It is finally championship week and it feels like the Big Ten is limping across the finish line. Thanks to commissioner Kevin Warren, the conference had no room for error and as a result, questions abound whether the Big Ten Champion is worthy of a College Football Playoff spot.
Thankfully, Warren did the right thing by changing the six-game minimum and allowed undefeated Ohio State the opportunity to get to the championship game. The Buckeyes will play the Big Ten West champ, Northwestern Wildcats, for a chance to wear the conference crown.
OSU is a heavy favorite in the game, but don’t count out Pat Fitzgerald’s squad. The Northwestern head coach knows how to get the most out of his players… actually there may be no one better than Coach Fitz.
Let’s get ready for championship week!
NEXT … Records and broadcast information
Record
Ohio State (5-0), Northwestern (6-1)
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: Noon EST
Network: FOX
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana – Capacity – 70,000 (no fans permitted due to COVID-19 restrictions)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads 63-14-1
Last Meeting: Ohio State defeated Northwestern 52-3 in 2019
Next … The game plan
Ohio State game plan for victory
Ohio State will need to rely on a balanced attack against Northwestern. The Wildcats have been stout on defense this year only giving up more than 20 points once, that coming inexplicably in a loss to Michigan State. With that said, Northwestern hasn’t played the caliber of offense they will see on Saturday against the Buckeyes.
Justin Fields had a nice bounce-back game against Michigan State a couple weeks ago. Fields needs to be on top of his game from here on out. The Wildcats boast a secondary that has 13 interceptions on the season, five of which coming by cornerback Brandon Joseph. The Northwestern defense is a ball-hawking group and they make you pay for mistakes.
Defensively, the Wildcats don’t have a standout star, just methodical team play. Northwestern brings a balanced attack, although modest, averaging only 170 yards on the ground and 180 through the air.
The Buckeyes have been impressive against the run this year and should continue to do so against Northwestern. If the Buckeye D forces Wildcat quarterback Peyton Ramsey to carry the offense on his shoulders, Ohio State should like the looks of the scoreboard at games end.
Next … The key players for Ohio State
Two Key Players For Ohio State
Master Teague – Running Back: After a breakout game against Indiana with over 160 yards, Teague was somewhat quiet against Michigan State. The Buckeyes need Teague and the rest of the ground game to get rolling to open up the passing game for Justin Fields and the elite receiving corp.
Master Teague ripped off a 73-yard run for another @OhioStateFB score. pic.twitter.com/Tknq8Ajl8n
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) October 19, 2019
Tommy Togiai – Defensive Line: Tommy Togiai leads the Buckeye defense in sacks with three. He’s also been a run stopper in the middle of the defensive line. Look for Togiai to be disruptive in the backfield and keep the Wildcat offense in check.
Tommy Togiai can run a little bit https://t.co/SASZ3aphfz pic.twitter.com/jtILMiZWBQ
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) October 19, 2019
Next … How it’ll all go down
The prediction
Ohio State knows what’s a stake here. A win over Northwestern and a Big Ten crown all but guarantees the Buckeyes a spot in the College Football Playoff.
However, only playing one game in the three weeks could cause the Bucks to start slow. Could… but I don’t see that happening. The team will be focused. The Buckeyes are tired of hearing how they may not be deserving because of things that were out of their control.
Ryan Day will look to make a statement and make it emphatically. Northwestern may have a few tricks up its sleeve, but it won’t be enough to matter. Ohio State rolls and gets an invite to the CFP.
Final Score
Ohio State 49, Northwestern 13
Line
Ohio State – 19.5 (Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.)
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