Ohio State Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Northwestern in Week 8
1. Game is closer than expected — until the fourth quarter
Ohio State is a massive four-touchdown favorite in this one and that’s not much of a surprise if you’ve watched the Buckeyes at all this season. They’ve been lightly tested and even took down some tough opponents by wide margins.
Everyone is expecting more of the same against Northwestern even though this one comes on the road. However, the Buckeyes have hit the road two times this season in Big Ten play against Indiana and Nebraska and have won by a combined score of 99-17. That’s actually an unbelievable number, especially since the Cornhuskers were a popular upset pick.
But there’s just something about Northwestern that screams “I’m pesky” and the Wildcats will be just that on Friday night in Evanston.
The crowd may be predominantly Ohio State fans, but that won’t matter as the Wildcats will be pesky enough to make Justin Fields uncomfortable in the pocket while also containing him with a spy in Paddy Fisher. That’ll lead to a close game in the first half and most of the third quarter.
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With a 17-10 lead late in the third, Fields will throw a touchdown pass to Binjimen Victor and it’ll be nothing but Buckeyes from that point on. A one-score lead will turn into two and then Ohio State will add two more touchdowns to not only build the lead but cover the 27.5-point spread.