Can Idaho ever turn things around? After disastrous season after disastrous season, the Vandals get three of the first four games at home with a chance at a decent start – wrapped around a road trip to USC. Ohio gets Marshall and SE Louisiana at home to follow the trip to Moscow – it needs this win, and easily.

Ohio at Idaho

Thursday, September 3, 9:00, ESPN3

Why You Need To Care

Can Ohio really be a factor in the MAC title chase? The Bobcats are loaded up offensively with ten starters returning, but there needs to be more firepower and more consistency. The Bobcats have been fine, but they can’t seem to fight out of the middle of the pack. This is the team that should be able to do it, but it’s not if it can’t be a team like Idaho.

At the very least, Idaho should be fun and exciting with the passing game able to bomb away. It’ll make too many mistakes, and it’ll throw because it has to, but the Vandals need to start putting it all together under head coach Paul Petrino in his third season at the helm – this is a game it has to win to show that it’s a different team and a different season.

Why Ohio Will Win

Can Idaho stop anyone? The defense hasn’t come up with a big play in years, especially against the pass, and while Ohio isn’t going to chuck it around, it should be effective and efficient against a secondary is going to be a work in progress. That’s not a plus after finishing near-last in the nation in pass efficiency D.

Why Idaho Will Win

Ohio has a suspect secondary, too. The Bobcats allowed over 260 yards per game last season, and while they get three starters back, they have to be far better in a big hurry. Idaho QB Matt Linehan has a year under his belt, and while he threw too many picks, he can throw. The top three receivers are gone, but the Vandals will still push the ball against the suspect secondary.

Player Who Matters

It was a battle for the starting Ohio quarterback spot, but Derrius Vick was always supposed to be the main man. He’s a good runner who came up with some big performances over the second half of last year, and now he has to make the team his. If he can’t rock against Idaho, there are going to be major problems.

What’s Going To Happen?

Idaho will make it fun at home with a 300-yard passing day, but the defense won’t handle the Ohio balance. The Bobcats will establish their ground game from the start.

Ohio vs. Idaho Score Prediction

Ohio 41, Idaho 27, Line: Ohio -8.5, o/u: 54.5

Must See Rating: 5: True Detective, Season 1 – 1: True Detective, Season 2 … 1.5