Here we go with another week in what feels like a bob and weave type of Big Ten college football season. Ohio State travels to Illinois and there are rumors that the Buckeye program is dealing with a mild coronavirus outbreak.
However, the game is on at this point, and the team even went through a practice Thursday. Buckeyes Wire also received confirmation from an Illinois spokesman that the game is still on.
So, off we go. Ohio State needs a good bounceback from a poor defensive performance the nation saw and took to heart against Indiana last week. So much so that the Buckeyes were only ranked No. 4 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings revealed on Tuesday.
OSU should outmatch Illinois in almost all areas of the game, but the Illini are riding a two-game winning streak.
With all of that in mind, we asked two of our writers to pick the final score and winner of Saturday’s game in Champaign. Here’s what they had to say.
Next … the predictions
Contact/Follow Phil Harrison
Ohio State 52, Illinois 21
This is the week we’ll see Ohio state put it all together. After a week of hearing about how poor the defense is compared to last year, that side of the ball will play with much more purpose and discipline. Illinois’ defense will have no answer for Justin Fields and what he’ll be able to do through the air against the Illini defense.
Whoever is out for OSU because of the rumored mild coronavirus outbreak won’t matter because the Buckeyes have talent deep into the roster. OSU rolls and continues its journey to a Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff appearance.
Contact/Follow Mark Russell
Ohio State 54, Illinois 17
While Illinois is riding a two-game winning streak, it hasn’t played a team like Ohio State in 2020. The fun is going to come to a screeching halt Saturday at noon for the Fighting Illini.
The Buckeyes are going to be tired of hearing how maybe they aren’t as good as everyone thought they were. How maybe two SEC teams or even (gasp) two ACC teams might get in the College Football Playoff over an undefeated Big Ten Champ.
Yeah, they know what folks are saying, and the Buckeyes are going to take it out on poor Illinois. It’s nothing personal, just business. Ohio State rolls to an easy victory.
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