Rutgers vs. Ohio State: Game Preview, Prediction and Players to Watch

After a week away from the field, Urban Meyer and No. 2 Ohio State will continue their march toward a potential Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff berth when they host Rutgers for a noon ET showdown.

The Buckeyes (3-0) had a bye week last weekend after throttling Oklahoma on the road in a convincing 45-24 victory. And while the Buckeyes were resting and preparing for the official start of Big Ten play, the Scarlet Knights (2-2) were only a few plays away from upsetting Iowa at home.

Will Meyer and the Buckeyes continue to roll coming out of their bye week, or can Rutgers head coach Chris Ash—who was Meyer's defensive coordinator at Ohio State from 2014 to 2015—spoil their championship hopes? 

Viewing Information

Date: Saturday

Time: Noon ET

Place: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: Ohio State Football Radio Network, Rutgers Football Radio Coverage Map

Spread: Ohio State (-37), per Odds Shark 

Ohio State's Keys to Victory

Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

Take Care of the Ball

Ohio State is a perfect 4-0 in games following bye weeks during the Urban Meyer era, and to stay perfect against Rutgers, it will need to take care of the ball.

The Scarlet Knights defense isn't a particularly opportunistic unit, as it ranks 94th nationally in fumbles gained and 56th in interceptions. This will be more about the Ohio State offense shaking off the rust and executing at the level it was at before the bye week.

The Buckeyes have been sensational in the takeaway game, ranking first in the country in overall turnover margin. They've turned the ball over just twice (one interception, one fumble) while getting 11 turnovers on defense. 

But on Saturday, they'll be seeing a coach who knows their offense better than any other in the country. Former co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash is now the head man at Rutgers, and he spent the last two years practicing against this Ohio State offense.

It presents a unique test that Meyer and quarterback J.T. Barrett will have to pass on Saturday. 

Find the Balance

This will be an ongoing effort for the Buckeyes all season long, but Meyer will work to establish an offensive balance against Rutgers. 

Ohio State did that in the opener against Bowling Green, registering 417 passing yards and 359 rushing yards in a blowout 67-point victory. But against Tulsa and Oklahoma, the Buckeyes ran the ball 96 times compared to just 42 passes. 

But the Rutgers pass defense is the strongest aspect of the team, as the secondary has allowed just 180.8 yards per game. That shouldn't surprise Buckeyes fans, as Ohio State brought in Ash to fix its woeful pass defense.

Rutgers' Keys to Victory

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Take Care of the Ball

Rutgers has to play the perfect game in order to have a chance against the Buckeyes.

Chris Laviano has taken good care of the ball this season, throwing just two interceptions in 113 pass attempts. He has struggled with his accuracy, though, as he's completed just 52.2 percent of his throws for an average of 161 passing yards per game. 

His play will be imperative against a ball-hawking Ohio State secondary that leads the nation with three interceptions per game. The Buckeyes are opportunistic as well, as they've returned four of their nine interceptions for touchdowns.

As a 37-point underdog, Rutgers will have to make more big plays in the passing game while avoiding game-crushing mistakes.

Limit J.T. Barrett

Ohio State has the third-most explosive offense in the country, checking in behind only Louisville and Texas Tech with 56.7 points per game.

J.T. Barrett is the unquestioned engine of that offense, as the quarterback has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 650 yards and 10 touchdowns against just one interception. But he's also fueled a rushing attack that ranks seventh nationally, registering 159 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Chris Ash should know just how explosive Barrett is, but he's also familiar with what the QB struggles with, both in the passing and running game.

The Scarlet Knights should sell out to stop Barrett.

Ohio State Players to Watch

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Noah Brown

Noah Brown was set for a breakout year in 2015, but a broken leg in fall camp derailed his season, forcing him to take a redshirt while he recovered and rehabbed.

His offseason was grueling, but he worked hard to get back and help a wide receiver corps that lost all three starters from a season ago. He returned to form in fall practice last month, and in Week 3 against Oklahoma, he showed the country why his coaches and teammates lauded him over the previous year, catching five passes for 72 yards, four of which went for touchdowns.

It was a remarkable performance for a redshirt sophomore who came into the game with five career receptions to his name. The Buckeyes consistently target the 6'2", 218-pound wideout, and he used his frame to box out overmatched defenders or literally hugged them while hauling in what could be the touchdown catch of the year.

Jerome Baker

Jerome Baker came into the season as Chris Worley's backup, but when Dante Booker was sidelined with an MCL sprain, the Buckeyes threw their true sophomore into the deep end.

Instead of sinking, Baker is thriving in the middle of the Buckeyes defense, ranking fourth on the team in total tackles and tying for first with 1.5 sacks. But his highlight came on the road against Oklahoma, when he hauled in a tipped Baker Mayfield pass and returned the interception 68 yards for a touchdown.

But coming out of the bye week, Dante Booker has been tabbed as probable to return, according to Dave Biddle of 247Sports. Meyer avoided naming a starter, but with how well Baker has played in Booker's absence, it's hard to imagine Meyer keeping him off the field.

Rutgers Players to Watch

Elsa/Getty Images

Jawuan Harris

Janarion Grant was Rutgers' best all-around playmaker through four games of the season, but the all-purpose back suffered a season-ending ankle during last week's 14-7 loss to Iowa.

It was a huge loss for the Scarlet Knights offense that's lacking in star power. Grant was stuffing the stat sheet, ranking first on the team with 210 receiving yards and second with 138 rushing yards. 

His injury has forced Jaquan Harris into the spotlight. Harris is also breaking out during his first collegiate action, checking in just behind Grant with eight receptions for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

Harris has breakaway speed, as evidenced by his breakaway 75-yard touchdown catch against New Mexico in Week 3.

Julian Pinnix-Odrick

Rutgers has been a middle-of-the-pack defense through four weeks, ranking 45th in yards surrendered and 63rd in points surrendered. 

But the Scarlet Knights defense is getting a boost from senior defensive end Julian Pinnix-Odrick, who's having a career year and leads the team with four sacks (which is also tied for 13th nationally) and five tackles for loss.

The Buckeyes are replacing three offensive linemen from last year's dominant group, including both tackles, and it's been a bumpy process through the first three games. That unit is starting to jell, but it'll be facing the most talented pass-rusher it's seen all season when Pinnix-Odrick puts his hand to the ground this Saturday.

What They're Saying

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett talked about the change in mentality now that conference play is officially set to kick off, according to Eric Seger of Eleven Warriors:

"

The intensity cranks up a little bit knowing it's conference play. With that, we want to make sure we're nine units strong and we compete for the Big Ten championship at the end of November. Screws get a little tightened, you buckle your chin strap a little tighter and we're just going to go to work.

"

Rutgers head coach Chris Ash is familiar with the Ohio State program and knows the daunting task his team faces. 

"Loaded with talent," Ash said of the Buckeyes, per Keith Sargeant of NJ.com. "A great challenge for us in a hostile environment."

Prediction

Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

J.T. Barrett will throw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, Mike Weber will run for 120 yards and two scores, and the Buckeyes will roll to a big win to open conference play. 

Rutgers will get the first score of the game when a busted coverage leaves Jawuan Harris all alone behind the Buckeyes secondary for a 50-yard touchdown. But Ohio State will bounce back on the next drive, as Barrett connects on his first four passes, the last of which finds Noah Brown in the corner of the end zone.

The Scarlet Knights will put together another nice drive that will be capped by a 45-yard field goal from David Bonagura, but it will be all Buckeyes after that. Ohio State will score the final 42 points of the game and cruise to a 39-point win.

Prediction: Ohio State 49, Rutgers 10