2018 Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State vs Northwestern

Big Ten Championship Game
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
#6 Ohio State (11-1, 8-1) vs. #21 Northwestern (8-4, 8-1)
8 p.m., FOX

The line: Ohio State -14

Quarterback Dwayne Haskins has a shot at the Heisman and the Buckeyes scored 62 points on the Michigan Wolverines last week. So the question that will be asked by most will probably be will this game be a no-brainer blow out? My surprising answer to that is no, I think this will be a very competitive game and yes I think Northwestern has a legit chance to win it!

WHY Northwestern has a chance?

Ohio State just came off a huge emotional 62-39 win over arch-rival Michigan. Can they get back up a second weekend in a row? I think Northwestern is full of intangibles coming into this showdown and those intangibles include Pat Fitzgerald being an excellent Head Coach. Clayton Thorson has been a little hit and miss this year but if he is careful with the ball the Wildcats could have a real shot at this. Joe Gazino and Paddy Fischer are both are playmakers on defense and they have the ability to make life uncomfortable for Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins

The Wildcats will have to pressure Haskins and be opportunistic on the defensive side of the ball. To win this game they will need a turnover ratio of at least a plus 3.

WHY Ohio State wins this game?

This is really simple, the Buckeyes just have more athletes than Northwestern does. If they don’t turn the ball over they win the game – it really is that simple. JK Dobbins will be a big key in this game and of course, so will Heisman candidate Haskins if these guys just play their normal game it could be over quickly.

Prediction

I feel that the Wildcats are going to be in this game because of coaching and Clayton Thorson. I think this game goes down to the wire and I am going to side with the Buckeyes who are just more talented.

Ohio State 27  Northwestern 23