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LGHL Life in Simulation: EA CFB 25 predicts Ohio State vs. Northwestern

Life in Simulation: EA CFB 25 predicts Ohio State vs. Northwestern
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Ohio State v Purdue

Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images

The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Wildcats in Week 12.

College football finally returned to the virtual world in 2024 with the release of EA Sports College Football 25, allowing fans of all 134 FBS schools to take control of their favorite team. For Buckeye Nation, that means getting to dominate with one of the best rosters in the game.

The new game also allows us to get a glimpse at what the season could look like, at least if the computers had their say. Each week, Land-Grant Holy Land will simulate Ohio State’s real-life matchup to see what our AI overlords think will happen.

Here are the results of our Week 12 sim:

Ohio State 49 - Northwestern 13​


Unfortunately, as Wrigley Field isn’t one of this year’s bowl game sites, we were unable to have this week’s matchup played at its real life location. Instead, Ohio State took on Northwestern in front of a sold out crowd of around 12,000, rather than the 41,000-plus that the home of the Chicago Cubs will allow on Saturday.

The Buckeyes must not have liked the more intimate atmosphere of Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium, because it was a slow start for Ryan Day and Chip Kelly’s offense. Quinshon Judkins punched it in from a yard out on Ohio State’s first possession, but that would be all the team would muster until another short touchdown run by Will Howard to end the first half. In between scores, the Wildcats knocked through a pair of sub-40-yard field goals, as OSU took a 14-6 lead into the half.

The third quarter is when the Buckeyes finally turned it on. Jeremiah Smith opened up the second half with a five-yard touchdown, and shortly after a Northwestern turnover, TreVeyon Henderson ripped off a 34-yard touchdown run. Howard would add his second rushing touchdown of the day on a four-yard scamper later in the quarter as Ohio State now held a more respectable 35-6 lead.

The Wildcats scored their lone touchdown of the game to begin the fourth quarter on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Jack Lausch to A.J. Henning, but the Buckeyes tacked on two more scores on a 15-yard touchdown by Gee Scott Jr. and a third TD run by Howard to put the exclamation point on a 49-13 victory.

It was a huge day for Howard, who in addition to his three touchdown runs completed 20 of his 26 pass attempts for 291 yards and two scores. Ohio State was efficient running the football, with Henderson and Quinshon Judkins combining for 164 yards on 25 carries, highlighted by 11 rushes for 95 yards by Judkins. All three of the Buckeyes’ top receivers recorded at least 70 yards, led by Smith with five catches for 78 yards and a TD. Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka added four grabs each for 70 yards and 72 yards, respectively.

Defensively, Ohio State got an impressive showing out of Cody Simon, who led the team with eight total tackles to go along with an interception and a tackle for loss. The Silver Bullets recorded seven tackles for loss overall, with three by Tyler Bourne (J.T. Tuimoloau), two for Tyleik Williams and one by Jordan Hancock, and Lorenzo Styles recorded the group’s second interception of the game. Tuimoloau, Williams and Kayden McDonald each tallied one sack, and Lathan Ransom led the way with two pass breakups.

Overall, Ohio State put up over 530 yards of offense and was 6-of-10 on third down, compared to 242 yards of offense and 2-of-12 on third down for Northwestern. The two picks by the Buckeyes’ defense were the only two turnovers of the game. The Wildcats also committed nine penalties for 67 yards, while OSU had only four flags for 23 yards. Neither team went for it on fourth down.


While the real life Buckeyes are 8-1 with a chance to move to 9-1, the virtual Buckeyes move to a perfect 10-0 on the year. Check back next week to see how Ohio State actually performed on the field compared to the simulation, and see how they fare in our Week 13 simulation against Indiana.

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Google Ohio State vs. Northwestern Preview: Buckeyes Look for Calm Wrigley Field Win Before Storm of Late-Season Run - Eleven Warriors

Ohio State vs. Northwestern Preview: Buckeyes Look for Calm Wrigley Field Win Before Storm of Late-Season Run - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio State vs. Northwestern Preview: Buckeyes Look for Calm Wrigley Field Win Before Storm of Late-Season Run Eleven Warriors

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LGHL Ohio State v. Northwestern: 2024 game preview and prediction

Ohio State v. Northwestern: 2024 game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Northwestern v Iowa

Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images

The Buckeyes will be looking to hit a home run at Wrigley Field on Saturday against Northwestern.

Ohio State will play in one of the most iconic sports venues in the country on Saturday when they travel to the “Friendly Confines” to take on the Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field. The Buckeyes will look to build off last week’s 45-0 domination of Purdue, while also staying healthy with home games against Indiana and Michigan on deck to close out the regular season.

Following tight games with Nebraska and Penn State, Ohio State was able to breathe easy last week, shutting out the Boilermakers in Columbus. Will Howard was nearly perfect, Jeremiah Smith set two more freshman receiving records, and the defense continued to stymie opponents in the blowout win by the Buckeyes.

The shutout was Ohio State’s second of the season, marking the first time since 2014 that the Buckeyes have recorded at least two shutouts in a season.

History with Northwestern​


Saturday’s game against Northwestern will be the fifth-straight game between the schools played outside Columbus. The teams met in Evanston in 2019 and 2022, while playing in Indianapolis in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2018 and 2020.

Ohio State has won 65 of the 79 games played in the series, and is riding a 10-game winning streak against the Wildcats. The last win by Northwestern over the Buckeyes was a 33-14 triumph in 2004. Ohio State won the most recent meeting 21-7 in 2022 in a game that will be remembered for the extremely windy conditions that kept the Buckeye offense grounded, snapping a streak of seven straight games in which they scored at least 40 points.

Rounding the bases​


Even though Ohio State will be playing at Wrigley Field for the first time, this won’t be the first time the Buckeyes and Wildcats have met at a baseball stadium. In 1991, the teams played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, with Ohio State winning 34-3.

This will be the sixth MLB stadium the Buckeyes have played in. Previous Ohio State has played at the Polo Grounds, the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, and Anaheim Stadium.

Finding their groove again​


Will Howard continues to be the steady leader of the Ohio State offense, completing 21 of his 26 pass attempts against Purdue, totaling 260 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and also adding a rushing touchdown to open up the scoring in the game. For his efforts last week, Howard was named the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week.

By finishing with a completion percentage of at least 80 percent last week, Howard now holds the single-season and career school records with five games where he has completed at least 80 percent of his passes. The 74 percent completion percentage by Howard currently ranks second in the country.

The biggest story offensively last week for Ohio State was Jeremiah Smith taking over the top spot of two more school freshman receiving records. After passing Cris Carter for most receiving yards by a freshman in school history two weeks ago, last week Smith moved past Carter’s freshman reception and receiving touchdown marks.

Entering this week’s game, Smith has caught 45 passes for 765 yards and nine touchdowns. The yardage and touchdown totals from Smith this year are currently leading the team.

Ohio State v Purdue
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

The only receiving category Smith isn’t leading is receptions, as Emeka Egbuka has two more than Smith. Egbuka’s only catch last week was a touchdown, pulling him one receiving touchdown away from tying Garrett Wilson’s 23 career receiving touchdowns, which ranks eighth in school history. Along with the receiving touchdown mark, Egbuka is six catches away from moving past Chris Olave for third in school history, and 60 yards from passing Devin Smith’s 2,503 receiving yards for seventh all-time at Ohio State.

By sharing touches with Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson looks fresh as we enter the middle of November. Last week Henderson ran for 85 yards and a score on just carries, while also grabbing three passes for 43 yards. Henderson now has 3,333 rushing yards, which moves him past J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller for seventh place in school history, just 50 yards away from passing Chris “Beanie” Wells. The senior is averaging 7.5 yards per carry this season, which is a career-high.

Unlike Henderson, Judkins has had a hard time finding running room lately. Judkins has run for less than 30 yards in three of the last four games, with his 95 yards against Penn State being the only game in the last month where he has had some success on the ground. Even with his recent struggles, Judkins is still averaging 6.1 yards per carry this season.

A top-tier defense​


Despite allowing nearly 500 yards and 32 points to Oregon, Ohio State still statistically has one of the best defenses in the country. The Buckeyes are tops in the nation in total defense, giving up just 250.8 yards per game. When it comes to points allowed, Ohio State is giving up just 10.7 points per game, good for second-lowest in the country. Aside from the loss to the Ducks, the Ohio State defense hasn’t allowed more than 273 yards in a game this season.

The Buckeye linebackers have continued to solidify the middle of the defense. With six tackles against Penn State, Cody Simon led the team in tackles for a fourth straight game. Simon has 49 tackles on the season, leaving him eight tackles shy of tying his career-high from last season. The senior has also been more active behind the line of scrimmage lately, recording 4.5 tackles for loss over the last three games.

Leading the team in tackles this season is Sonny Styles, who has been credited with 57 tackles through nine games. The junior secured a career-high in tackles with the five stops he made last week, pushing him past the 53 tackles he made as a sophomore. After moving from safety to linebacker in the offseason, Styles hasn’t taken long to adapt to his new position, becoming a force at linebacker thanks to his outstanding athletic ability.

Reports of J.T. Tuimoloau’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Tuimoloau can be a frustrating watch at times since Buckeye Nation has seen just how much he can change a game, as evidenced by his 2022 performance at Penn State. The senior now has at least half a tackle for loss in seven straight games, giving him a team-high 10 TFLs this year, putting him just half a TFL away from matching his 2022 total. Tuimoloau has five sacks this year, matching his 2023 total, which he notched last season.

Tuimoloau forced a fumble against Purdue which was picked up and returned for a touchdown by Jack Sawyer. Maybe the scoop and score can snap Sawyer out of his recent funk. In the three games prior to last week’s contest, Sawyer failed to record a sack or a TFL. The senior will be looking for a similar close to the season as last year, when he had 7.5 tackles for loss and five sacks over the final three games of the season.

After sitting out the Penn State game because of injury, Lathan Ransom returned to the lineup last week, picking off a Hudson Card pass as Purdue was driving. The senior safety has done a little bit of everything in 2024, intercepting a pass for the third straight season, forcing two fumbles, recovering a fumble and returning it for a touchdown in the season opener against Akron, and recording a career-high 4.5 TFLs.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 09 Purdue at Ohio State
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

While Caleb Downs hasn’t been as prolific statistically as he was during his freshman year at Alabama, that doesn’t mean Downs isn’t playing at a high-level. Downs is still demanding respect from opposing offenses, daring them to give him a chance to make a game-changing play.

Plus, Downs isn’t having to shoulder as much of the load this year since he has so much talent around him in the secondary with Ransom, Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, and Jordan Hancock.

Northwestern’s season so far​


Northwestern enters this game coming off a 26-20 overtime win over Purdue two weeks ago, pushing their record to 4-5 this season. The Wildcats never trailed in the game against the Boilermakers, earning the victory on a 22-yard receiving touchdown by running back Joseph Himon II. With three games left in the season, Northwestern needs to win two games to earn bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons under head coach David Braun.

Last year the Wildcats beat Utah 14-7 in the Las Vegas Bowl to cap off an 8-5 season under Braun, who was elevated to head coach shortly before the season after the removal of Pat Fitzgerald because of a hazing scandal. For Northwestern’s success last year under tough circumstances, Braun was named the 2023 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Who the Wildcats look to on offense​


In the win over Purdue, Northwestern finished with 424 yards of offense, which is their highest total against an FBS team this season. After Mike Wright started the first two games of the season, Jack Lausch was named the starter prior to the third game of the season.

Lausch enters the game with 1,120 yards passing, five touchdown tosses, four interceptions, and 218 yards and a score on the ground. Against Purdue, Lausch finished with 250 yards passing and the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime. While Lausch has been solid since taking over at quarterback, one area where he could improve is with his completion percentage, as he has connected on just 53.6 percent of his passes this year.

Leading the charge at running back for Northwestern is Cam Porter, who has reached at least 80 carries in four different seasons. This year, Porter has carried the football 97 times for 387 yards, finding the end zone a career-high six times. The Buckeyes will have to keep tabs on Lausch finding Porter with screen passes, as the running back has 39 receptions over the last two seasons. The Cincinnati native will be playing Ohio State for the third time in his career, rushing for at least 50 yards in each of his first two meetings with the Buckeyes.

Joseph Himon II is coming off the best game of his college career. The sophomore running back rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown, while also hauling in three passes for 34 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Himon’s big play ability compliments the grinding running style of Porter. Following the Purdue game, Himon will come into this game with a lot of confidence. Expect the Wildcats to look for more ways to get Himon the football after what he showed against the Boilermakers.

Indiana v Northwestern
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The leading receiver for Northwestern entering this game is A.J. Henning, who has 40 catches this season. The former Michigan wideout is five catches away from tying his career-high, which he set last season. Henning has 426 yards receiving to lead the team, 12 yards more than Bryce Kirtz, who has missed the last two games.

Prior to suffering an injury against Wisconsin, Kirtz had two outstanding games, hauling in 13 balls for 251 yards against Indiana and Maryland. Henning and Kirtz are the only Wildcats with at least 20 catches and 200 receiving yards this season. Much like the last two games, Kirtz is unlikely to play, as head coach David Braun said he is optimistic Kirtz will play before the end of the year, which doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement for the wide receiver suiting up this week.

Northwestern on defense​


Like Kirtz, one of the best defenders for the Wildcats has been dealing with an injury. Xander Mueller also hasn’t played since the Wisconsin game. The linebacker had a tremendous 2023 season, registering 110 tackles, five sacks, and three interceptions. With his output last season, Mueller became just the third Big Ten defender since 2000 to record 100 tackles, five sacks, and three interceptions in a season.

With Mueller on the sidelines, Mac Uihlein has shouldered more responsibility at linebacker. Uihlein leads the team with 58 tackles. The junior has two games with at least 10 tackles, including a career-high 13 stops in the blowout win over Maryland last month. If Mueller can’t play on Saturday, expect Grayson Metz to start for a third straight game. Metz had a team-high eight tackles in the overtime win against Purdue two weeks ago.

One surprise at linebacker has been Nigel Glover barely seeing the field this year for the Wildcats. After committing to Northwestern, Glover transferred to Ohio State following the firing of Pat Fitzgerald. The four-star prospect wasn’t able to get comfortable in Columbus, transferring back to Northwestern during the offseason. Glover has appeared in five games this year, but has yet to record a tackle.

The most dangerous defensive lineman Northwestern has is Aidan Hubbard. The redshirt junior from Cleveland has 10 sacks since the start of the 2023 season, which is tied with J.T. Tuimoloau for third-most in the Big Ten during that span. This season, Hubbard has a team-high four sacks. Fellow defensive linemen Michael Kilbane and Anto Saka each have 2.5 sacks this season. Like Hubbard, Kilbane is also a Cleveland native.

In the secondary, Theran Johnson is second on the team with 44 tackles, while also picking off two passes this season, returning one for a touchdown. Along with Johnson, Northwestern has received contributions from a number of defensive backs. Five others in the secondary have recorded at least 27 tackles this year, with four of those defensive backs intercepting a pass.

Graduate senior free safety Coco Azema is the most senior member of the unit, while juniors Johnson and safety Devin Turner give the group veteran leadership. Cornerbacks Braden Turner, Robert Fitzgerald, and Evan Smith are only sophomores and provide a solid core for the secondary to build on over the next couple seasons.

Prediction​


Saturday’s game will likely look a lot like Ohio State’s game against Purdue last week. Even though Northwestern will show more fight than the Boilermakers did, the Wildcats are still a heavy underdog in this game. Northwestern has had a tough time consistently generating offense this season, and the lack of scoring pop will be amplified if Bryce Wirtz is again sidelined.

Honestly, the tougher opponent for the Buckeyes in this game is going to be the venue. Since Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium there are going to be some quirks. Not only is there not a lot of space in the back of the end zones, last year there was major issues with the turf when Iowa and Northwestern played at Wrigley.

Ohio State is going to have to be careful to try and avoid injuries to some of their important players since the Buckeyes still have a ton to play for the rest of the season. The best course of action is to try and build a comfortable lead early and pull their starters earlier than normal.

The good news for Ohio State is they don’t have to deal with the wild weather they encountered the last time they were in the Chicago area. Saturday isn’t expected to be anywhere close to as windy as 2022, plus the temperature will be pretty good for mid-November in Chicago. The elements shouldn’t hamper the Buckeye offense in any way.

As long as Ohio State avoid a slow start in this game, they shouldn’t have any issues with Northwestern. With Jack Lausch still being a relatively new starter, J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer should be able to put pressure on Lausch. If the dynamic defensive end duo can’t get to Lausch, they should be able to force him into mistakes that the rest of the defense can clean up.

One area the offense needs to focus on is getting Quinshon Judkins going since the talented running back has had a tough time finding space lately. The issue can’t be blame on the offensive line since TreVeyon Henderson has been running behind the same line and been tearing it up. The Buckeye offense will be even tougher to stop if they can get both Judkins and Henderson on the same page over these next few weeks.

To sum up Saturday’s game in simple terms: Build an early lead, keep your foot on the gas, stay healthy, move on to Indiana.

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 42, Northwestern 10​


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LGHL Chris Henry Jr. continues to stay consistent, Michigan may not be able to offer enough for top 2026 QB

Chris Henry Jr. continues to stay consistent, Michigan may not be able to offer enough for top 2026 QB
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Opponents continue their pursuit, but Henry Jr. is locked in with Ohio State.

The Buckeyes are back in action Saturday against Northwestern in what should be another rather stress-free contest. If anything, the venue of Wrigley Field has provided more stress thus far in comparison to the actual opponent, as most of the attention surrounding this game has been solely about the oddness the field’s dimensions are going to provide both teams.

Heading to Chicago for a walk through, Ohio State typically doesn’t have to do this sort of game prep, but Day and the rest of the staff felt it was needing considering where they are playing and how much different the layout of the actual playing surface is. Whether it be cement walls just behind the end zone and other areas that could cause for harm, the feelings toward this venue and game haven’t been real positive with the media and potentially even the team itself.

Weird venue or not, the Buckeyes have a job to do if they want to continue their pursuit of a conference title bid, and Northwestern is the next hurdle on their way. With a chance to impress the recruiting area of Chicago, Ohio State will look to do that and more as the city has plenty of recruits this staff is familiar with.

Continuing to be an annoyance​


Ohio State’s lone commit in the 2026 cycle thus far happens to be the nation’s No. 1 pass catcher. The No. 3 ranked player and top receiver in the country per the 247Sports Composite, Chris Henry Jr. is the next elite receiver in line for the Buckeyes thanks to Brian Hartline’s track record and recruiting success.

An Ohio native that chose the Buckeyes well over a year ago, Henry Jr.’s recruitment has stayed consistent with Ohio State even with his move to California. Suiting up this past season for the prolific prep power Mater Dei, Henry Jr. continued his dominance on the field, and though he’s had to deal with injury, his status as the top player at his position hasn’t changed one bit, and if anything has only been further cemented.

The positive aspect here for the Buckeyes has been knowing that thanks to Henry Jr. they can reach other Mater Dei players they are high on, and having a vocal presence to further promote Ohio State’s brand certainly doesn’t hurt either. The drawback is of course having the West Coast programs now feeling like they can swoop in and increase their chances at flipping his commitment simply because they are now geographically closer.

The program that comes to mind more than any others naturally is Oregon. A complete and total thorn in the side of Ohio State, the Ducks continue to be an annoyance to say the least. The one example of true adversity coming by way of their lone loss this year, the Buckeyes are having to fight off Oregon not only on the field now, but also in recruiting, and will look to right their wrongs if they can win out and see a re-match in Indianapolis.

Henry Jr. has done nothing to make anyone with Ohio State loyalties feel like they are losing their grip on their prized recruit, but the attention Oregon is giving him isn’t anything to scoff at either. A theme in the recent years continues to remain true, and that’s believing that as long as Hartline is in Columbus, so too will be his top recruits and commits.

The 2026 class has a long time before those athletes are signing, and Ohio State is going to have to weather the storm of every program coveting their players. That’s how it goes when you have elite commits wrapped up. While it’s an annoyance, it’s nothing this staff isn’t already used to. Oregon will continue their pursuit, but as long as Henry Jr. continues to say and do the right things, you have to trust and hope that his recruitment, much like the ones before him including Jeremiah Smith’s, will go in a similar fashion.

Speaking of doing the right things, it takes just one glance at Henry Jr.’s social media accounts to see his pro-Ohio State messages, and that includes yesterday’s promotion of St. John Bosco athlete Madden Williams who also shared an Ohio State message. The No. 242 player nationally and 41st best receiver per the 247Sports Composite, seeing Henry Jr. go out of his way to continue preaching and posting the Buckeyes has to ease any worries. They may persist, but Henry Jr. continues to be consistent.


Go Bucks? https://t.co/88CtzhXPZO

— Madden Williams (@MaddenWilliams1) November 15, 2024​
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Quick Hits​

  • It’s been a busy week for National recruiting news. Constant flips and de-commitment posts going out, On3 designer Hayes Fawcett has been seeing an increased work load the last several days. Thursday being no different, maybe the biggest or most interesting update surrounding current LSU QB commit Bryce Underwood and his potential NIL offer from Michigan.

The Michigan native took to his Instagram account to share a post that stated he’d be “likely to decline” his major offer, and that of course would be wonderful news for Ohio State who would have to face him for at least three seasons.

The No. 1 quarterback in the class and top player nationally, Underwood is just minutes from Michigan’s campus at nearby Belleville. Gaining serious attention as of late as a possible flip to the Wolverines, the motive has mainly been the NIL potential, but if he really is likely to decline the offer and stick with his LSU pledge, this would be a major setback to a program who has clearly struggled at the most important position just one season after their best year to date.

Keep a close watch on this one. It has an impact on the Buckeyes either way.


Five-Star Plus+ LSU QB commit Bryce Underwood just shared this to his Instagram story:

“#1 QB Likely to Decline Michigan’s $10.5M Offer.”https://t.co/grnjBpYorg pic.twitter.com/eQoNOMedJ2

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 15, 2024​
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LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball at Texas A&M: Game preview and prediction

Ohio State men’s basketball at Texas A&M: Game preview and prediction
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

NCAA Basketball: East Texas A&M at Texas A&M

Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

The Buckeyes will look to get redemption in College Station in their first ranked matchup of the season.

The No. 21 Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) will head to College Station, Texas for their first road test of the season to face the No. 23 Texas A&M Aggies (2-1).

Ohio State has defeated Texas and Youngstown State this season, while Texas A&M lost to UCF but has rattled off two comfortable wins over East Texas A&M and Lamar since.

The Buckeyes hosted the then-ranked No. 15 Aggies last season for the second game, with Texas A&M coming out on top 73-66. For the Aggies, Tyrece Radford and Wade Taylor had 21 points each, and Henry Coleman recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds. The rest of the team only scored 11 points.

For Ohio State, Bruce Thornton finished with 24 points and five assists, and Jamison Battle recorded 10 points. Roddy Gayle Jr. recorded nine points, seven rebounds, and six assists. The Buckeyes were outrebounded 45 to 35, something they hope Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart can help correct this time around.

The Buckeyes have impressed the metrics early on, as they ranked No. 15 overall on KenPom and currently rank No. 20 in offensive efficiency and No. 19 in defensive efficiency.

Preview​

NCAA Basketball: East Texas A&M at Texas A&M
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Ohio State's scoring has been balanced thus far through two games. Junior point guard Bruce Thornton leads the Buckeyes with 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game.

Freshman John Mobley Jr. has taken the college basketball world by storm early, averaging 15 points per game and starting his collegiate career 7-for-8 from three-point range. Micah Parrish is the only other Buckeye averaging double figures early on, averaging 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.

Aaron Bradshaw is averaging nine points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while Devin Royal and Meechie Johnson are averaging 9.0 and 8.5 points per game, respectively. Duke transfer Sean Stewart is averaging six points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Nine players are averaging more than 14 minutes per game. The only three scholarship players playing fewer than 14 minutes per game are Colin White, Austin Parks, and Ivan Njegovan.

The Buckeyes have been efficient offensively, shooting 50 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range as a team.

For Texas A&M, Zhuric Phelps, a transfer guard from SMU, leads the way thus far. He is averaging 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, and four assists per game. Phelps missed the Aggie’s opening game against UCF.

Senior guard Wade Taylor is averaging 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 42.9 percent shooting from three-point range. Henry Coleman is averaging 11.0 points and seven rebounds per game, while Pharrel Payne is averaging nine points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Manny Obaseki is averaging eight points per game, while Andersson Garcia is averaging seven points and an impressive 7.7 rebounds per game. Similar to Ohio State, Texas A&M has 10 players who are averaging 14 or more minutes per game.

Prediction​

NCAA Basketball: Youngstown State at Ohio State
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Similar to last season, this will be a close game that will likely come down to the frontcourt production. Texas A&M outrebounded the Buckeyes 45 to 35 last year in this game, and Henry Coleman outrebounded the combo of Felix Okpara and Zed Key all on his own. Now, they have added Minnesota transfer Pharrel Payne, and Ohio State has a brand new front court they are trying to break in.

Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart combined for 16 rebounds against Youngstown State. They will be tasked with slowing down Texas A&M's front court and forcing Phelps and Taylor to do the majority of the scoring, making it more difficult for the Aggies overall.

To win this game, they will need more from Meechie Johnson as well. The 2023-24 All-SEC Second Team selection has struggled so far in his two games back in Columbus, but this is a familiar opponent for him from the SEC, and he is too talented and experienced to stay down for long.

I think Ohio State gets production from a lot of different guys in this one, and with its bench outscoring Texas A&M’s bench, that will be enough to win a close one in College Station.


ESPN BPI: Texas A&M 63.5%

Time: 9:00 p.m. ET

TV: SEC Network

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 76, Texas A&M 70​


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Google Ohio State Buckeyes vs Texas A&M Aggies Prediction, 11/15/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds - Doc's Sports

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Texas A&M Aggies Prediction, 11/15/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds - Doc's Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Texas A&M Aggies Prediction, 11/15/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds Doc's Sports

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LGHL Examining Jaloni Cambridge’s fall and trusting Ohio State’s freshman phenom

Examining Jaloni Cambridge’s fall and trusting Ohio State’s freshman phenom
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cambridge flies high but fell hard on Tuesday. What adjustments, if any, are needed?

No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball is 2-0 to start the season. The Buckeyes started a light non-conference schedule against two mid-major sides, both coming to the Schottenstein Center to try and recreate the David versus Goliath upset.

Against UNC Charlotte on Tuesday, there was no slingshot in sight. The Scarlet and Gray defeated the 49ers soundly 94-53.

Coming out of halftime, head coach Kevin McGuff’s side had a 26-point lead on the first possession of the third quarter. Freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge, who had 8 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals at the time grabbed a defensive rebound and was off to the races.

The only player back for Charlotte was forward Keanna Rembert, a speed mismatch against the lightning-quick Cambridge, but seven inches taller than the No. 1 overall point guard in the 2024 freshman class.

Cambridge did what she’s done throughout youth, high school basketball, and her first game of college — she attacked the basket. Rembert was unfazed, focusing on stopping the layup, and she did. In the process, the Charlotte forward sent Cambridge to the court.

Called a foul on the floor, Rembert wasn't nefarious in her attempted defense. Rembert put her hands up but ran alongside the guard, forcing the whistle.

The arena fell silent after Cambridge’s right hip slammed against the ground and the guard laid stationary. After a few minutes, Cambridge got up with help from the medical staff and walked to the hallway of Value City Arena, bent over at 90 degrees.

Cambridge returned to the bench, but not to the game. Charlotte responded after the injury, taking advantage of a Buckeyes side in a lull, and scored the next nine points. The change in momentum didn’t last long and Ohio State expanded their lead again to defeat the visitors by 41 points.

Following the game, head coach Kevin McGuff didn’t have much to say about the injury, still requiring more attention, but what he did say trended positively in the guard’s favor. McGuff thinks it won’t sideline the guard long-term and the game’s lack of competitiveness didn’t require Cambridge’s return.

“Yeah, I mean given the circumstances of the score and stuff, we were definitely not going to do that,” said McGuff on putting Cambridge back into the game.

It’s the first knock in college for the Tennessee native, but watch the guard play and it doesn’t feel like it’ll be the last for Cambridge.

Forward Ajae Petty is someone who’s been on the other side of those types of collisions. The 6-foot-3 transfer out of the SEC knows that these types of things happen, and Petty knows her new teammate Cambridge.

“Jaloni [Cambridge] is tough. You all saw it like the first game,” said Petty. “So we can’t really tell her nothing. She [ges]o out there and she [does] what she’s supposed to do like every night.”

Taking away a part of Cambridge’s game limits the guard’s effectiveness. One hard fall isn’t going to stop Cambridge from doing what made her a top prospect, but there’s a balance.

Look at the growth within the Buckeyes’ starting five with forward Cotie McMahon. Like Cambridge, McMahon made a living from going at the rim and worrying about the consequences later. McMahon, five inches taller than Cambridge, took early hits all the way through the 2023 Elite Eight where the freshman looked like the impacts began taking their toll.

McMahon didn’t stop her game but enhanced it. Those runs to the paint didn’t always end with a collision and a whistle. They turned into passes to open teammates when the defense collapsed.

Cambridge does those things now, but there’s an element of choosing the right battles. Especially in a league with bigs like 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts from UCLA or Illinois’ Kendall Bostic.

“It’s tough. I mean, she’s usually got a pretty good feel for that and just she went hard and kind of got caught in the air today,” said McGuff. “But she’s just such an aggressive player that it’s hard to kind of take that away.”

The person who knows best about these situations is Cambridge herself. The next time that situation comes up, McGuff and Cambridge’s teammates are going to trust her. Cambridge has far more of her career in front of her than behind, but it’s a trust that she's already earned.

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Google Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Says Ohio State’s Players, Coaches Must Be Unselfish As the Buckeyes Strive fo - Eleven Warriors

Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Says Ohio State’s Players, Coaches Must Be Unselfish As the Buckeyes Strive fo - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Says Ohio State’s Players, Coaches Must Be Unselfish As the Buckeyes Strive fo Eleven Warriors

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LGHL MC&J: Who wins the Week 12 showdown between Tennessee and Georgia in the SEC?

MC&J: Who wins the Week 12 showdown between Tennessee and Georgia in the SEC?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Mississippi State v Tennessee

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Picks against the spread for Volunteers-Bulldogs, as well as six other fun contests outside the Big Ten on Saturday.

Last week ATS: 5-8 (3-4 National, 2-4 B1G)

Season ATS: 88-95 (36-40 National, 52-55 B1G)

I should have known I was riding with too many favorites last week. Miami, Georgia, and Iowa State were all road favorites I stupidly sided with. I’ll look to get back on track this week with picks for seven national games today, followed by tomorrow’s post of my six predictions for this week’s Big Ten games.

National games​


No. 3 Texas (-13.5) v. Arkansas - 12:00 p.m. ET - ABC

Traveling to Fayetteville can be a tricky trip. Just ask Tennessee about what the Razorbacks can do at home. Then again, are the Volunteers really as good as their ranking wants you to think? Since beating Tennessee last month, Arkansas has been destroyed at home by LSU and Ole Miss, with the Rebels rolling up nearly 700 yards of offense two weeks ago.

Florida v Texas
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

Last week Quinn Ewers played the best game of his college career, throwing for 333 yards and five touchdowns in the 49-17 win over Florida. With Texas as one of three teams in the SEC with just one conference loss, and five others with two losses so far this season in conference play, the Longhorns know they have no margin for error if they want to play in next month’s conference title game, especially with a showdown with Texas A&M on the horizon in two weeks.

Even though Arkansas had a bye last week to digest the loss to Ole Miss, the Razorbacks won’t be able to keep pace with Texas here. I’m not putting much stock in the win over Tennessee since the Volunteers were close to running away with the game before Arkansas scored the final 16 points of the game. If the Longhorns have the Razorbacks on the ropes, Quinn Ewers and company will be sure to finish the job.

Texas 37, Arkansas 14


No. 18 Clemson (-10.5) v. No. 20 Pitt - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN

If only Pitt could go up against Kyle McCord every game. After three interception returns for touchdowns in a 41-13 win over the Orange, the Panthers have fallen on hard times over the last two contests, losing to SMU and Virginia. Last week, Eli Holstein and Nate Yarnell combined to complete just 14 of their 35 pass attempts, with Yarnell throwing two interceptions in the loss.

It would have been easy for Clemson to let their loss to Louisville two weeks ago fester. Instead, the Tigers went to Virginia Tech and beat the Hokies 24-14. Phil Mafah did some hard running in Blacksburg, rushing for 128 yards on 26 carries in the victory. Even though he struggled for most of the game, Cade Klubnik still found a way to toss three touchdown passes last week.

I’m not crazy about needing Clemson to win this game by at least 11 points, but I just can’t trust Pitt right now. Pat Narduzzi’s team has looked awful over the last two games, and if Virginia can win in Pittsburgh, I see no reason why a better Clemson team can’t do so. The Tigers add to the recent woes of the Panthers with a two touchdown victory.

Clemson 34, Pitt 20


Utah v. No. 17 Colorado (-11.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX

Do the Utes have anything left in the tank after having last week’s victory over BYU stolen from them? Utah started third-string quarterback Brandon Rose against the Cougars since Cam Rising has already been ruled out for the rest of the season, and backup Isaac Wilson wasn’t healthy enough to play last week. Rose actually didn’t play all that bad for having to go up against one of the tougher defenses in the country.

Wilson will be back behind center this week, since Rose has joined Rising on the injured list after suffering a leg injury. Along with Rising and Wilson, wide receiver Money Parks and tight end Brant Kuithe won’t play again this season because of injury.

Colorado v Texas Tech
Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images

Just when we were all ready to bury Colorado after losses to Nebraska and Kansas State, the Buffaloes have won three straight and will play in the Big 12 Championship Game if they win their final three games of the regular season. The College Football Playoff committee and their television partners have to be salivating at the thought of possibly having Deion Sanders’ team in the playoff.

While the Buffaloes still can’t run the football, they haven’t needed to since Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and the rest of the Colorado offense has been doing more than enough through the air.

What motivation does Utah have here? They had BYU on the ropes last week before the refs found a way to keep the Cougars undefeated. Along with the heartbreaking loss to their in-state rivals, the Utes lost two key receivers. Utah already had a difficult time generating offense, so it’s hard to see them finding enough points on the road against a Colorado defense that has been getting better as the season has moved along.

The Buffaloes keep their hopes of playing in the Big 12 Championship Game alive with an easy victory in Boulder.

Colorado 31, Utah 13


No. 22 LSU (-4.5) v. Florida - 3:30 p.m. ET - ABC

Both these teams enter this week’s game coming off embarrassing losses. LSU was whooped at home by Alabama on Saturday night, while Texas beat Florida 49-17 earlier in the day. The Gators are currently dealing with more questions since it is unknown if quarterback D.J. Lagway will be able to play this week as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Also, even though head coach Billy Napier received a vote of confidence, that could just be lip service if Florida continues to struggle the rest of the season.

I just don’t know why I should be backing Florida in this game. Those will probably be my famous last words since thoughts like they are why a bunch of big buildings with bright lights got built in the middle of the desert in Nevada. At least with LSU we have some semblance of an offense with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and running back Caden Durham.

It’s not like playing in Gainesville changes anything since it has been a while since the Gators have been unbeatable at home. Even if Lagway plays, he won’t be able to make enough plays to keep up with Nussmeier and the Tigers.

LSU 31, Florida 17


No. 23 Missouri v. No. 21 South Carolina (-12.5) - 4:15 p.m. ET - SEC Network

This spread might be the most puzzling of the week for me. Missouri does have questions at quarterback since Brady Cook has been injured. Last week with Cook sidelined, Notre Dame and Arizona State transfer Drew Pyne threw three touchdowns in the 30-23 win over Oklahoma. The Tigers still have playmakers at wide receiver in Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr., so I’m convinced they can still generate some offense if experienced quarterback Pyne has to start again this week.

Right now South Carolina is playing like one of the best teams in the country. The Gamecocks enter this game on a three-game winning streak, soundly beating Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt. At some point Shane Beamer’s team is going to fall into old habits and play a tight game.

Missouri feels like a team perfect for that job, especially since many are writing them off because of Cook’s injury. The Tigers have been solid against the run, so the Gamecocks will have a tougher time getting Rocket Sanders and quarterback LaNorris Sellers going on the ground.

I’m not saying Missouri wins, but they are going to give South Carolina all they can handle in this one. For some reason I think this is going to be one of those goofy SEC contests that comes down to the last possession.

South Carolina 27, Missouri 23


No. 7 Tennessee v. No. 12 Georgia (-10.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC

This season has been sorta strange for Tennessee. After winning their first four games of the season convincingly, the Volunteers have been sort of plodding along since losing to Arkansas last month.

Last week saw Tennessee win their first game by more than 10 points since beating Kent State 71-0 in September. Then again, the 33-14 win came against Mississippi State, so it’s not like the Volunteers were taking on the cream of the crop in the SEC. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava left last week’s game with an upper body injury since apparently he is a hockey player now. As of now there is no official word on Iamaleava’s status, but it sounds like the freshman will play on Saturday night.

Will the real Georgia please stand up? Last week the Bulldogs folded against Ole Miss in Oxford, losing 28-10 in rainy conditions. Quarterback Carson Beck just hasn’t been good this year, throwing 12 interceptions. Even in their 30-15 win over Texas last month, Beck tossed three interceptions. Along with not doing much through the air, Georgia was shut down on the ground, only rushing for 60 yards against the Rebels.

This isn’t quite the same Georgia team as we had become accustomed to. Beck doesn’t have any trusted targets in the passing game, the Bulldogs can’t consistently run the football, and the defense isn’t nearly as dominant as it has been the last few years. Running back Dylan Sampson and Iamaleava put together some drives, leading to the Volunteers shocking Georgia in Athens.

Tennessee 24, Georgia 21


Kansas v. No. 6 BYU (-3.5) - 10:15 p.m. ET - ESPN

After BYU escaped Salt Lake City with a win last week, Kansas is probably going to be a trendy pick this week. The Cougars went into halftime down 21-10 to the Utes before rallying in the second half, with some help from Big 12 refs late in the game.

Now Jake Retzlaff and BYU are even closer to not only earning a spot in the College Football Playoff, but they could earn a bye if they are able to win their last four games before the CFP participants are announced.

BYU v UCF
Photo by Conor Kvatek/UCF Athletics/University Images via Getty Images

Kansas was able to rebound from a close loss to Kansas State with a 45-36 win over Iowa State last week. Apparently the Cyclones were reeling a lot more from their loss to Texas Tech than I expected them to be. The Jayhawks carved up Iowa State’s defense, recording 532 yards of offense. Running back Devin Neal is now just 49 rushing yards shy of 4,000 in his career.

BYU just feels like a team of destiny. Even though they could end up winning by a field goal or less, I’m banking on the Cougars to return home and put together a better performance than we saw from them last week against Utah. BYU forces Daniels into a couple turnovers in this game as they go on to stay undefeated by beating the Jayhawks by at least a touchdown.

BYU 30, Kansas 20

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