Records
Ohio State (4-0), Nebraska (3-1)
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Saturday, September 28
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Network: ABC
Venue: Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) – Capacity – 90,000
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads 6-1
Last Meeting: Ohio State defeated Nebraska 36-31 in 2018
After a sluggish start against Miami (Ohio), the Buckeyes rattled off 76 unanswered points. A few missteps early led to a safety and a field goal by the Redhawks, but they would do nothing more after that.
Nebraska waits in Lincoln as the first real challenge of the season for Ohio State. Although, the Huskers didn’t look all that imposing as they struggled against perennial Big Ten doormat, Illinois.
Regardless, a night game in Memorial Stadium will be a test. The Bucks will have the superior team, but can they make the plays when needed in a hostile environment?
Next … The game plan
Ohio State game plan for victory
Offensively, Ohio State should keep on keeping on. While this will be the first big challenge of the season for a new look offense, the recipe for success is clear.
Justin Fields and JK Dobbins need to continue to lead the way on the ground and through the air. Dobbins is averaging seven yards on the ground and needs just 67 yards to get to 3,000 for his career. Fields on the other hand, has the highest passer rating in the Big Ten to go along with 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions (eat your heart out Shea Patterson). That’s a pretty nice one-two punch to take on the road.
Defensively, this will be a pretty stout test. Nebraska struggled with the Illini, but four turnovers helped write that story. Coughing the ball up that many times is an anomaly and can’t be counted on every week.
The Husker attack is lead by super sophomore, Adrian Martinez, who can beat teams with his arm or legs. Need evidence? Just check out the stat line from Champaign: 327 passing yards, three touchdowns through the air while adding 118 yards on the ground. Ohio State will need eyes on Martinez at all times.
The Buckeye secondary will need to keep careful watch on Husker wide-receiver J.D. Spielman who is averaging a whopping 21.3 yards per reception, as well as do it all freshman Wan’Dale Robinson. Robinson has been getting a great deal of touches in the running game as of late, rushing 18 times for 89 yards and a touchdown against Illinois.
Nebraska has some player makers and the Ohio State defense will need to continue flying to the ball as it has all year.
Next … The key players for Ohio State
Two Key Players For Ohio State
JK Dobbins, Running back. As stated earlier, Dobbins needs just 67 yards to get to 3,000 for his career. While milestones are great and Dobbins will undoubtedly reach many more, we’re more interested in the game-by-game performance. J.K. will need to keep running hard to keep the Black Shirts on their heels.
Jeff Okudah, Cornerback. Hard to believe, but Jeff Okudah picked up his first career interception this past week against Miami (Ohio). But that’s how good he is. Opponents just don’t throw at him all that much and may be why many believe he could be a top ten pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Against the spread attack, he’ll need to come up big to limit explosive plays from Martinez and Nebraska.
Next … How it’ll all do down
The prediction
Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is one of those places that has that mystique, and Nebraska is one of the blue bloods of college football. Yes, the Huskers have been down in recent years, but a visit from ESPN’s College Game Day and a prime time showdown have everyone in the state of Nebraska hyped.
Ohio State is the more talented team without a doubt, but they will need to keep from being star struck as the marquee game of the week.
Nebraska will be better than their showing at Illinois on Saturday evening, but Ohio State will be ready. The Bucks will start out a little slow before they start to impose their will. Scott Frost and company will have his team ready as he will be looking for that first resume building win of his young coaching career.
This one will be close going into the fourth quarter until a steady dose of Fields and Dobbins will effectively end the Huskers hopes and send Big Red Nation home to an unhappily ever after.
Final Score
Ohio State 38 , Nebraska 20
Line
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Ohio State -15.5
