Ohio State Football: 5 Bold Predictions for the Buckeyes' Bowl Game

Wide receiver Michael Thomas will go off, running back Ezekiel Elliott will run for a pair of long touchdowns and Ohio State will win by 13.

At least, that's how this writer sees it going down.

Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl matchup with Notre Dame is one of the most intriguing showdowns of the 2015-16 bowl season, and while it isn't the playoff showdown either team was aiming for, it should provide plenty of fireworks.

Here are five bold predictions for the highly anticipated New Year's Day clash.

Michael Thomas Will Eclipse 100 Yards Receiving

Ohio State's passing attack has wavered between downright pedestrian to somewhat functional this year despite boasting two championship-caliber quarterbacks, four multiyear starters along the offensive line and a host of talent on the perimeter.

Michael Thomas, the Buckeyes' best pass-catcher, has paced a passing attack that ranks 104th nationally, averaging a meager 187 yards per game. Thomas has only eclipsed the century mark twice this season—against Maryland and Rutgers—but the Buckeyes will make a huge leap during bowl preparations and come out firing.

Thomas will torch Notre Dame's top-30 pass defense, hauling in seven catches for a season-high 120 yards and a touchdown. 

Will Fuller Won't Catch a Touchdown or Eclipse 50 Yards Receiving

Notre Dame boasts one of the country's most dynamic aerial attacks, and a big reason for that is the play of wideout Will Fuller.

The junior has made a bigger impact on Notre Dame's offense than Thomas has on Ohio State's, leading the team with 56 receptions for 1,145 while hauling in 13 of the team's 23 receiving touchdowns. He's eclipsed 100 receiving yards in half of the Irish's games, and has caught multiple touchdowns in three games.

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However, he won't have that kind of success against Ohio State's vaunted pass defense.

Cornerbacks Eli Apple and Gareon Conley will share the load and follow him all day, and safeties Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell will provide plenty of backup. Fuller has only been held to under 50 yards receiving three times this season, but the Buckeyes back end will hold strong.

Ezekiel Elliott Will Break Two Long Touchdown Runs

With the uneven play at quarterback, Ohio State has leaned on superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott consistently throughout the season, and he's responded in a big way. The junior has been the most productive playmaker on the team, running for 1,672 yards and 19 touchdowns, with 10 runs of 20 yards or longer.

He'll add two more long runs to his total against Notre Dame.

The first will come late in the first quarter, when the defense overpursues quarterback J.T. Barrett on a zone-read play. Elliott will break free at the second level and race for a 40-yard touchdown. His second will come at the beginning of the third quarter, when he'll take a perimeter run 50 yards to the house.

Ohio State Will Double the Spread

Ohio State has only covered the spread in five of its 12 games this year despite entering every contest as the favorite. But after a year of closer-than-expected games, the Buckeyes will put together their best performance in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Buckeyes are currently listed as 6.5-point favorites over the Irish, according to Odds Shark, but they'll double the spread when they post a 41-28 victory.

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The game will be much closer than the score indicates, though. Ohio State will be leading Notre Dame 34-28 midway through the fourth quarter when the Irish are forced to punt near midfield. Barrett will key the game-clinching touchdown drive, accounting for all 85 yards, 40 of which will come on his touchdown throw to Thomas with three minutes to go.

J.T. Barrett Will Win MVP Honors

Elliott has been Ohio State's MVP during its 2015 campaign, but Barrett will carry the team against the Irish.

Despite the 24 carries and two long touchdown runs from Elliott, Notre Dame's defense will sell out against the run and hold him to 145 yards. That will put the onus on Barrett and the passing game, and he'll respond with his best game of the year.

Barrett will finish with 350 yards of total offense (275 passing, 75 rushing), completing 70 percent of his passes with three total touchdowns. 

David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.