Week 14 will conclude with a Saturday night matchup that is a classic David vs. Goliath situation. The Ohio State Buckeyes rallied last week to put their best game of the year together in a memorable win over the favored Michigan Wolverines. With the victory the Bucks stole the Big Ten East Division title from the Maize and Blue. Meanwhile the opportunistic Northwestern Wildcats captured the West Division title. And while the West Division was weak and down the Wildcats closed strong and get their shot at the Big Ten championship.
This matchup in Week 14 will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at 8 p.m. ET from Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana. Fox is providing the telecast of this game.
NCAA Football Betting at BookMaker.eu
Northwestern +14
Ohio State -14
Over/Under 59
Live Betting Odds Analysis
After last week’s blowout win over Michigan the already public Ohio State Buckeyes will only drive more betting money their way. Northwestern is not seen by the wagering community as a serious threat to win this game. As such, the Wildcats may get some enhanced live betting value from the oddsmakers.
Buckeyes Rising
Ohio State enters this championship game with a record of 11-1 straight up but just 5-7 against the spread with a 6-6 split on totals. The Buckeyes 62-39 home payout over Michigan had massive reverberations throughout the country starting with the fact that OSU was a 3.5 home dog. Ohio State may be the most criticized 11-1 team in recent memory. Yet despite all of their problems, when it mattered most, the Buckeyes rallied to put together their best performance of the season.
Fitz Gives Opponents Fits
The Northwestern Wildcats are 8-4 straight up, 6-4-2 against the spread, with a 5-7 mark under the total. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald has proven to be the perfect fit in Evanston at this academically elite school where he starred as a linebacker for their 1995 Rose Bowl team. While not athletically superior the Wildcats play smart and tough. They are also in good form with seven straight up wins in their last eight games. Additionally, the Cats have lost just two of their last nine games against the spread.
Tale of the Tape
Northwestern could not be more opposite of Ohio State in the fact that the Wildcats rank 111th in the country for total offense and 108th for points scored. Balanced against that is a competent defense that ranks 30th nationally for points allowed.
Ohio State ranks second in the country for total offense and seventh for scoring. Defensively the Buckeyes rank 68th overall and 57th for points allowed.
The Two Big Questions
Can Northwestern muster up enough offense to exploit the leaky Buckeyes defense? There is not much evidence that they can. That leads to the second question as to whether or not the Wildcats defense can slow down the prolific Ohio State attack to stay within the number. That is certainly more possible.
The Difference Maker
Ohio State will boast the best player on the field in the person of quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Indeed, Haskins has a quarterback rating of 169.7 with a whopping 41 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. Last week in the biggest game of the year against the top ranked defense in the country Haskins lit it up for 396 yards passing with six touchdowns in one of the greatest performances in Ohio State history.
Free Live Betting ATS Pick
Not only does Ohio State need to win for a shot at the college football playoff but they need to win big. Head coach Urban Meyer is fully aware of that fact. And with Haskins at quarterback OSU has the machinery to both get the cash and the playoff invite. Northwestern is playing in their first ever Big Ten title game. While respectable the Wildcats have nowhere near the firepower to topple the Buckeyes.
College Football Live Betting Odds Pick: Ohio State Buckeyes
NCAA Football Odds: Ohio State 42, Northwestern 21
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