Former ESPN Analyst David Pollack makes a wild prediction ahead of the Buckeyes vs. Hurricanes matchup in Dallas.
David Pollack built his career in the trenches. He was one of the greatest defensive ends to ever play for the Georgia Bulldogs, and when he played, he actually set the record for career sacks with 36.
He was so good in college that he was selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft to be a cornerstone piece for the future of the Bengals.
His playing career was cut short when he broke his vertebrae in just the second game of his second season in Cincinnati. Pollack tried to come back from the injury, but ultimately, it forced him to retire in 2008.
Over the course of the next 15-20 years, Pollack became one of the most trusted members of the ESPN media. He was a straight shooter for the most part, but his time with the Worldwide Leader was cut short when they made cuts several years ago.
When he talks, people generally listen. On Monday, he talked about the Ohio State versus Miami Cotton Bowl Classic and had a very bold take.
"When I looked at this game and started to break it down, Miami is just better on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Miami's offensive line, to me, is better than Ohio State's. Miami's defensive line is better than Ohio State's.-
Okay, there may be some credence to the take. Ohio State's offensive line has absolutely struggled against the two real fronts that they faced all season in Texas and Indiana. However, Ohio State's defense has dominated against every opponent this year.
Is that due to the defensive line being dominant? Or is that due to the Buckeyes having elite players on every level of the defense? We may never know the answer, but in the eyes of Pollack, he would lean to the latter.
The positive for the Buckeyes is that their defensive line doesn't need to be better than Miami's to win the game. Ohio State simply needs to be better than Miami's offensive line, and the same can be said about the other side of the ball.
The truth of the matter is that whoever wins this football game on New Year's Eve will have to win the line of scrimmage, simple as that.
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We have seen with quarterback Julian Sayin, as he is not the near-perfect passer that we expect him to be when facing pressure. When Carson Beck faces pressure, he is one of the worst passers in America. If the Buckeyes can generate pressure with four, they will make it impossible for Beck to find success.
If they can't win the line of scrimmage, they are going to need someone to be a hero to get the job done and punch their ticket to the Fiesta Bowl.