2015 College Football Picks & Predictions – Ohio State Buckeyes Expert Projections & Team Preview: The Ohio State Buckeyes come into the 2015 College Football season fresh off of a National Championship season last year as they were the team to win the inaugural College Football Playoff. Can head coach Urban Meyer lead the Buckeyes to back-to-back titles and win his 4th career National Championship in the process? Let’s take a closer look at the 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes football team and their official 2016 College Football National Championship Odds including over/under team wins odds for the Ohio State 2015 football team.
2015 Ohio State Buckeyes College Football Odds, Predictions and Team Preview
Offense
The Buckeyes return 7 starters from last year’s National Championship team including outstanding junior running back Ezekiel Elliot. Elliot is a strong 2015 Heisman Trophy favorite carrying +850 odds to win the trophy this season at Bovada Sportsbook and should be in position to run for over 2,000 yards if he stays healthy this season as he will be running behind a sensational offensive line that returns four starters. The o-line is simply the best in the nation in our opinion and is led by All Big Ten candidates in junior right guard Pat Efflein and senior left tackle Taylor Decker.
The receiving unit should also be plenty good enough to help the Buckeyes get back to the College Football Playoff at minimum as they are led by junior wideout Michael Thomas and solid senior tight end Nick Vannett. Thomas had 9 touchdowns last year and took in 54 balls for almost 800 yards while Vannett won’t wow anyone with elite skills but is simply dependable and someone that will help the Buckeyes keep the chains moving with his solid blocking and hands.
Of course, the real strength of the 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes offense is the ridiculous depth and talent at the quarterback position. The Buckeyes have 3 guys in junior Cardale Jones, sophomore J.T. Barrett and senior Braxton Miller. Who will start? Does it really matter? Our money is on Jones(aka “12 Gauge”) to get most of the snaps but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter as the Buckeyes should have the best offense in the nation no matter who starts and should be putting up 40 plus points each and every game. Bar none.
Defense
The Ohio State Buckeyes defense in 2015 also returns 7 starters from last season. The Buckeyes defense wasn’t what we would call “elite” last season but they were plenty stout enough to help the Buckeyes do what they had to do to win the National Title. The defense only allowed 5.0 yards per down and 3.9 yards per rush last season and there is no reason why they shouldn’t at least equal those numbers this season if not improve on them.
The Buckeyes are led up front by outstanding junior defensive end Joey Bosa. Bosa is the returning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a big reason why the Buckeyes had 45 sacks last season and 6 defensive touchdowns. Bosa is an absolute stud and is simply too good for opposing offenses not to double team him each and every down.
The Buckeyes are plenty stout up front in their front seven but their secondary has a chance to be special as they return three starters from last year’s unit. Sophomore Eli Apple is the top returning cornerback while both safeties return in junior strong safety Tyvis Powell and junior free safety Vonn Bell. Being able to defend the pass is so crucial in today’s college football game and the Buckeyes will be in great shape this season with a very talented and experienced secondary.
Special Teams
The Buckeyes return both their place kicker in sophomore Sean Nuemberger and punter in junior Cameron Johnston. The Buckeyes are solid in this department and shouldn’t be losing any games because of poor kicking from our view point.
Final Forecast
The Buckeyes have the best offense in College Football and a defense that is more than good enough to get things done. There should absolutely be no excuse for Ohio State to not win the Big Ten and get back to the College Football Playoff. We look for Ohio State to go undefeated in the regular season and go on to repeat as National Champions. They are simply too good offensively for any team to slow down and stop. Barring injuries, we expect Ohio State to be the #1 team in the nation.
Get more expert 2015 College Football Picks from the top sports handicappers in the nation on NSAwins.com plus daily LIVE updated 2015 College Football Odds from top online sportsbooks and Las Vegas sportsbooks Wynn and MGM Grand.
2016 Ohio State Buckeyes National Championship Odds: +350
2015 Ohio State Buckeyes Big Ten Championship Odds: -190
2015 Ohio State Buckeyes Total Wins Over/Under Odds: OVER 11 Wins -160, UNDER 11 Wins +120
2015 Ohio State Buckeyes Football Schedule
September 7 8:00 PM at Virginia Tech* Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, VA ESPN
September 12 TBA Hawaii* Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH
September 19 TBA Northern Illinois* Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH
September 26 TBA Western Michigan* Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH
October 3 TBA at Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN
October 10 12:00 PM Maryland Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH
October 17 8:00 PM Penn State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH (Rivalry) ABC/ESPN
October 24 8:00 PM at Rutgers High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ ABC/ESPN
November 7 TBA Minnesota Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH
November 14 TBA at Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL (Illibuck Trophy)
November 21 TBA Michigan State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH
November 28 TBA at Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (The Game)
*Non-Conference Game
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