The first one was so nice, they’re playing it twice.
Ohio State outlasted and outmanned the Wisconsin Badgers the first time around 38-7, and now it’s tasked with beating them again in the Big Ten Championship Game Saturday. They say it’s hard to beat a good team twice in one season, but the reality is, we’ve not really seen that in the Big Ten, or with the Buckeyes for that matter.
Either way, Wisconsin does have one of the best running backs in the country, a physical brand, and the culture to pick itself off the proverbial mat to try and make this one a game this time. Oh, and there’s a championship and trophy on the line, so getting up to play this one shouldn’t be an issue.
Here’s five reasons the Buckeyes win Saturday in Indianapolis
Deep and wide
Ohio State’s depth of talent
Lost in the one-sided affair back in October is the fact the Badgers made this thing a game all the way into the early third quarter. It was just a one possession game, but then the depth of Ohio State began to churn like butter.
And that’s been the story against the better teams. Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin all came out and provided some resistance early on against the Buckeyes, but OSU kept the game plan going, and wore out each of those teams as things went on. It’s because Ohio State goes deep into rotations across the board without little drop off in talent and those teams couldn’t matchup.
Look for a similar result in Indy Saturday.
Next … The offensive line
Ohio State has the better offensive line
Death, taxes, brats, beer, cheese, and running backs and offensive lineman. Those are the things that seem to be abundant on every street corner in Wisconsin. It’s no different this year. Jonathan Taylor is one of the best running backs in the Big Ten, and he does it all behind another really good line.
But Ohio State’s combination is better in 2019.
The Buckeyes O-line has been decimating good defensive fronts this year. Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin all have a very good front seven, yet the Buckeyes ran all over those teams and — despite being a balanced outfit — have the fourth best rushing attack in the country.
The fact that Justin Fields has just one interception on the season also speaks volumes for the pass protection that group is rolling out. This game will be won in the trenches, and on the ground. It’s a short, short list of teams that can compare to OSU in those departments.
Next … A Young time
Chase Young’s impact
In the first game in Columbus, if you remember correctly, it was the start of Chase Young’s budding Heisman campaign. He had highlight after highlight that included four sacks, six tackles, and two forced fumbles. Quarterback hurries are an unofficial stat, but he was seen greeting Wisconsin’s Jack Coan more times than anyone can count.
The Badgers simply had no answer for the supremely talented defensive end.
So how will they stop him this time? You’ll probably see more doubles even than last game, but he still got through some of those. Even if he doesn’t and Wisconsin puts more formations and players his way, that should open things up for the rest of the deeply talented line.
Next … Ohio State is just better
The Buckeyes are the better team
Well, obviously. Look, this is to take nothing away from Wisconsin, but Ohio State just has the overall better talent by a wide margin. The Badgers can hang with about anyone aside from a team as athletic and skilled as these Buckeyes.
I think when it’s all said and done, we’re going to look back on this OSU team and be amazed at how many guys got drafted and are big parts of NFL teams. And as good as this Wisconsin program is, it’s one built on a brand and player type, not otherworldy skill. Not that there’s a lack of talent there, it’s just not to the level of what you see up and down the roster in Columbus.
The Buckeyes have the better talent at almost every spot on both sides of the ball, and that matters more than anything else.
Next … A Fields’ day
Justin Fields is more than a threat on the ground
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is banged up a bit, but all indications point to him being in good shape to go and be effective in this one. And that’s a big time deal.
The transfer from Georgia’s ability to grasp this offense and command it has exceeded anyone’s expectations. And yet, when everything breaks down, he’s able to use his explosiveness and either keep a play alive, or get down the field with his legs himself to move the chains. Then he uses that big arm to get the ball to a talented pool of pass catchers.
Nothing frustrates a good defense like having a quarterback that gets out of trouble when everything is covered to make plays and you’ll see some of that on Saturday. Wisconsin has a very good defense, but even when it does everything right, it can go wrong with a dynamic playmaker touching the ball on every single possession.
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