This Friday we’ll see the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl Classic to close out two incredible seasons that were marred by an inability to reach their conference title games.
Ahead of the Cotton Bowl, college football insider Bruce Feldman released his prediction for the game. In a feature for The Athletic, Feldman predicted that Ohio State would win the game 27-23.
Feldman explained that while the Buckeyes may be without starter Kyle McCord and a number of starters, they should still be good enough to beat the Tigers and avoid giving up big yards to the Tigers’ explosive playmakers.
“The Buckeyes are breaking in new QB Devin Brown. Ryan Day is excited about him, Ohio State still has plenty of weapons and it should be good enough on defense to slow what has been a very explosive Tigers attack. Jim Knowles’ defense should hold up well enough against Mizzou star RB Cody Schrader (124 rushing yards per game) to avoid getting shredded. Ohio State is tied for No. 2 in the nation in fewest runs of 30-yards plus with just one,” Feldman wrote.
Most of the Big Ten coaches we spoke to are skeptical of Michigan’s chances vs Alabama. Here’s why I think the Wolverines will prove em wrong. Plus, my picks for all the New Year’s Six bowls.
Sign up for $1/month now thru Jan. 1: https://t.co/0p5URNbLeBhttps://t.co/0p5URNbLeB— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 27, 2023
The Buckeyes went 11-1 in the regular season with their lone loss coming in the regular season finale against the rival Michigan Wolverines, who went on to win the Big Ten title and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Missouri went 10-2 with a loss to defending national champion Georgia preventing them from reaching the SEC Championship Game.
Who will emerge victorious in the Cotton Bowl?