Updated JUL 16, 2015 5:28p ET On Thursday I got a PR pitch about an article from Paul Bessire and John Ewing of PredictionMachine.com on who the Ohio State Buckeyes should start this season at quarterback among Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett. To try to determine it, the authors simulated Ohio State’s regular-season 50,000 times with each quarterback as the starter. Regardless of which quarterback starts, the Buckeyes win more than 11 games on average. By the numbers, Barrett would be the starter since OSU was more efficient offensively, both passing and rushing the ball. The difference between Barrett and Miller starting for Ohio State is nearly a field goal per game. OSU averaged 44 points per game with Barrett, 42 ppg with Jones and 41 with Miller. I tweeted out this info and my colleague Clay Travis marveled at the notion the Buckeyes have three quarterbacks capable of running an attack that averages over 40 points per game — and that 95 percent of FBS teams don’t have one. (I agree.) Then in a very Clay fashion, he this tweeted at me and Vegas insider Todd Fuhrman: And here was my response: So let’s actually do that. How many starters on the SEC’s top team –?? Auburn, according to the league’s media — would start for the Buckeyes this year? My hunch: Only about six of the Tigers’ 22 starters would beat out their Buckeyes counterparts. Wideout Duke Williams and right tackle Avery Young would start on O. Auburn has some impressive talent on offense, but as good as quarterback Jeremy Johnson is, I don’t see him being the guy who’d overtake everyone at OSU. Former five-star RB Jovon Robinson is a stud, but him starting over Ezekiel Elliott — the dude who ran all over Bama and everyone else in the postseason? …
Continue Reading: Ohio State vs. SEC: Why Buckeyes would be South’s most talented team
