Predicting the 2009 Iowa Hawkeye Football Season: Ohio State

Make no mistake about it...this game is going to be HUGE.

By my accounts and predictions, the Hawkeyes will enter the game with Ohio State at 9-1 (or 8-2).  The Buckeyes will likely enter this game at 10-0 (or 9-1).  That means...ESPN's College Gameday madness in Columbus.

Surprisingly, Iowa and Ohio State have a lot in common this year.  Both teams lost running backs early to the NFL draft.  Both teams have spectacular defenses.  And both teams are praying they don't lose their starting quarterbacks to an injury.

Ohio State enters the season with one of the nation's most talented players in sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor.  Iowa enters the season behind a rapidly improving junior Ricky Stanzi, one of the best passers in the Big Ten.  However, both teams aren't known to be that deep at the QB position, so fans of both are crossing their fingers.

Barring an injury to Pryor, the Ohio State offense should be fine, which is good because the Buckeyes lose loads of talented players. Tailback Beanie Wells and receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline are tough losses, but OSU is no stranger to losing a lot of talent.  The only real question is whether enough people step up on offense to help out Pryor. 

Luckily, center Mike Brewster and a solid supporting offensive line should give Pryor all the time in the world to find new receivers to connect with.

While the Buckeyes lose a lot of their key components in the secondary and linebacker core, they still have one of the best defenses in the Big Ten.  All-conference linebacker James Laurinaitis and defensive back Malcolm Jenkins are almost irreplaceable losses on the defensive side, but players are waiting to step up in both of those positions. 

The OSU defense will be just as good as it was last year, if not better.  Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell are both three-year starters, and both will terrorize Big Ten receivers this year.

That is a good thing, because Ohio State has to beat USC this year to reclaim some respect among the nation's other top programs in the BCS.  The Trojans crushed Ohio State last year, causing some to question just how tough the Big Ten and OSU really are. 

The defense looks to exact revenge upon USC in Columbus for the humiliating defeat last year in the Coliseum.  Look for the Buckeyes to prove a point to the nation this year by crushing the Trojans, 32-16.

After dismantling USC, Ohio State will set its sights on the Big Ten title.  Several online sports blogs have the Buckeyes picked to win the title again. 

However, the Buckeyes will not have an easy time in pursuit of their fifth straight year of at least having a share of the Big Ten Championship.  In order for OSU to win the title, they are going to have to beat the Hawkeyes, and that will not be an easy task.

So, what is this Hawkeye nerd's fearless prediction for the outcome of the game?

Iowa 14, Ohio State 17

This all-out defensive battle royale to the death will be on national television and will show the country just how hard-nosed football is played.  For those around the country thinking the Big Ten is down, this game should prove otherwise.

The rushing attack for both teams in this game will be virtually non-existent.  The Hawkeye offensive line will do a great job of keeping the defense at bay, but none of the Iowa running backs will have any success against the Buckeye defense.

The halftime score of this game will be ridiculously low, with Ohio State taking a 7-0 lead before heading into the locker rooms.

Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi struggles at first in this game, throwing two first half interceptions.  He recovers in the second half to connect to DJK and Marvin McNutt for touchdowns.  Going into the fourth quarter, the game is tied 14-14.

Ohio State wins this game by a last minute, 48-yard field goal.  Pryor fights hard to gain yardage against the Iowa defense in the fourth quarter, but a few Vince Young-like moves allow him to get free and move his team into field goal position to gain the victory.

After the game, Jim Tressel commends Kirk Ferentz to the media for a hard fought game, and tells the world that the Iowa Hawkeyes were the hardest team they've played all year.

Up next in the series of fearless predictions for the 2009 Iowa Football Season: Minnesota.

For more Hawkeye updates, follow the @IowaHawkeyes on Twitter.