Ohio State Buckeyes Vs. Oklahoma Sooners: Bold Predictions For Week 3 Of 2016 College Football Season

There are so many powerhouses in college football that take the easy route by not scheduling other powerhouses for their non-conference games. The Ohio State Buckeyes and Oklahoma Sooners are clearly not part of that conversation in the 2016 college football season as they will take the field against one another in Week 3.

The Sooners are really living life on the wild side this season. After all, they already took on the Houston Cougars (and lost), who are now ranked as high as No. 6 in the rankings. Meanwhile, Oklahoma will enter this showdown with the No. 14 ranking. Ohio State is ranked as high as No. 3.

The storylines are endless entering this big-stage showdown. The College Football Playoff has only been in existence for two years, and both teams have already made it. Oklahoma made the playoff last year and Ohio State made it the year before that (and won the national championship). The winner of this contest will get a serious boost in the rankings and will also stay in the College Football Playoff talks. Not to mention, Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield were serious Heisman contenders entering 2016.

Before the madness takes place, let’s break down some bold predictions.

Samaje Perine Finally Breaks Out With A Monster Game

Samaje Perine might not always make the headlines, but the man has racked up some serious stats over the last couple of years. In 2014, he rushed for 1,713 yards and 21 touchdowns. In 2015, his stats took a dip, but he still racked up 1,349 yards and 16 touchdowns. As for the 2016 college football season, Perine has 89 yards and two touchdowns in two games.

Now would be the perfect time for Perine to have a monster game. It would certainly take some pressure off of Mayfield and the rest of the Sooners, especially since they are going up against a lethal Urban Meyer squad. While Perine’s high in the rushing department this season has only been 58 yards, no one should be surprised when he goes off for 150 against the Buckeyes.

Baker Mayfield And J.T. Barrett Have A Shootout

Once again, Mayfield and Barrett are serious Heisman contenders, and this contest will have serious Heisman implications on the line as a result.

For the record, Mayfield has 567 passing yards and five touchdowns on the year. Barrett has recorded 498 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, 85 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. Both quarterbacks are capable of scoring at will, and that is exactly what both quarterbacks will do in this contest.

Look for both players to put up big stats, and also look for the score to get out of hand in the process. Needless to say, defense could take a back seat in this one — well, if both QBs are firing on all cylinders, that is.

The Sooners Shock The College Football World

The Sooners can shock the college football world with a victory against the Buckeyes, which they are very capable of doing. Not only will Oklahoma be playing at home, but it has also been challenged thanks to a duel with Houston. Ohio State has played back-to-back cupcakes, and it has really shown in the scoreboard department.

This contest could realistically go any way imaginable. Ohio State could win in a blowout, Oklahoma could win in a blowout, or this could be a close one all the way through. This is college football, and literally anything can happen in this sport on a weekly basis.

Mayfield & Co. entered the year as serious playoff contenders, and that will stay the case after this game. Oklahoma will enter the playoff picture once again by knocking off the mighty Buckeyes. Fans can’t forget that although the Sooners are only ranked No. 14, they did enter 2016 with a No. 3 ranking, and they also made the playoff just a season ago.

No matter how this contest plays out, hopefully, a high-scoring affair will be in store.

[Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images]