For the first time in program history, Ohio State will play a football game at historic Wrigley Field in Chicago, where it will square off with Northwestern on Saturday afternoon, with kickoff set for Noon (11 a.m. Central Standard Time) on FOX.
With kickoff now less than 24 hours away, here are BSB’s predications on how Saturday’s game will shape out.
Patrick Engels:
Buckeyes Bash Wildcats In Wrigley
No. 2 Ohio State seems to have found its groove on both sides of the ball as of late, and I expect that to continue against inferior Northwestern Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
The Buckeyes’ improvements in recent weeks have largely come from the defensive side of the ball, and Jim Knowles’ unit should be in for another great game against a Wildcats offense that ranks 120th in the nation in scoring offense at just 19.2 points per game. With Tyleik Williams likely back in the interior, I think Northwestern will have trouble running the ball, rushing for less than 80 yards and no scores. I also think quarterback Jack Lausch will be bewildered by the different mixes and formations Knowles has been showing as of late, which could cause him to throw a pick or two. I could see Caleb Downs having a strong game and maybe even his first pick as a Buckeye.
On offense, the train should be rolling again on all aspects. The Buckeyes’ running game has been hard to stop as of late and I don’t see that changing in Wrigley. I think TreVeyon Henderson is in for another big game, maybe even breaking for a long score to help put the game away even more. In the passing offense, I’ll take former baseball standout Emeka Egbuka to have a big outing in the friendly confines with over 80 yards and a score, and Carnell Tate to keep the momentum going in his hometown of Chicago.
The Buckeyes should roll again in Week 12, setting up a fascinating matchup with Indiana next week in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State 41, Northwestern 6.
Bobby Gorbett:
Buckeyes Easily Handle Northwestern
Another week, another opportunity for Ohio State to bolster its metrics and pass the College Football Playoff committee’s eye test.
If Northwestern is a step up in competition from Ohio State’s last opponent Purdue, it’s only a small one.
Although the Wildcats come just one week ahead of a pair of monumental matchups for Ohio State, I think the added spark of playing at Wrigley Field will help remove any chance of the Buckeyes looking ahead.
The Wildcats pose little to no threat to an Ohio State defense that hasn’t allowed a touchdown in its last two games.
I predict the Buckeyes’ defense to continue the rhythm they’ve established since their 20-13 win over Penn State and give up less than seven points. I expect the Buckeyes’ defense, which struggled in previous lopsided matchups to stop quarterback runs and opposing passing attacks as a whole, to have one of its best games of the season.
Offensively, the Buckeyes may not have an explosive day on the ground against a solid Northwestern run defense, but I think starting quarterback Will Howard will continue throwing the ball well and Ohio State’s receivers will have strong performances in a dominant Ohio State victory.
Ohio State 41, Northwestern 3
Cameron Moone:
Paltry Northwestern Offense No Match For Buckeye Firepower
After last week’s 45-0 trouncing of Purdue in Columbus, much of what had felt like a question mark for No. 2 Ohio State turned into an exclamation mark, with the Buckeyes rushing for 173 yards behind a revamped offensive line while surrendering just one sack.
This week it should be a similar result on paper, as Ohio State looks to make it 11 wins in a row over the Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., on Saturday. It’s the first time the Buckeyes will be playing in a stadium that isn’t purely built for football since 2007.
Former Kansas State and graduate quarterback Will Howard has led the way in every category, tangible or not, for Ohio State this season. The West Chester, Pa., native has thrown for 2,237 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for six scores, as well. Northwestern’s defense, which ranks 16th against the run (108.1 yards per game) and a dismal 100th against the pass (241.1 yards per game) will have their hands full against a weapon-heavy Ohio State offense.
The Wildcats will need to rely on that stout rushing defense to maintain control over the Buckeyes, because it’ll be tough to get the offense on track against the one of the best defenses in the nation. Northwestern sits at 131st in the country, good for third to last, in total offense, averaging just 288.1 yards per game.
It should be another easy in-and-out game for Ohio State before next week’s top-five matchup against Indiana. Ohio State 52, Northwestern 10.
Greg Wilson:
Buckeyes Pitch Perfect Game:
The venue of Wrigley Field will likely be the most interesting thing about the game against Northwestern on Saturday. As I have said before, Ryan Day is great at having his team ready for games that it should win, and this is one of those games.
The most interesting thing I’m watching for is whether the Buckeyes approach when they get near the end zone will change since there is no room to work with out of the back of it. I can’t imagine they will want to risk any injuries by throwing passes to the back of the end zone that could force receivers into the wall.
Whether that changes anything won’t matter. I believe the Buckeyes are wanting to get the run game going as much as they can, and my prediction is that both Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson will eclipse 100 yards from scrimmage and each of them find the end zone at least once.
The defense should have a field day with the Wildcats offense and should be looking to create multiple turnovers by putting a lot of pressure on quarterback Jack Lausch.
As I have each of the past few weeks, I’m also going to predict the weekly Jeremiah Smith touchdown. Ohio State 31, Northwestern 0.
