In J.T. Barrett’s hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas, officials just issued a rattlesnake alert. That type of message never helps to promote tourism. But that’s where Ohio State coach Urban Meyer found Barrett four years ago. A dual-threat quarterback, Barrett’s senior season ended early because of a knee injury, and when he got to campus, he had to compete for playing time with Braxton Miller and Cardale Jones. Now, Barrett is slithering in the weeds, quietly positioned as the second choice to win the Heisman Trophy and hoping to strike down No. 1 Alabama in the near future. The Buckeyes have the best shot to bite the Crimson Tide in the four-team College Football Playoff mainly because of Barrett’s playmaking ability and Meyer’s game-planning genius. “I have got a lot of respect for Ohio State,” Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller said. “I like Meyer. He’s a great coach, right up there with Nick Saban.” Miller and Aaron Kessler, the Nugget’s book manager, opened lines Thursday on 15 potential national championship game matchups. Alabama is a 7-point favorite over Ohio State, and Saban’s Tide are laying 7½ to Clemson, 8 to Louisville, 8½ to Michigan and 12 to Washington.…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Buckeyes’ J.T. Barrett is a snake in the grass
