Sugar Bowl 2011: 10 Bold Predictions for Ohio State vs. Arkansas

The 2011 Sugar Bowl has taken a back seat to the Ohio State players that got busted selling their memorabilia to a tattoo parlor in exchange for some ink.

But today is game day and all five players made the trip to New Orleans and will be playing.

Here are 10 bold predictions for tonight's Sugar Bowl that features two of the best QBs in the country in OSU's Terrelle Pryor and Arkansas' Ryan Mallett:

1. Ryan Mallett will solidify his position as a top 10 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft

Mallett has led the Razorbacks to the fourth best offense in college football. The team is averaging 338.4 yards per game through the air and the offense has put up 37.3 points per game—14th best in the NCAA. The Buckeyes are no slouch on defense, ranking No. 3 in the nation in points allowed, giving up just 13.3 points per game.

But they haven't come close to playing a QB that has the arm and size of Mallett.

With millions of dollars dancing in the head of Mallett, expect him to play with a great sense of urgency. He may have completed only one of his three passes against OSU when he was a freshman at Michigan in '07, but that was a loooong time ago.

2. The Dan Herron and the OSU running game will be the only way they win this game

The biggest strength for the Buckeyes is their run game, which averages 219.7 yards per game. Dan "Boom" Herron has been a force for OSU, averaging 5.6 yards a carry. He finished the 2010 season with 1,068 with a whopping 15 TDs.

If he can "tattoo" the Razorbacks defense with a 5.6 yards per carry performance, expect OSU to control the time of possession and slow down the speed of the game.

3. Jim Tressel will out coach Bobby Patrino in every phase of the game

Tressel is used to going to a BCS bowl game almost every year. This isn't his first rodeo under the intense pressure of a "top 5" bowl game. Ohio State has the longest currently running streak of BCS appearances, which will hit six with their appearance in the Sugar Bowl tonight.

Patrino is best known for ditching Louisville and leaving the Atlanta Falcons with three games left on the schedule.

The Arkansas coach has very little big game experience and that will be on display for the whole world to see. If his team falls behind early you can expect him to panic.

Tressell is dying to beat an SEC team in a bowl game and will be more focused than ever after "Tattoo Gate."

4. The OSU offense will not live up to 2010 standards

The Buckeyes had a great season offensively as they ranked 13th in the country with 39.4 points scored per game. 

Don't count on them dropping 40 in a BCS bowl game.

In their past four bowl games (all BCS games) the Buckeyes have averaged just over 21 points a game. The game plan usually gets ultra conservative as they try and slow down the speed of the game.

5. Arkansas won't be torched by Pryor

The beauty of playing in the SEC is the wide variety of players you get a chance to face. Pryor is a unique talent that is just as dangerous with his legs as he is with his arms.

Earlier this season, Heisman winner Cam Newton was only able to muster 140 passing yards against the Razorbacks. Sure, he did rush for 188 yards, but you can bet that Petrino wont let that happen again. Expect the Hog D-line to stay on edge and be disciplined in their lanes to prevent Pryor from breaking free.

Keeping Pryor in the pocket will be huge for Arkansas.

6. The Arkansas running game will be completely shut down

Knile Davis, who ran for 100 or more yards in five of his last six games and 80 or more yards in his last eight has been huge for the Razorbacks. They average a more-than-solid 150 yards rushing as a team.

But the OSU run defense is one of the best in the nation, allowing a mere 94 yards a game. The Buckeyes will make the Razorback offense extremely one sided and this will put a lot of pressure on Ryan Mallett.

7. Buckeyes' speed is up to par with Razorbacks'

The speed differential between the SEC and OSU has finally been fixed. After getting dusted by Florida and LSU in National Championship games, Tressell and Co. have upgraded the speed of the team tremendously.

Herron can turn on the jets, Pryor is an incredibly smooth and effective runner and the receiving core have the ability to create separation even against the speedy Arkansas corners. DT Cameron Hayward may big a big boy, but he has superior speed at his position and that is one of the reasons he will be a first round pick in the NFL draft. The Buckeyes secondary can keep up with the Arkansas receivers.

8. You will hear the name Cameron Hayward a lot

After Nick Fairley, Hayward is the top DT prospect in college. Heyward is a physical DT that is extremely quick to the ball. He had 42 tackles and three sacks for the Buckeyes this season, but was the main reason his team played so well against the run.

He will be the main reason why the Arkansas run game will have all kinds of issues.

9. The Buckeyes snap their 0-9 streak and beat Arkansas 23-21

Combine the power running game of the Buckeyes with the lack of running game of Arkansas and that's one big advantage.

Shutting down Mallett will be the other key and I'm not sure Mallett wont crack under the pressure late in the game after playing well in the first half.

Tressell out-coaches Patrino and a relieved Buckeye nation will be able to exhale. Until...

10. Pryor tells world he is going pro after the game

So what if he gave a glorified pinky promise to Tressell that he will stay for his senior year. He just told him that so he could play in a BCS game.

Winning another BCS game will convince Pryor that there is nothing left to prove at Ohio State. The odds of his team starting next season 5-0 before he can play is slim and the chances of going to the championship are even slimmer.

Pryor will announce is entry into the NFL draft to the ESPN crew and will look into the camera and tell America that his ring will go on sale next week.