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LGHL What prop bets can you make for Ohio State vs. Purdue game?

What prop bets can you make for Ohio State vs. Purdue game?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Purdue v Ohio State

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

If you’re betting on whether the final score is even or odd, you need to seek help!

Normally, playing the Purdue Boilermakers isn’t a cause for concern for the Ohio State football Buckeyes. But, let’s be honest, going to Ross-Ade Stadium always seems to be a bit more confounding and complicated than it needs to be. So, if you are feeling especially antsy about the Bucks’ game today and want to distract yourself with all of the unusual betting options available, I’m here to help.

So, let’s run through some of the most interesting prop bets for today’s game from our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook. One not mentioned below that I wanted to highlight is that DK has the chance of the game going to overtime at +1600. Obviously, if that happened all of Buckeye Nation would be thoroughly pissed and not especially worried about a prop bet, but in case you want to make that bet, feel free.

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Who Will Score First?​



This is always a fun one for me because trying to predict who scores first has to take into account a ton of football factors, but also things that are completely left to chance. Yes, you have to be able to analyze both teams’ offenses and defenses, but you’ve also got to keep in mind that who gets the ball first is essentially determined by a random flip of a coin.

Now, against Notre Dame, the Buckeyes won the toss and Ryan Day decided to take the ball (which I wholeheartedly support). So, there is a bit of strategic thinking that you have to figure in when making this bet. If most teams defer to the second half, but OSU opts to start on offense, that significantly increases the chances that the Buckeyes score first; and, considering that Ohio State’s offense is significantly better than Purdue’s, that feels like a fairly solid bet.

Of course, the most fun bet would be to put a buck or two on each safety option. While almost wholly unlikely, a $1 bet could profit you up to $800, so that’s certainly worth one dollar of sweat.

How Much Will the Largest Lead of the Game Be?​



According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the line for the game has dropped from 20.5 to 18 points, so the largest lead question is essentially whether or not Ohio State (or I suppose Purdue) will ever have a lead four points above the spread. While the Buckeyes did get the cover against Maryland, they have not been an especially great covering team in recent years, so to expect them to go above and beyond the spread at any point seems like something that might not be worth the wager, especially at fairly thin margins.

How Many Touchdowns Will Be Scored?​



I think this one is fun because of how mixed up the touchdown totals are. It goes 6 to 7 to 5 to 8 to 4 to 9 to 10 or more back down to 3. The distribution of odds is fascinating. The 6.5 total touchdowns aren’t all that interesting to me from an over/under perspective because I think that’s probably a fairly accurate line. However, I will be trying to decode the pattern in the odds breakdown until kickoff.

What Will the Winning Margin Be?​



Again, the line currently sits at 18 points for the Buckeyes, so it is interesting to me that the biggest gap doesn’t happen until the jump from 31 to 36 points and 37 to 42. Personally — because I am a terrible gambler — I would probably put a little bit on the 37 to 42 and 43+ options just because I think that there is a moderately decent chance of it happening and the pay out is good.

Who Will Score X Number of Points First?​



The answer to all of these is Ohio State. Just take Ohio State in all of them.

Will the Final Score Be an Even or Odd Number?​



This is for absolute degenerates only, but I need someone who is not completely worthless when it comes to math to walk me through why odd is a not insignificant favorite here.

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LGHL ‘Holy Buckeye’ more memorable Ross-Ade moment than 2018 loss for Ohio State fans

‘Holy Buckeye’ more memorable Ross-Ade moment than 2018 loss for Ohio State fans
Matt Tamanini 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Josh Proctor also takes the honor as the most surprisingly player on the Buckeyes’ roster this season.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have had a charmed history since the calendar flipped from the 1900s to the 2000s. However, one place that has curiously caused more consternation than would seem normal has been Ross-Ade Stadium. Ryan Day’s third-ranked squad travels to West Lafayette today to take on the Purdue Boilermakers, so we wanted to check in with Buckeye Nation about whether the best or worst 21st Century moment in Ross-Ade looms largest in their minds.


So, in this week’s fan survey, we asked whether the legendary “Holy Buckeye” pass from Craig Krenzel to Michael Jenkins or the 2018 upset loss had a bigger place in your memory. We also wanted to know which Buckeye had most surprised you through the first five games of the season.

See what your fellow Buckeye fans had to say in the results below, and feel free to share your opinions in the comments at the bottom of the page.

Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

Question 1: What is a bigger Ross-Ade memory in your mind?​



This is absolutely the answer for me. I am pleased that nearly two-thirds of respondents decided to stay positive on this one, but the “Holy Buckeye” game will always hold a special place in my heart because I was there in West Lafayette that day. I was a senior at Ohio State during the 2002 season and a member of the SPHINX senior class honorary. Someone had decided that for a group outing, we would road trip to Purdue. At the time, it didn’t seem like the most exciting of games to travel and see, but in retrospect, it couldn’t have been better.

We were seated in the first row behind the end zone where the final TD was scored, just on the opposite side of the field. So, we had an incredible view of Krenzel’s pass the entire way. When Jenkins caught the pass, the stadium — which was admittedly a bit overrun with Buckeyes — erupted, or at least it felt like it did, because we were going crazy.

That season was special for so many reasons, but one of them was that every game felt like an adventure, and fortunately for us, the Buckeyes cam out on the winning side of each one. Another thing that made that game special was that I was able to meet and get a picture with the late, great Neutron Man, Orlas King. The photo hangs on the wall of my living room amongst all of my other Buckeye paraphernalia. For Ohio State fans of a certain age, that is nearly as special as a picture with a player.

Question 2: Which Buckeye has been the biggest surprise for you this season?​



There is wisdom in the masses because I also believe that this is the correct answer. Chip Trayanum and Denzel Burke have both been fantastic, but they came into the season with some expectations of success; Burke because of his freshman year and Chip because of how he finished the 2022 season.

Proctor on the other hand entered the season as a sixth-year player who had started last year’s season opener only to be promptly benched. And while coaches and other players talked him up throughout the offseason, I have to admit that I was a doubter. However, he has proven that he not only deserves to start, but that he is also one of the most important players on the impressively stout Ohio State defense.

Now, the competition will be more difficult at times through the back-half of the campaign, but Proctor deserves all of the flowers that he has gotten thus far, because he has been superb.

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Google Buckeye teaching assistant met 13-year-old student in class, sexually abused him off campus 'several times', police say - 12news.com KPNX

Buckeye teaching assistant met 13-year-old student in class, sexually abused him off campus 'several times', police say - 12news.com KPNX
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Buckeye teaching assistant met 13-year-old student in class, sexually abused him off campus 'several times', police say 12news.com KPNX

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LGHL Our streaming expert has the best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Purdue for free without cable

Our streaming expert has the best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Purdue for free without cable
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 11 Toledo at Notre Dame

Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

You’ve got a number of free trials you can choose from of various lengths and breadths.

When the Big Ten signed its new $7 billion media rights deal, we knew that the landscape of college football broadcasting would be changing. So far this season, we have seen Ohio State play games on both CBS and NBC, and the third component of this new era in B1G sports hits home for Buckeye fans today as OSU will take on Purdue in a game airing exclusively on Peacock.

Now, if you are unfamiliar with what Peacock is, fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert... no really, I write about streaming services for a living. So, I am going to walk you through the best — and cheapest — ways for you to stream today’s game.

Before we get into all of that, if you didn’t know that there was a streaming service named Peacock, let me run you through the basics of it. Peacock it is the streaming service from Comcast and NBCUniversal. The streamer offers next-day streaming of shows from the full slate of NBCU shows on NBC, the USA Network, Bravo, and more. It also has deals with cable channels REELZ and the Hallmark Channel, so you can watch those stations live in the app and sample on-demand content.

The library on Peacock is also pretty strong with classic shows like “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “Cheers,” “Battlestar Galactica,” and more. It has also started to step up its original programming game with hit shows like “Bel-Air,” “Poker Face,” and ”Mrs. Davis.”

However, for our purposes, it is probably most important to know that the streamer has a host of exclusive sporting events and simulcasts games, races, matches, and more from NBC channels. Not only are there exclusive Big Ten football games, but there will also be over 50 streaming-only B1G men’s and women’s basketball contests this season.

Peacock is also the home to tons of international soccer, the NFL’s “Sunday Night Football,” all of the WWE’s previously pay-per-view events, and more.

So, now that you know what Peacock is, let’s get into how you actually watch today’s game.

How can I watch the Ohio State vs. Purdue college football game?​


Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 14 at 12 noon ET
TV: Peacock
Broadcasters: Andrew Siciliano, Kyle Rudolph, Lewis Johnson
Betting Line: Ohio State -18 | 52 o/u

Also, if you want to put a little money on the game over at DraftKings Sportsbook, not only would it make what could be a blowout even more exciting, but you could make enough cash to pay for a full month of cable or streaming!

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.​

Best Streaming Option to Watch Ohio State vs. Purdue: Peacock​


Not only is this the best streaming option to watch the Ohio State vs. Purdue game today, but it is, in fact, the only way to watch it at all. While having to sign up for a new streaming service just to watch your favorite team beat the snot out of an overmatched opponent (let’s hope) is not ideal, Peacock is about the best option for doing so that you could hope for.

NBCU has made the service one of the cheapest subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms on the market. You can sign up for the ad-supported Peacock Premium for just $5.99 per month or the ad-free Premium Plus for $11.99. At one point, Comcast offered a version of Peacock for free and a subsidy to Xfinity cable and internet subscribers, but that is no longer the case. Also, there is no free trial to the service, so if you want to watch the Buckeyes and Boilermakers, you will need to cough up at least $6.

However, with all of the Big Ten action — and sports in general — on the streamer, it might be worth it keep the subscription moving forward, especially if you are a fan of “That’s what she said” jokes, real housewives, and four-chair turns.

Join the conversation​


Below is your Ohio State vs. Purdue 2023 game thread. Be respectful, be kind and — as always — keep it classy, BuckeyeNation. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s finish the season strong!

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.​


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LGHL Tailgate Podcast: Everything you need to know to watch the Ohio State vs. Purdue game

Tailgate Podcast: Everything you need to know to watch the Ohio State vs. Purdue game
Matt Tamanini 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

The only Ohio State game day podcast you need.

Before every Ohio State football game, Matt Tamanini will get you ready with all of the information that you need for that day’s game on the “LGHL Tailgate” podcast.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio​

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (-18) vs. Purdue | over/under 52​


Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 14 at 12 noon ET
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
TV: Peacock
Radio: 97.1 FM/1460 AM

The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes have two goals today as they head to Ross-Ade Stadium to take on the Purdue Boilermakers. First, they need to win the game as they continue to prepare for the next major hurdle of their season as Penn State will visit The Horseshoe next weekend.

The second is to avoid any of the bad juju that has often accompanied them when they have played in West Lafayette this century. At just 3-and-5 at Ross-Ade since 2000, the stadium has a bit of a house of horrors for OSU. Fortunately for Ryan Day’s squad, all of those losses occurred when Purdue had a dominant NFL player on one side of the ball; either Drew Brees or Mondale Moore on offense or Ryan Kerrigan on defense. They do not have that this year.

This game should be a much more standard Ohio State vs. overmatched Big Ten opponent contest... but you never know what could happen in West Lafayette.

Matt’s Prediction: Ohio State 41, Purdue 13​


Kyle McCord: 325 yards passing
Hudson Card: Under 200 yards passing
Ohio State’s defense: Will get to the QB often


Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: epidemicsound.com​

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.​


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LGHL Three Things To Watch at Purdue

Three Things To Watch at Purdue
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: Journal-Courier

Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK

The hex on Ohio State at Ross-Ade Stadium is all too real for Buckeye fans

Ohio State has played Purdue 14 times since the 2000 season. While Ohio State has won the majority of those games (nine games for Ohio State), all five of the losses have taken place at Ross-Ade Stadium. This is not limited to only one coaching staff being unable to solve the mystery of why Purdue plays Ohio State tough at Ross-Ade Stadium, as previous coaches John Cooper, Jim Tressel, Luke Fickell and Urban Meyer all suffered losses at the hands of the “Spoilermakers.”

  • 2000, when Drew Brees hit a wide open Seth Morales to clinch the game for Purdue.
  • 2004, when Troy Smith threw three interceptions in a 24-17 loss.
  • 2009, when Terrelle Pryor threw two interceptions and had two fumbles in a 26-18 loss.
  • 2011, when Purdue defeated Ohio State 26-23 in overtime. This was a pivotal loss in Luke Fickell’s tenure, as Ohio State fell to 6-4 on the season, and the whispers about Urban Meyer coming to Ohio State became even louder. Speaking of Urban Meyer...
  • 2018, when Ohio State went on the road for a night game at Ross-Ade Stadium. At the time, I was a contributor to Athlon Sports, and I caught grief from some people for predicting an Ohio State loss, 49-42. How right my critics were, as Purdue defeated Ohio State 49-20. Oh well — at least I got the 49 points right for Purdue.

The point I am trying to make is that no matter the coach, no matter how talented the team, Ohio State has usually struggled at Ross-Ade Stadium. Throw in the fact that the weather forecast for West Lafayette on Saturday is looking to be a wet and rainy affair, so that should be taken into account. Fortunately for Ohio State, head coach Ryan Day was on the staff for the 2018 humiliation, and will be able to have his team properly focused when the game kicks off on Peacock (more on that later) at 12pm ET.

Below are Three Things To Watch At Purdue...

  1. Will the Ohio State offensive line allow the Buckeyes to run the ball consistently?

As written up above, the current weather forecast is a 45% chance of rain in the afternoon, with a high temperature of 59 degrees. In other words, typical B1G football weather for mid-October. With a rainy, possibly slick field, Ohio State may be inclined to lean on its struggling running game.

For an Ohio State team coming off a poor running game against Maryland (62 yards on 33 attempts, a 1.9 yards per carry average), this could be a shot at redemption, especially with a big nationally televised home game against Penn State on the horizon. Purdue is giving up an average of about 154 yards per game on the ground. I will be watching to see if Chip Trayanum is featured prominently, especially in short yardage situations.

2. Can Ohio State maintain its streak of interceptions?

Purdue quarterback Hudson Card is coming off a game at Iowa that saw Card throw two interceptions in a 20-14 loss. Card also threw two interceptions in a 38-17 home loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 22. The formerly-maligned Ohio State secondary has been playing better, and perhaps junior cornerback Denzel Burke will be able to come up big with an interception in this game.

3. Can Ohio State avoid the sluggish start?

This game will be at 11am CT, but for the Ohio State players, their respective body clocks will be treating it like a noon game. Ohio State sleepwalked through the first half last week versus Maryland, and were fortunate to be tied at the half with the Terrapins. It will be reassuring to see Ohio State come out and establish some dominance right from the onset. It will be important for Ohio State to come out and take control of this game from Purdue, especially considering their home field success against the Buckeyes over the years.


For all of the rending of garments and gnashing of teeth about this game being on Peacock, let me just say this: I understand the frustration. Nobody likes having to download another application.

The reality is this — The B1G signed a 7 year contract that stipulates that a certain number of games will be on Peacock, every season. For every Ohio State fan who is proclaiming that they are outraged and going to boycott this game, the sad reality is that the check has already been cashed by the B1G, and these types of games are going to be taking place from now until the conclusion of the new media contract, and that will not be taking place until 2029-2030.

It could be worse! This game marks the third-straight game that the Boilermakers have been on Peacock.

For those of you who do not wish to spend the $6 fee to download Peacock, you have some options...

  1. Listen to the game on 97.1 The Fan
  2. Find a sports bar that is televising the game, but I am guessing that you will spend more money than $6 at a bar
  3. Watch another game and check for updates periodically

I like Ohio State to come out of the gate better than a week ago, and I am guessing that the coaching staff wants to see how the offensive line and running game respond after what I am speculating was a renewed commitment to running the ball.

I have it Ohio State 38, Purdue 17.

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LGHL MC&J: Ohio State is favored by nearly three touchdowns in Week 7 Big Ten action

MC&J: Ohio State is favored by nearly three touchdowns in Week 7 Big Ten action
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Maryland v Ohio State

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

The Buckeyes look to leave Ross-Ade Stadium with an easy win over the Boilermakers. Plus, picks for five other games in the conference.

Last week ATS: 5-9 (1-8 National, 4-1 B1G)​

Season ATS: 52-58 (20-36 National, 32-22 B1G)​


Picks for the games outside the Big Ten this week on my radar can be found here.

B1G games​


Indiana v. No. 2 Michigan (-33.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX

Michigan has finally allowed double digits in a game this year. Team in crisis! Just kidding, the Wolverines are looking like the most dominant team in the country so far this season. I know they haven’t played anyone, but they are leaving no doubt in their victories. Michigan looks like they found another gear when head coach Jim Harbaugh returned to the sidelines after his suspension.

It’s going to be a long afternoon on both sides of the field for Indiana. The Hoosiers are still unsettled at quarterback, which isn’t something you want to be against the stingy defense of the Wolverines. Even though Indiana has a defense that does play hard, they’ll be up against it when they try and slow down J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum.

There are a couple reasons I think this might be a few too many points for Michigan to be laying. Not only is Indiana coming off a bye that allowed them to work on some things, the Wolverines have a rivalry game against Michigan State next week. Michigan still wins easily, I just think it looks more like their 31-7 win over Rutgers a few weeks ago than the 52-10 win we saw from them last week against Minnesota.

Michigan 34, Indiana 7


Michigan State v. Rutgers (-4.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

The bye week came at the perfect time for Michigan State. The Spartans have lost three games in a row, and they have had plenty to deal with after the firing of head coach Mel Tucker. Last time out Michigan State actually didn’t play that bad, leading Iowa into the fourth quarter before the Hawkeyes scored 13 points to win 26-16.

Rutgers always plays hard, they just aren’t all that good. Take last week for example. The Scarlet Knights weren’t really threatening Wisconsin, they just used a late touchdown to cover the point spread. I’m not sold on Rutgers being over a field goal favorite against a team coming off a bye that is starting to play a little better. This game feels like it could be decided by a field goal so I’ll take the points here.

Michigan State 20, Rutgers 17


Massachusetts v. No. 6 Penn State (-41.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

UMass is one of the worst teams in college football, so it’s hard to imagine the Minutemen hanging around in this one. Penn State finds the end zone early and often before pulling their starters. Even when the second string is in, expect James Franklin to keep his foot on the gas since we have seen how much he loves covering the spread.

Penn State 54, UMass 10


Illinois v. Maryland (-13.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - NBC

While Maryland did lose to Ohio State last week, it’s not like they looked bad in the loss. The Terrapins hung tough with the Buckeyes for most of the game. Taulia Tagovailoa is one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten, so it’ll be quite a contrast to see him against Luke Altmyer, who is one of the worst quarterbacks in the Big Ten.

I know there is usually a bit of a letdown from teams after a tough game against Ohio State. We’re not going to see that this week. Last year the Terrapins responded to their loss to the Buckeyes with a couple wins to close out the season. Illinois not only just lost to Nebraska, they were dominated by the Cornhuskers. If Illinois can’t get up for a game against the Cornhuskers at home, I don’t see how they do for one at Maryland.

Maryland 41, Illinois 24


Iowa v. Wisconsin (-9.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - FOX

Last week Iowa had one of the ugliest wins you’ll ever see. The Hawkeyes beat Purdue 20-14, but new starting quarterback Deacon Hill was just 6 of 21 passing. Luckily Iowa got 134 yards rushing from Kaleb Johnson. I know the defense of the Hawkeyes is fantastic, but how long can they carry this anemic offense?

It’s not like Wisconsin is setting the world on fire. Tanner Mordecai continues to struggle throwing the football. At least Braelon Allen is seeing more touches, as last week he carried the football 21 times for 101 yards. Things still aren’t clicking for the Badgers on offense, though. At least Wisconsin has been able to pile some wins against lesser opponents before the meat of their schedule.

As much as I like the Iowa defense, I just can’t trust their offense. Deacon Hill is going to have a tough afternoon dealing with the hostile environment he’ll see in Madison. I could see the Badgers turning the Hawkeyes over a few times and setting Mordecai and the offense up in good position, allowing them to gain a little confidence. It won’t be pretty, but I think Wisconsin wins by at least 10.

Wisconsin 24, Iowa 13


No. 3 Ohio State (-19.5) v. Purdue - 12:00 p.m. ET - Peacock

For as much complaining as myself and Buckeye Nation have done so far this year about the team, Ohio State is still undefeated. Even though they haven’t looked great, all that matters is they still have a 0 in the loss column, which is something a lot of teams can’t say. Although it would be nice to see Ryan Day’s team put together a complete game on offense. Even the blowout over Western Kentucky had a bit of a slow start to it.

Purdue feels like they should be better than 2-4 with the pieces they have. Hudson Card is a solid quarterback, Devin Mockobee and Tyrone Tracy Jr. can run the football, and the defense has some players that can make some noise. Some of the struggles can probably be attributed to having a first-year head coach. Ryan Walters will likely find his way since he is a young coach, he has just had to deal with some growing pains halfway through his first season.

Then there is the recent history in West Lafayette, where Ohio State is just 3-5 since 2000. At least this year there is no Rondale Moore on the roster to give Buckeye fans nightmares. Ohio State will likely be without Emeka Egbuka for this game after he suffered a leg injury against Maryland, but at least the injury comes at a position where the Buckeyes have loads of talent. It sounds like TreVeyon Henderson is trending in the right direction after missing last week with an injury suffered against Notre Dame.

I really do think we see a more complete performance this week from Ohio State, since Day will want his team sharp heading into next week’s showdown with Penn State. If Purdue was playing better than they have this year, I’d be a little more fearful of Ross-Ade Stadium. The Buckeye defense continues to excel, forcing Card into some mistakes that allow Ohio State to build a lead and breathe a little easier in the second half.

Ohio State 38, Purdue 14

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LGHL You’re Nuts: What is the sneakiest trap game for Ohio State men’s basketball?

You’re Nuts: What is the sneakiest trap game for Ohio State men’s basketball?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Media Days

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Which not-hard game on the schdule do our writers think will actually turn into a very-hard game?

On Oct. 3, the Big Ten conference released tip times and TV assignments for men’s basketball. That means we now know which games are going to be nationally televised, which games will be streaming-only, and which games will be in prime time, allowing the home crowd to “prepare” for the game on campus all day long. With that in mind, we’re going to discuss some potential pitfalls on the Buckeyes’ schedule.

Last week, Connor and Justin each made a prediction for Big Ten Coach of the Year. Justin chose Kevin Willard, whose Maryland Terrapins were picked to finish third in the Big Ten in this year’s media poll. Connor went with Greg Gard, whose Wisconsin Badgers were picked to finish fifth in the same poll.


50% of the people who read last week’s piece chose “other,” which means that neither Connor nor Justin won this week. 50% went with the other, while 38% voted with Justin, and the remaining 12% voted with Connor.

After 121 weeks:​

Connor- 55
Justin- 48
Other- 14​

(There have been four ties)​


This week, we’re debating the trappiest trap game on the Buckeyes’ schedule. For reference, a “trap game” is a game that, at first glance, doesn’t look too challenging, but for various reasons, could wind up being much harder than you’d think.

Today’s Question: What is the sneakiest trap game for Ohio State men’s basketball? ​

Connor: At Wisconsin (Feb. 13)​

NCAA Basketball: NIT Tournament First Round - Bradley vs Wisconsin
Mark Hoffman - USA Today Sports

But Connor, how can a road game against Wisconsin — a team picked to finish higher than Ohio State — be considered a trap game? How could any game at the Kohl Center — where they’ve been rumored to turn down the temperature drastically and where they use “The Rock” brand basketball just to be difficult — be a trap game?

Well, take a look at the few games around this one, and I think you’d agree that the road game at Wisconsin might get overlooked just a bit. The week prior, Ohio State will face Indiana at home on Tuesday night and Maryland at home on Saturday afternoon. Those are two home games against upper-echelon Big Ten teams, the second of which is a weekend home game. Attendance should be great for both games and if Ohio State is able to win both, everyone’s eyes will begin to look down the road to another big matchup... Purdue, that is.

If the Buckeyes are flying high come February and knock off Indiana and Maryland that week, Purdue will be looming just eight days later. The Boilermakers beat the Buckeyes three times last season, have the National Player of the Year on their team, and won the Big Ten outright. People will be very excited about that game, especially if Ohio State is playing well.

However, Ohio State will have to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, that Tuesday night and play the Badgers at the Kohl Center, where they’ve won just one of their last five games at. With Purdue looming, it could be easy to undercut the importance of winning this game. Beating a talented Wisconsin team on the road will do wonders for Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament resume.

I’m just wondering if, after winning two big home games and with Purdue in the distance, could this Wisconsin game turn into a bad, bad time for the Buckeyes? I could see Ohio State winning a few games in a row, but then walking into a buzzsaw in Madison — just to remind OSU who’s won the Big Ten more recently.

Justin: At Michigan (Jan. 15)​

Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

It is funny that we are talking about a trap game for a team that went 5-15 last season in the conference. But that’s the past! This year, we can expect some more wins. I hope.

The trap game I am penciling in is at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor when the Buckeyes play at Michigan on Jan. 15. The reason: it is early in the conference play season, and it is important to get off to a great start in conference play

This can be a trap game as Ohio State will likely be the favorite since Michigan is projected to finish in the bottom part of the Big Ten. The five games the Buckeyes have after this one are at home against Penn State, at Nebraska, at Northwestern, at home against Illinois, and at Iowa. All of those games are winnable, with the Illinois game being at Value City Arena. If they can beat Michigan on the road, it can jump-start a huge winning streak to end January.

Plus, it can erase some demons. This was around the same time last season that the losing streak started. The Buckeyes can get some solid momentum going by starting a winning streak instead of a losing streak in the middle of January. But if they lose this one, all of the other games get a little tougher ahead of them.

And besides, it is always fun to beat Michigan.


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