, A to Z Florida
