The best first-round matchup of the College Football Playoff will kick off on Saturday night when the Ohio State Buckeyes welcome in the Tennessee Volunteers to the frigid Horseshoe in Columbus.
Besides Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day possibly coaching for his job, the talk all week long has been about how Vols fans will be invading Ohio and will turn the Horseshoe into their own orange paradise.
We’ll see how all of that shakes out.
As for the actual game, college football analyst David Pollack made a bold prediction for the matchup.
Not only does Pollack think the Vols will comfortably cover the 7.5-point spread, he thinks they will win the game outright.
“I think I’m going Tennessee on the road,” Pollack confidently said. “I think I’m going like, 19-16… I think the offensive line from Ohio State is really going to struggle to block Tennessee’s front. The running game for Tennessee finds a way to get it done.”
A key factor in Pollack’s prediction is Tennessee’s potent rushing attack, spearheaded by SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson.
Sampson was instrumental for the Volunteers this season, amassing 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns on 256 carries, while also contributing 141 receiving yards.
Pollack also highlighted Tennessee’s quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, as a significant asset.
The 6-foot-6 signal-caller demonstrated his talent throughout the 2024 season, throwing for 2,512 yards and 19 touchdowns with a 65.7% completion rate.
Pollack may be in the minority in picking the Vols to win, but he’s not alone.
Many fans and analysts feel that Tennessee is built more like a Jim Harbaugh Michigan team rather than a stereotypical SEC team.
In other words, Ohio State could have some trouble in the trenches.
What are your thoughts on Pollack’s bold prediction? … Will Ohio State actually lose at home AGAIN?
If that does happen, would Ryan Day officially be a goner???
