DaytonDailyNews.com

Quarterback

OSU's Todd Boeckman, despite two first-half touchdown passes, looked shaky last week against Purdue with three interceptions. Julian Edelman, the Kent State junior quarterback, is fourth in the Mid-American Conference in total offense (249.8 yards per game). Edge: OSU

Running backs

KSU's Eugene Jarvis, a sophomore, leads the MAC and is fifth in the nation in rushing (141.8 yards per game). But with a freshman backup, the Golden Flashes can't match OSU's depth at the position with Chris Wells, Maurice Wells and a healthier Brandon Saine. Edge: OSU

Receivers

OSU's top three of Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline and Ray Small have combined for 64 catches and 11 touchdowns. The Golden Flashes have just one receiver on the depth chart taller than 6 feet. Edge: OSU

Offensive line

The Ohio State unit has experience and has allowed just five sacks. The KSU line has allowed 16 sacks but blocks for (by far) the MAC's top rushing offense (230.5 yards per game). Edge: OSU.

Defensive line

The Buckeyes are dealing with injury issues upfront, as they've already lost Lawrence Wilson, and Todd Denlinger has been limited. Senior Colin Ferrell, who has started 27 straight games, leads a Kent State group that is second in the MAC in sacks (13). Edge: OSU

Linebackers

Ohio State's are as good as anyone's. Kent State's three juniors, including leading tackler Cedrick Maxwell (47), are all first-year starters. Edge: OSU

Defensive backs

Ohio State is young (three sophomores and a junior) but fast and athletic, evidenced by opponents' 53.7-percent completion rate and 163.5 passing yards per game. Kent State is second in the MAC in passing defense (188.8) with two starting freshmen. Edge: OSU

Special teams

KSU kicker Nate Reed is 10-of-12 on field goals, but his misses came from 22 and 32 yards. Ohio State hasn't been spectacular in kicking, but the coverage units are fast and hard-hitting. Edge: OSU

Prediction: Ohio State 42, Kent State 6

The only other time Ohio State and Kent State met in football, the Buckeyes rolled 51-17 in the first game of the 2002 season. OSU, of course, went on to win the national championship.

Today, the Buckeyes will take a break from the Big Ten season — in which they've started 3-0, including consecutive night road wins against Minnesota and Purdue — to play host to another in-state school.

Even though his team is a 30-point favorite, the largest for this weekend's games, in a season full of major underdog upsets, Jim Tressel said he isn't concerned about overlooking the Golden Flashes.

"We're certainly hoping not," the OSU coach said. "I don't know the answer to that, obviously, and obviously our guys are interested in getting better, so I'd like to think they'll keep rolling their sleeves up. You make your greatest improvement on Saturdays. You improve a lot in practice, but, boy, it's not tested at game speed until Saturday, and we need to improve."