The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming into the Cotton Bowl as heavy favorites against the Miami Hurricanes on Wednesday in Dallas. In my opinion, it would take a near miracle for the Buckeyes to be upset by the Hurricanes, but crazier things have happened in college football.

If you don't believe me, just look up the 2003 National Championship.

While Ohio State is the heavy favorite, they still have to go out and do it against a National Championship caliber defense that Miami possesses this season. The 'Canes offense leaves a lot to be desired but Ohio State still must handle business.

Here are three matchups that I will have my eyes on Wednesday night in Dallas.

Rueben Bain Jr. is the best pure pass rusher that the Buckeyes will have seen this season, bar none. Indiana brought a very physical front to the table, one that from top to bottom can be dominant, but Bain Jr. is the best "get the quarterback" pass rusher the Buckeyes will have had to deal with this season.

Bain Jr. stands at 6'3 and weighs 275 pounds, but possesses the necessary athleticism to be a game wrecker. He will line up on both sides of the line of scrimmage and will do whatever he needs to make an impact. Bain has elite bend and flexibility to rush the edge with speed, he has power moves to go right through the tackle, and he has great reaction, so cutting him isn't an option.

The Buckeyes' tackles will have their hands full. Every time they break the huddle, find where No. 4 is and start your protection there.

The quarterback of the offense vs. the quarterback of the defense. One freshman vs. another freshman.

This matchup has me wishing I had a box of popcorn ready to watch how Sayin tries to manipulate Fitzgerald and how Fitzgerald tries to do the same to Sayin. Fitzgerald has six interceptions on the year and is the prototypical center field safety. He has shown the ability to be a factor around the line of scrimmage, and that is something the Buckeyes need to account for as well on Wednesday.

Sonny Styles is carrying a lot of weight in this section because this matchup is basically Ohio State's run defense against Mark Fletcher Jr.

The talented running back showed last week that he can be the bell cow for the Hurricanes when they need him most. He finished the game against Texas A&M with 17 carries for 172 yards. He single-handedly put together the game-winning drive for the 'Canes against the Aggies.

Ohio State's run defense begins with No. 0. He was elite against Indiana, and he will need to be again against Miami. If Ohio State wants to win comfortably, it will need to put the totality of the football game on the back of quarterback Carson Beck. If they do that, he doesn't possess the skill to beat them for four quarters.

Miami, depending on if the offense is able to take the pressure off the quarterback with their run game, will hang around longer than many people are expecting them to be able to during the quarterfinals matchup.