Heather Dinich makes Jeremiah Smith prediction that could anger Texas fans before Ohio State game

Zain Bando

•
Heather Dinich makes Jeremiah Smith prediction that could anger Texas fans before Ohio State game image

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State-Texas headlines Week 1 in Columbus to begin the FOX "Big Noon Kickoff" slate and the college football season. Its stakes couldn't be any higher, especially when it comes the matchup between Buckeyes wideout Jeremiah Smith and Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

While Manning has been receiving a lot of attention since taking over for Quinn Ewers, ESPN's Heather Dinich likes the Buckeyes to win the game and expects a big day from Smith.

"Well, when in doubt, go with the home team,” Dinich said on ESPN's "Get Up." “But, Harry mentioned Jeremiah Smith. He might not just be the best wide receiver, he might be the best player in the country. He should absolutely be in the Heisman conversation, but 1,315 yards, 15 touchdowns last year. That’s almost 100 yards and a touchdown per game. He’s going to be the best player on the field.”

Dinich said the Buckeyes have the momentum, having won the title this past season.

“While I have questions about new coordinators at Ohio State,” Dinich said. “I think they get the job done at home.”

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp 

Kickoff is set for noon ET, as the Buckeyes are a two-and-a-half-point favorite according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Zain Bando

Zain Bando is a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism. Over the years, Bando has written about various beats surrounding Illinois, Northwestern, and Kansas State Athletics but sticks to the Big Ten as his primary expertise. Outside of collegiate reporting, Bando covers MMA and boxing for MMA Knockout On Sports Illustrated and hosts/co-hosts two podcasts as part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network – Bando's Breakdowns and The MMA Outsiders, which air weekly on YouTube and are distributed on all podcast platforms Wednesday nights and Friday afternoons. Bando is a Chicago Suburban native and a member of the FWAA and USBWA, continuing to hone his professional skills as a sports journalist and media personality. Since June 2019, Bando's byline has been featured in numerous media outlets, including MSN, Yardbarker, Deadspin, FanSided, BJPenn.com, Bridge Media Network (Sports News Highlights), Mike Farrell Sports, Reuters, and more. When Bando is not writing, he binges on old UFC fights, spends time with family and friends, memorizes every Super Bowl, and manifests all the places he still has to travel to (even while bringing his laptop).