End zone: Ohio State 9/20

9/20/2012

My foresight is legally diagnosed as 20/400. I am not the best at predictions, having once bet against the Globetrotters, then tried to break even by betting for the Rapture. Here goes one anyway: Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller will be among the Big Apple-bound finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

Can you imagine where the Buckeyes would be without their dynamic sophomore? Neither can anyone else.

ESPN.com voted Miller fourth on its latest Heisman watch list while the Heismanpundit/CBSSports.com straw poll of 11 national writers has him at second behind only West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.

Miller is averaging 329 yards per game of total offense, has thrown seven touchdown passes and is the nation's leading rusher at quarterback (126 yards per game). He will have to evolve as a passer as teams at times cram approximately 16 players in the box to stop him. "I've seen defenses in the last three weeks that I've never even dreamed of in my mind to try to stop the quarterback from running," offensive coordinator Tom Herman said.

While coach Urban Meyer isn't ready to call his precocious signal-caller an awards candidate, I asked my Magic-8-Ball if the Big Ten will slow No. 5 this fall? The response: "My sources say no."

For the latest on OSU athletics, follow David's blog, Dotting the 'Eyes.