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LGHL Ohio State-Northwestern opens up Week 8’s Big Ten betting lines
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Ohio State-Northwestern opens up Week 8’s Big Ten betting lines
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
The Buckeyes kick off this week’s Big Ten slate as a four touchdown favorite over Northwestern, while Michigan and Penn State close the weekend under the lights in State College.
Last week ATS: 6-6 (3-3 National, 3-3 B1G)
Season ATS: 50-46-3 (21-18-2 National, 29-28-1 B1G)
Since Ohio State is playing on Friday night, MC&J is doing things a little different this week. Instead of posting picks for the best national games of the week on Thursday, we’ve moved them to Friday, with this week’s Big Ten picks taking the Thursday slot.
Last week we made no progress in our season record, but we also didn’t give any ground. We had some bad luck last week in a few games which erased what could’ve been a good week. Iowa had a shot to cover against Penn State, but the Hawkeyes couldn’t convert a two-point conversion late in the game, Michigan blew a 28-point lead against Illinois, and Florida couldn’t score late against LSU to cover. But we can’t dwell on the past too much, as there are plenty of games this week to turn our attention to.
B1G games:
No. 4 Ohio State (-28) v. Northwestern - Friday 10/18 8:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network
Friday night football in the Big Ten needs to be cancelled immediately. Leave it for conferences like the Pac-12 and ACC, but the Big Ten can do better than that. Hopefully the TV scheduling snafu the cancellation of Game 4 of the ALCS has caused, pushing this game from FS1 to the Big Ten Network, makes the Big Ten reconsider Friday night games in the future.
It doesn’t matter if Ohio State was playing Northwestern on Friday night, Tuesday afternoon, or Thursday morning, the Buckeyes are going to roll. Ohio State will come into this game fresh and ready to go after having a bye last week. The Buckeyes started off a little slow against Michigan State a couple weeks ago, but they easily handled Michigan State in Columbus. Quarterback Justin Fields already has 26 total touchdowns through just six games this year, while J.K. Dobbins is 174 yards away from rushing for 1,000 yards for the third straight year.
This isn’t anywhere close to the Northwestern team that put a serious scare into Ohio State the last time the Buckeyes played under the lights in Evanston in 2013. The Wildcats have serious issues on offense, as they are averaging less than 300 yards of offense per game. Quarterback Hunter Johnson didn’t play against Nebraska, but will play against Ohio State. With Chase Young lining up at defense end for the Buckeyes, Johnson might want to lobby the coaching staff to sit out another week.
Four touchdowns is a pretty big spread to cover on the road on the Big Ten, but Ohio State is the one team in the conference that can do it. The Buckeyes are loaded on both sides of the football, and even a lot of Ohio State’s backups could likely start for Northwestern. The Wildcats did keep things tight against Wisconsin a few weeks ago, but Ohio State won’t make the same mistakes the Badgers did to keep Northwestern in the game. The Buckeyes add to Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s problems with a blowout victory.
Ohio State 45, Northwestern 10
No. 6 Wisconsin (-31) v. Illinois - 12:00 PM EST - Big Ten Network
Wisconsin has been incredible so far this season. The Badgers have only allowed their opponents to score in two of six games so far this year, and is allowing opponents less than 175 yards of offense per game. Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters sat out last week’s game against Michigan due to a concussion, but will start for the Fighting Illini if he’s cleared to play. Peters might be wise to try and sit out another week instead of having to go against the Wisconsin defense.
This game could be over early if Jonathan Taylor keeps rolling. The Wisconsin running back already has 825 yards rushing and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Illinois is giving up over 200 yards per game on the ground to opponents, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Taylor go over 1,000 yards rushing for the season on Saturday afternoon.
The Badgers have dominated Illinois of late, winning their last nine meetings with the Fighting Illini. With Ohio State on deck for Wisconsin I was tempted to take Illinois, but I just don’t see where the offense is going to come from for Lovie Smith’s team. Unlike Michigan last week, when Wisconsin jumps out to a big lead the Badgers won’t let Illinois get back into the game.
Wisconsin 41, Illinois 7
Purdue v. No. 23 Iowa (-17.5) - 12:00 PM EST - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN2
Purdue put forth quite the performance last week against Maryland, beating the Terrapins 40-14. Backup quarterback Jack Plummer had his best performance since taking over for an injured Elijah Sindelar, throwing for 420 yards and three touchdowns. Now the Boilermakers turn their attention to Iowa, who they have beaten the last two years.
Iowa isn’t in a good place right now after losing the last two weeks to Michigan and Penn State. After Penn State ran for over 150 yards against the Hawkeyes, Iowa’s rush defense should get a break against a Purdue team that can’t run the football. Quarterback Nate Stanley should also be able to breathe a little easier after being hounded by Penn State’s pass rush last week.
This game would be a little easier to predict if Purdue had Rondale Moore back from injury, but it doesn’t sound like the wide receiver will play. Even without Moore, I think Purdue still finds a way to cover. Iowa is a little beaten up after losses to the Wolverines and Nittany Lions, but they stop their skid on Saturday. A two touchdown win over the Boilermakers sounds about right.
Iowa 31, Purdue 17
No. 20 Minnesota (-28.5) v. Rutgers - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network
Rutgers has been shut out in three of four Big Ten games this year, while Minnesota is undefeated and getting better every week. No reason to overthink this, the Golden Gophers should have no problems with the Scarlet Knights.
Minnesota 44, Rutgers 3
Indiana (-5.5) v. Maryland - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network
Indiana has actually been pretty decent this year. It feels really weird to say that, but the only losses for the Hoosiers this year came at the hands of Ohio State and Michigan State. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been strong for Indiana when he has been healthy, throwing for over 280 yards and three touchdowns in each of the last two games.
Maryland continues to be unpredictable. After housing Rutgers two weeks ago to stop a two-game losing streak, their winning ways didn’t last long, as Maryland was blown out by Purdue last week. Quarterback Josh Jackson is still injured, meaning Tyrrell Pigrome will get another start for the Terrapins. Adding to Maryland’s problems, wide receiver DJ Turner has been suspended for the rest of the season, and running back Anthony McFarland Jr. is questionable for Saturday’s game.
Maryland is so backwards they’ll probably end up winning this week, but I just can’t back them here. Indiana’s defense has been stout this year against everyone but Ohio State and Michigan State. With Maryland’s offense missing a lot of pieces, I think Indiana gets another win closer to bowl eligibility.
Indiana 34, Maryland 20
No. 16 Michigan v. No. 7 Penn State (-9) - 7:30 PM EST - ABC
Penn State has been a lot better than I expected them to be this year. The Nittany Lions filled up early this season on cupcakes, which has allowed them to gain some confidence for some of their bigger tests later in the season. Penn State passed their first true test last week, beating Iowa 17-12 in Iowa City.
Now the Nittany Lions return home to take on the Wolverines in a “white out” on Saturday night. Quarterback Sean Clifford has been a solid replacement for Trace McSorley, tossing 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Running back Noah Cain has emerged in the Penn State backfield, rushing for 100 yards in each of the last two games.
What a weird game for the Wolverines last week. After jumping out on 28-0 on Illinois, Michigan let the Fighting Illini score 25 unanswered points to close the gap. The Wolverines responded by scoring the last 17 points of the game to secure the victory. Even though Michigan is winning, Shea Patterson isn’t inspiring a ton of confidence at the quarterback position. Patterson will be hounded on Saturday night by a relentless pass rush.
On the surface this seems like a lot of points for Penn State to be giving to another ranked team, but Michigan isn’t all that good. Don’t expect the Wolverines to be ranked in a couple weeks after they lose to Penn State this week and Notre Dame next week. The result won’t be quite as ugly as the 42-13 beating the Nittany Lions put on Michigan a couple years ago in State College, but Penn State forces Michigan into a few turnovers and send the Wolverines back to Ann Arbor with a double-digit loss.
Penn State 33, Michigan 17
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes kick off this week’s Big Ten slate as a four touchdown favorite over Northwestern, while Michigan and Penn State close the weekend under the lights in State College.
Last week ATS: 6-6 (3-3 National, 3-3 B1G)
Season ATS: 50-46-3 (21-18-2 National, 29-28-1 B1G)
Since Ohio State is playing on Friday night, MC&J is doing things a little different this week. Instead of posting picks for the best national games of the week on Thursday, we’ve moved them to Friday, with this week’s Big Ten picks taking the Thursday slot.
Last week we made no progress in our season record, but we also didn’t give any ground. We had some bad luck last week in a few games which erased what could’ve been a good week. Iowa had a shot to cover against Penn State, but the Hawkeyes couldn’t convert a two-point conversion late in the game, Michigan blew a 28-point lead against Illinois, and Florida couldn’t score late against LSU to cover. But we can’t dwell on the past too much, as there are plenty of games this week to turn our attention to.
B1G games:
No. 4 Ohio State (-28) v. Northwestern - Friday 10/18 8:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network
Friday night football in the Big Ten needs to be cancelled immediately. Leave it for conferences like the Pac-12 and ACC, but the Big Ten can do better than that. Hopefully the TV scheduling snafu the cancellation of Game 4 of the ALCS has caused, pushing this game from FS1 to the Big Ten Network, makes the Big Ten reconsider Friday night games in the future.
It doesn’t matter if Ohio State was playing Northwestern on Friday night, Tuesday afternoon, or Thursday morning, the Buckeyes are going to roll. Ohio State will come into this game fresh and ready to go after having a bye last week. The Buckeyes started off a little slow against Michigan State a couple weeks ago, but they easily handled Michigan State in Columbus. Quarterback Justin Fields already has 26 total touchdowns through just six games this year, while J.K. Dobbins is 174 yards away from rushing for 1,000 yards for the third straight year.
This isn’t anywhere close to the Northwestern team that put a serious scare into Ohio State the last time the Buckeyes played under the lights in Evanston in 2013. The Wildcats have serious issues on offense, as they are averaging less than 300 yards of offense per game. Quarterback Hunter Johnson didn’t play against Nebraska, but will play against Ohio State. With Chase Young lining up at defense end for the Buckeyes, Johnson might want to lobby the coaching staff to sit out another week.
Four touchdowns is a pretty big spread to cover on the road on the Big Ten, but Ohio State is the one team in the conference that can do it. The Buckeyes are loaded on both sides of the football, and even a lot of Ohio State’s backups could likely start for Northwestern. The Wildcats did keep things tight against Wisconsin a few weeks ago, but Ohio State won’t make the same mistakes the Badgers did to keep Northwestern in the game. The Buckeyes add to Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s problems with a blowout victory.
Ohio State 45, Northwestern 10
No. 6 Wisconsin (-31) v. Illinois - 12:00 PM EST - Big Ten Network
Wisconsin has been incredible so far this season. The Badgers have only allowed their opponents to score in two of six games so far this year, and is allowing opponents less than 175 yards of offense per game. Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters sat out last week’s game against Michigan due to a concussion, but will start for the Fighting Illini if he’s cleared to play. Peters might be wise to try and sit out another week instead of having to go against the Wisconsin defense.
This game could be over early if Jonathan Taylor keeps rolling. The Wisconsin running back already has 825 yards rushing and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Illinois is giving up over 200 yards per game on the ground to opponents, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Taylor go over 1,000 yards rushing for the season on Saturday afternoon.
The Badgers have dominated Illinois of late, winning their last nine meetings with the Fighting Illini. With Ohio State on deck for Wisconsin I was tempted to take Illinois, but I just don’t see where the offense is going to come from for Lovie Smith’s team. Unlike Michigan last week, when Wisconsin jumps out to a big lead the Badgers won’t let Illinois get back into the game.
Wisconsin 41, Illinois 7
Purdue v. No. 23 Iowa (-17.5) - 12:00 PM EST - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN2
Purdue put forth quite the performance last week against Maryland, beating the Terrapins 40-14. Backup quarterback Jack Plummer had his best performance since taking over for an injured Elijah Sindelar, throwing for 420 yards and three touchdowns. Now the Boilermakers turn their attention to Iowa, who they have beaten the last two years.
Iowa isn’t in a good place right now after losing the last two weeks to Michigan and Penn State. After Penn State ran for over 150 yards against the Hawkeyes, Iowa’s rush defense should get a break against a Purdue team that can’t run the football. Quarterback Nate Stanley should also be able to breathe a little easier after being hounded by Penn State’s pass rush last week.
This game would be a little easier to predict if Purdue had Rondale Moore back from injury, but it doesn’t sound like the wide receiver will play. Even without Moore, I think Purdue still finds a way to cover. Iowa is a little beaten up after losses to the Wolverines and Nittany Lions, but they stop their skid on Saturday. A two touchdown win over the Boilermakers sounds about right.
Iowa 31, Purdue 17
No. 20 Minnesota (-28.5) v. Rutgers - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network
Rutgers has been shut out in three of four Big Ten games this year, while Minnesota is undefeated and getting better every week. No reason to overthink this, the Golden Gophers should have no problems with the Scarlet Knights.
Minnesota 44, Rutgers 3
Indiana (-5.5) v. Maryland - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network
Indiana has actually been pretty decent this year. It feels really weird to say that, but the only losses for the Hoosiers this year came at the hands of Ohio State and Michigan State. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been strong for Indiana when he has been healthy, throwing for over 280 yards and three touchdowns in each of the last two games.
Maryland continues to be unpredictable. After housing Rutgers two weeks ago to stop a two-game losing streak, their winning ways didn’t last long, as Maryland was blown out by Purdue last week. Quarterback Josh Jackson is still injured, meaning Tyrrell Pigrome will get another start for the Terrapins. Adding to Maryland’s problems, wide receiver DJ Turner has been suspended for the rest of the season, and running back Anthony McFarland Jr. is questionable for Saturday’s game.
Maryland is so backwards they’ll probably end up winning this week, but I just can’t back them here. Indiana’s defense has been stout this year against everyone but Ohio State and Michigan State. With Maryland’s offense missing a lot of pieces, I think Indiana gets another win closer to bowl eligibility.
Indiana 34, Maryland 20
No. 16 Michigan v. No. 7 Penn State (-9) - 7:30 PM EST - ABC
Penn State has been a lot better than I expected them to be this year. The Nittany Lions filled up early this season on cupcakes, which has allowed them to gain some confidence for some of their bigger tests later in the season. Penn State passed their first true test last week, beating Iowa 17-12 in Iowa City.
Now the Nittany Lions return home to take on the Wolverines in a “white out” on Saturday night. Quarterback Sean Clifford has been a solid replacement for Trace McSorley, tossing 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Running back Noah Cain has emerged in the Penn State backfield, rushing for 100 yards in each of the last two games.
What a weird game for the Wolverines last week. After jumping out on 28-0 on Illinois, Michigan let the Fighting Illini score 25 unanswered points to close the gap. The Wolverines responded by scoring the last 17 points of the game to secure the victory. Even though Michigan is winning, Shea Patterson isn’t inspiring a ton of confidence at the quarterback position. Patterson will be hounded on Saturday night by a relentless pass rush.
On the surface this seems like a lot of points for Penn State to be giving to another ranked team, but Michigan isn’t all that good. Don’t expect the Wolverines to be ranked in a couple weeks after they lose to Penn State this week and Notre Dame next week. The result won’t be quite as ugly as the 42-13 beating the Nittany Lions put on Michigan a couple years ago in State College, but Penn State forces Michigan into a few turnovers and send the Wolverines back to Ann Arbor with a double-digit loss.
Penn State 33, Michigan 17
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LGHL Ohio State junior Musa Jallow to have surgery, out indefinitely
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Ohio State junior Musa Jallow to have surgery, out indefinitely
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Bloomington native has started 23 games in his Ohio State career.
On Thursday, the Oho State Buckeyes men’s basketball team announced that junior wing Musa Jallow would undergo an arthroscopic procedure on Friday to deal with an inured ankle.
Ohio State junior guard Musa Jallow will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right ankle Friday. He will be out indefinitely. pic.twitter.com/wplDNe1xt4
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) October 17, 2019
Jallow had missed preseason practices while he dealt with the injury, but on Wednesday, head coach Chris Holtmann said that he had returned to practice in minimal, non-contact work. The Bloomington, Ind. native has dealt with ankle injuries throughout his career.
In two seasons with the Buckeyes, Jallow has started 23 games, but averages just 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. However, Jallow is expected to be one of the leaders of the team following the graduations of C.J. Jackson and Keyshawn Woods in the back-court.
If the surgery keeps Jallow out for an extended period of time, that could open the door for more playing time for young players like Duane Washington Jr., Justin Ahrens, and potentially even frshman E.J. Liddell.
The basketball Buckeyes will start their regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Schottenstein Center as they host the Cincinnati Bearcats. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Bloomington native has started 23 games in his Ohio State career.
On Thursday, the Oho State Buckeyes men’s basketball team announced that junior wing Musa Jallow would undergo an arthroscopic procedure on Friday to deal with an inured ankle.
Ohio State junior guard Musa Jallow will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right ankle Friday. He will be out indefinitely. pic.twitter.com/wplDNe1xt4
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) October 17, 2019
Jallow had missed preseason practices while he dealt with the injury, but on Wednesday, head coach Chris Holtmann said that he had returned to practice in minimal, non-contact work. The Bloomington, Ind. native has dealt with ankle injuries throughout his career.
In two seasons with the Buckeyes, Jallow has started 23 games, but averages just 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. However, Jallow is expected to be one of the leaders of the team following the graduations of C.J. Jackson and Keyshawn Woods in the back-court.
If the surgery keeps Jallow out for an extended period of time, that could open the door for more playing time for young players like Duane Washington Jr., Justin Ahrens, and potentially even frshman E.J. Liddell.
The basketball Buckeyes will start their regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Schottenstein Center as they host the Cincinnati Bearcats. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
Continue reading...
LGHL A brief history of Ohio State non-Saturday games
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A brief history of Ohio State non-Saturday games
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s brief because it doesn’t happen that often.
It’s been a weird trend in college football this year to move Thursday night games over to Friday night, presumably to account for Thursday Night Football for the NFL. But even this shift hasn’t touched the Buckeyes, who have rarely played in non-Saturday matchups -- until now.
Fans might be scratching their heads at the seeming scheduling error which pits undefeated Ohio State against 1-4 Northwestern Friday night in Evanston. After all, the Big Ten isn’t the MAC or the American, where games can be played willy nilly Thursdays or Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
In fact, fans can count on one hand the number of times Ohio State has played non-Saturday games since the turn of the century. Bowl games notwithstanding, Ohio State has traditionally scheduled its games for Saturdays with very few exceptions, with most of those exceptions coming more recently in program history. And for the most part, those anomalies have a theme.
And that’s pretty much it from the 2000s. But the 90s were great, too, so we can’t leave those out. In fact, over the course of the decade, the Buckeyes opened up nearly half their seasons in non-Saturday matchups.
And also that one game in the 80s...
Notice a pattern? In fact, the last time Ohio State played a mid-season non-Saturday game was Friday, Oct. 2 1959, when then-No. 14 Ohio State traveled to No. 11 USC, falling 17-0 to the Trojans in Woody Hayes’ ninth season in Columbus. Before that, though records are limited, the Buckeyes played two mid-season Wednesday games in 1904 against Muskingum and Kenyon.
(Weirdly, in the days before the final game of the season was dedicated to TTUN, the 1917 Buckeyes finished their season with a 28-0 win on a Thursday against Camp Sherman in Columbus.)
A dozen games in more than a hundred seasons of football. It’s certainly not the norm for Ohio State to depart from its Saturday tradition, especially in the middle of a season.
Continue reading...
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
It’s brief because it doesn’t happen that often.
It’s been a weird trend in college football this year to move Thursday night games over to Friday night, presumably to account for Thursday Night Football for the NFL. But even this shift hasn’t touched the Buckeyes, who have rarely played in non-Saturday matchups -- until now.
Fans might be scratching their heads at the seeming scheduling error which pits undefeated Ohio State against 1-4 Northwestern Friday night in Evanston. After all, the Big Ten isn’t the MAC or the American, where games can be played willy nilly Thursdays or Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
In fact, fans can count on one hand the number of times Ohio State has played non-Saturday games since the turn of the century. Bowl games notwithstanding, Ohio State has traditionally scheduled its games for Saturdays with very few exceptions, with most of those exceptions coming more recently in program history. And for the most part, those anomalies have a theme.
- The Buckeyes opened up the 2017 season on the road against Indiana on a Thursday night. On that occasion, Ohio State left Bloomington with a 49-21 win over the Hoosiers in a game during which J.K. Dobbins, playing in his first game as a Buckeye as a true freshman, totalled 181 yards.
- In 2015, Ohio State faced Virginia Tech on Labor Day (Monday, in case a reminder is in order) to open its season. The Buckeyes kicked things off with a 42-24 win in what turned out to be that weird time when Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller all played in the same matchup.
- In 2010, the Buckeyes opened their season against Marshall in Columbus, bringing home a 45-7 win over the Thundering Herd on the back of Terrelle Pryor’s three touchdown passes and Brandon Saine’s two touchdown runs.
And that’s pretty much it from the 2000s. But the 90s were great, too, so we can’t leave those out. In fact, over the course of the decade, the Buckeyes opened up nearly half their seasons in non-Saturday matchups.
- In 1999, No. 9 Ohio State opened up its season on a Sunday (yeah, weird) against No. 12 Miami (FL) as part of the Kick-off Classic hosted in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Buckeyes fell 23-12 in that matchup. The Buckeyes that year would turn out to be something of a letdown, finishing the season 6-6.
- In 1997, the ninth-ranked Buckeyes opened up against Wyoming on a Thursday, defeating the Cowboys 24-10 in Columbus. Ohio State would finish the season with a 10-3 record, ultimately falling to Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
- Like the 1999 season, No. 12 Ohio State opened its 1995 campaign against No. 22 Boston College on a Sunday, also in the Kick-off Classic in New Jersey. The Buckeyes brought home a 38-6 winner, and wouldn’t play again for more than two weeks after the opener.
- The 1994 Buckeyes, which opened the season ranked 20th nationally, kicked off against Fresno State in Anaheim, California on a Monday night, winning 34-10. That Ohio State team would finish the season 9-4, capping the season with a 24-17 loss to No. 6 Alabama in the Citrus Bowl.
And also that one game in the 80s...
- In 1986, No. 9 Ohio State fell to No. 5 Alabama 16-10, once again in New Jersey but this time on a Wednesday. The Buckeyes would again have an early-season bye with more than two weeks before their next game.
Notice a pattern? In fact, the last time Ohio State played a mid-season non-Saturday game was Friday, Oct. 2 1959, when then-No. 14 Ohio State traveled to No. 11 USC, falling 17-0 to the Trojans in Woody Hayes’ ninth season in Columbus. Before that, though records are limited, the Buckeyes played two mid-season Wednesday games in 1904 against Muskingum and Kenyon.
(Weirdly, in the days before the final game of the season was dedicated to TTUN, the 1917 Buckeyes finished their season with a 28-0 win on a Thursday against Camp Sherman in Columbus.)
A dozen games in more than a hundred seasons of football. It’s certainly not the norm for Ohio State to depart from its Saturday tradition, especially in the middle of a season.
Continue reading...
LGHL Podcast: Iowa out of B1G West race, Sparty shut out, why OSU will be a romp NU
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Podcast: Iowa out of B1G West race, Sparty shut out, why OSU will be a romp NU
George Eisner via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The game that threatens George and Ben’s friendship (not really) is finally here.
George Eisner and Ben Goren are lifelong friends. George is an Ohio State grad, while Ben is a Northwestern alum. Every week, they will break down all of the action around the Big Ten while trying to make sure that their loyalties don’t color their judgement too badly.
It’s finally here, folks. Ben and I find each other on opposite ends of the college football spectrum this week as our alma maters will play each other in a game we have affectionately coined, “THE STONKSBOWL” (because FOX Business should be broadcasting this game instead of BTN).
Before we get into that, Ben and I start with a debrief of the results from last week’s Penn State vs. Iowa game, including some thoughts on Iowa’s banana suit uniforms. From there, we go over Wisconsin’s fourth shutout victory of the season over a reeling Michigan State team, and laugh and Mark Dantonio’s “dumbass” post-game comments about his offensive staff.
After that comes our Ohio State vs. Northwestern preview in all its comprehensive glory, and then we wrap with another preview of this weekend’s Michigan vs. Penn State game.
If you enjoyed our previous shows, thanks for listening, and don’t forget to share and subscribe!
Show rundown:
Listen to the episode here:
Continue reading...
George Eisner via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The game that threatens George and Ben’s friendship (not really) is finally here.
George Eisner and Ben Goren are lifelong friends. George is an Ohio State grad, while Ben is a Northwestern alum. Every week, they will break down all of the action around the Big Ten while trying to make sure that their loyalties don’t color their judgement too badly.
It’s finally here, folks. Ben and I find each other on opposite ends of the college football spectrum this week as our alma maters will play each other in a game we have affectionately coined, “THE STONKSBOWL” (because FOX Business should be broadcasting this game instead of BTN).
Before we get into that, Ben and I start with a debrief of the results from last week’s Penn State vs. Iowa game, including some thoughts on Iowa’s banana suit uniforms. From there, we go over Wisconsin’s fourth shutout victory of the season over a reeling Michigan State team, and laugh and Mark Dantonio’s “dumbass” post-game comments about his offensive staff.
After that comes our Ohio State vs. Northwestern preview in all its comprehensive glory, and then we wrap with another preview of this weekend’s Michigan vs. Penn State game.
If you enjoyed our previous shows, thanks for listening, and don’t forget to share and subscribe!
Show rundown:
- Penn State looked alright, but will Sean Clifford raise his play in big games?
- Iowa does not look like a team that will threaten Wisconsin for the B1G West title.
- Was Wisconsin’s win impressive, or is Sparty just flat-out incompetent at this stage?
- STONKSBOWL Preview: Mick McCall, Ohio State’s play-makers, and final score predictions.
- Previewing #16 Michigan @ #7 Penn State this weekend.
Listen to the episode here:
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State’s Baron Browning won’t play against Northwestern, Thayer Munford game-time decision
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Ohio State’s Baron Browning won’t play against Northwestern, Thayer Munford game-time decision
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nicholas Petit-Frere could get his first start for OSU.
As the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes prepare for the unusual Friday night game in Evanston, Ill. against the Northwestern Wildcats, OSU released their depth chart and availability report a day earlier than normal on Thursday morning.
The report showed that Buckeye middle linebacker Baron Browning will miss the rematch of the 2018 Big Ten Championship game; as is standard operating procedure, no reason for the unavailability was provided.
While Tuf Borland has still been considered the starter at the Mike position, Browning has actually been getting the majority of the snaps, as he provides more of an athletic option in the middle of the defense.
In addition, OSU will be without the services of some-time starting offensive tackle Joshua Alabi, wide receiver Kamryn Babb, defensive tackle Noah Donald, receiver Elijah Gardiner, tight end Jake Hausmann, safety Ronnie Hickman, and DT Taron Vincent.
This week’s game-time decisions will be linebacker Teradja Mitchell, starting offensive tackle Thayer Munford, and H-back C.J. Saunders. If Munford is unable to go against the Wildcats, redshirt freshman Nicholas Petit-Frere will likely get his first start as a Buckeye, as he is listed as the co-starter at LT. When Branden Bowen has dealt with injuries earlier in the season, Alabi has been the back-up called upon to fill the spot.
With Browning out, sophomore Dallas Gant has been moved up to the second middle linebacker position behind Borland. However, it is also possible that Mitchell (if he plays) or K’Vaughan Pope could fill in at Mike as well.
Check out the complete Ohio State depth chart:
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Nicholas Petit-Frere could get his first start for OSU.
As the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes prepare for the unusual Friday night game in Evanston, Ill. against the Northwestern Wildcats, OSU released their depth chart and availability report a day earlier than normal on Thursday morning.
The report showed that Buckeye middle linebacker Baron Browning will miss the rematch of the 2018 Big Ten Championship game; as is standard operating procedure, no reason for the unavailability was provided.
While Tuf Borland has still been considered the starter at the Mike position, Browning has actually been getting the majority of the snaps, as he provides more of an athletic option in the middle of the defense.
In addition, OSU will be without the services of some-time starting offensive tackle Joshua Alabi, wide receiver Kamryn Babb, defensive tackle Noah Donald, receiver Elijah Gardiner, tight end Jake Hausmann, safety Ronnie Hickman, and DT Taron Vincent.
This week’s game-time decisions will be linebacker Teradja Mitchell, starting offensive tackle Thayer Munford, and H-back C.J. Saunders. If Munford is unable to go against the Wildcats, redshirt freshman Nicholas Petit-Frere will likely get his first start as a Buckeye, as he is listed as the co-starter at LT. When Branden Bowen has dealt with injuries earlier in the season, Alabi has been the back-up called upon to fill the spot.
With Browning out, sophomore Dallas Gant has been moved up to the second middle linebacker position behind Borland. However, it is also possible that Mitchell (if he plays) or K’Vaughan Pope could fill in at Mike as well.
Check out the complete Ohio State depth chart:
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LGHL Ohio State vs. Northwestern: 2019 game preview and prediction
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Ohio State vs. Northwestern: 2019 game preview and prediction
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
The Buckeyes look to stay on track when they head to Evanston Friday night.
The No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes have had a bye week to rest after their 34-10 win over then-No. 25 Michigan State. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to a perfect 6-0 record -- one of just 12 undefeated teams remaining in the FBS. Now, Ryan Day’s squad prepares to face the Northwestern Wildcats in a rare Friday night matchup on the road in Evanston that also happens to be a rematch of last year’s Big Ten Championship.
The Wildcats’ 1-4 record has been something of a disappointment for Pat Fitzgerald and company, especially since Northwestern’s surprising run to a Big Ten West title last year positioned the squad as an upstart heading into 2019. The lone win this season came over UNLV in week two, and the Wildcats have lost three-straight to Michigan State, No. 6 Wisconsin and Nebraska since. Most recently, Northwestern dropped a heartbreaker on a last-second field goal to fall to the Huskers 13-10.
In 2018, Fitzgerald’s team went 9-5 overall, including 8-2 in conference. But what was especially impressive about that sqad was that it went from a 1-3 start, during which the Wildcats lost to Duke, Akron and Michigan in succession, to finish the season with a win in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl over Utah.
Through six games, the Buckeyes have shown few points of weakness this season. All signs point to an Ohio State victory. But the Buckeyes have a big matchup against Wisconsin next week. And it is all-too easy to look ahead.
First, some history…
Ohio State holds a 62-14-1 all-time advantage over Northwestern, and is currently riding a seven-game win streak dating back to 2005. However, the Wildcats have not been a frequent opponent of the Buckeyes as of late, as the programs have only squared off three times since 2013 -- including once in last year’s Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis. In that matchup, Ohio State brought home a 45-24 win to earn a conference title and a bid to the Rose Bowl behind Dwayne Haskins’ 499 yards passing and five touchdowns.
The last time the Buckeyes lost to Northwestern was back in 2004. Coincidentally, that loss came on the road after a bye week for Jim Tressel’s squad. Spooky.
Friday night lights
In a rare scheduling anomaly, Ohio State plays Northwestern on a Friday night, which has been the new Thursday night for college football this season. But even Thursday night matchups have been rare for the Buckeyes in the past. In fact, the last time the Buckeyes played a mid-season (i.e., not a season opener or bowl game) non-Saturday game was way back in 1959, when Woody Hayes’ 14th-ranked Buckeyes traveled to No. 11 USC to face the Trojans on a Friday night. On that occasion, Ohio State fell 17-0 to the Trojans. Such games are rare for the Ohio State program, which has played just three non-Saturday regular season games since the turn of the century.
Bye, bye, bye
Both Northwestern and Ohio State are coming off bye weeks last week, giving each side a chance to rest and recoup. Northwestern had two byes on the schedule this season, including one after its season opening loss against Stanford. Last year, the Wildcats also fell against Michigan after their early bye. In 2017, Northwestern also fell to Wisconsin following a bye in September.
Ohio State, meanwhile, hasn’t seemed to have had trouble when it comes to staying on track after bye weeks (though, realistically, the Buckeyes haven’t lost all that many games in the last decade, so identifying a pattern among these losses becomes more difficult).
Running down a dream
Running back J.K. Dobbins has continued to impress this season -- and not just within the Big Ten. The junior back is second in the NCAA in rushing yards with 826 this season (one yard more than Wisconsin’s Jonathon Taylor, whom the Buckeyes will face off against next week) and is averaging more than seven yards per carry while scoring six touchdowns for the Buckeyes. If Dobbins has the kind of day Friday that he had against Michigan State or Nebraska, he could top 1,000 yards on the year just seven games into the season. Such a feat would mark Dobbins’ third-straight 1,000 yard season at Ohio State, and would set him nearly on pace to overtake Eddie George’s single season rushing yards record set in 1995 (1,927 yards).
Dobbins and the offensive line will have their hands full, however, when they face Northwestern’s linebackers, which held Taylor to 119 yards and one touchdown on the day (more on that later).
Hei-hei-Heisman hopes
Dobbins’ touchdown total might seem lower than expected given his yardage (Wisconsin’s Taylor, by comparison, has 14 touchdowns on the season). But that’s because the running back is part of a highly-balanced offense. And frankly, things have continued to go just about perfectly for quarterback Justin Fields in his inaugural season in Columbus. Fields has thrown for 18 touchdowns while tossing only a single interception all season. For his efforts, Fields has been recognized as a top Heisman contender along with LSU’s Joe Burrow, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts (and Taylor). More impressive is the fact Fields is the sole first year starter on the watch list.
Coincidentally, Fields was recruited early on by Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern, which was the first Big Ten school to offer him back in 2016. It certainly has to be something of a frustration for the Northwestern offense, whose quarterback struggles have been a source of consternation through five games.
Not so wild offense
Eight: The total number of touchdowns Northwestern has scored this season on offense. By comparison, Ohio State has recorded 39 offensive touchdowns in six games. There have certainly been injury issues to several key position groups (including at quarterback), but the fact remains the Wildcats have the 128th-ranked scoring offense in the NCAA. For clarity’s sake, that’s out of 130 teams. They’re also 125th in yards per game, averaging a mere 292.8. Even more unfortunate is the fact the Northwestern defense is actually really good and has been able to force turnovers -- but the offense has simply been unable to convert, totaling just six points off eight turnovers this season.
Fighting for air
On that note, Northwestern has struggled immensely on offense this season, especially when it comes to the Wildcats’ passing situation. Three quarterbacks have combined for just 702 yards in five games. The trio has a mere two passing touchdowns and (here’s the sad part) eight interceptions. Northwestern ranks in the bottom 10 nationally in several major passing statistics, including completion percentage, passing touchdowns and total passing offense.
Redshirt junior Aidan Smith took over starting duties for the Wildcats when they took on Nebraska last week. In that matchup, Smith went 19-for-32 for 136 yards and a pick. Sophomore Hunter Johnson had started the previous four games of the year for Northwestern, but had left the Wisconsin game with a knee injury. The sting of Fields coming to Evanston hits even stronger considering Johnson, a five-star dual threat quarterback recruit who initially attended Clemson, transferred to Northwestern in 2018.
A tale of two receiving corps
It makes sense that, when one quarterback has thrown for nearly twice as many yards as the collective quarterback room for another team, the spread to different receivers would be similarly distributed. So it’s no surprise that, while Northwestern has just a single receiver who has caught the team’s only two touchdown passes this year, Fields has thrown scoring passes to 10 different receivers.
For Northwestern, receiver J.J. Jefferson has managed to stand out despite the Wildcats’ struggles through the air. Jefferson has had 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore will need to play an even bigger role Friday, given senior receiver Bennett Skowronek, who leads Northwestern in receiving yards, is out for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery.
Ohio State, meanwhile, has no shortage of targets for Fields, but three have emerged this season as leaders on the outside. Senior K.J. Hill, senior Binjimen Victor and sophomore Chris Olave all have more than 250 receiving yards and have caught multiple touchdowns this season.
A mixed bag on special teams
Northwestern is at rock bottom in the Big Ten when it comes to punting, averaging less than 38 yards per attempt. Given the Wildcats’ difficulties finding their way to the endzone, that average can be a problem when it comes to playing for field position.
Despite the offensive struggles, Northwestern has the top kickoff return game in the Big Ten, averaging 28 yards per return. Quarterback-turned-receiver Riley Lees has been solid in this space, leading the Big Ten with 33.3 yards per kick return.
Down to defense
In a game which features such lopsided offenses, the true test might just come down to defense. And when it comes to total defense, both Ohio State and Northwestern are among the best in the Big Ten and nation. The Buckeyes are No. 2 in the NCAA in total defense, allowing just 234 yards per game, while Northwestern has surrendered a mere 318.8 yards per game (26th in the country). When it comes to scoring, Ohio State is allowing less than nine points per matchup. Though the Wildcats have given up nearly 20 points per game, they still boast the 30th-ranked scoring defense in the country, which is impressive considering they’ve faced one of the NCAA’s top scoring offenses (again, Wisconsin).
More about that…
The Wildcats may have won only a single game this year, but they haven’t gone down without a fight as they’ve boasted a surprisingly stout defense. Of their four losses, only their 31-10 loss to Michigan State could be considered a blowout. In fact, Northwestern’s defense held Wisconsin to just 10 points on the road in Madison (the Badgers’ defense scored 14 of the team’s 24 points). Northwestern’s red zone defense is particularly strong, allowing opponents six touchdowns on 10 red zone attempts (T-19th in the NCAA). Additionally, opposing offenses have only made it down within the Wildcats’ 20-yardline 14 times this season.
One of the strong points of the Northwestern defense has been its ability to force turnovers -- particularly fumbles. Through five games the Wildcats have forced six fumbles, led by defensive lineman Joe Gaziono and defensive back Travis Whillock.
But then there’s the sack situation
Ohio State is the top team in the nation when it comes to total sacks, totaling 28 this season. ICYMI, the Buckeyes are led by junior defensive end Chase Young, who himself is tied for second in the country with 8.5 sacks on the season -- which puts him well on pace to obliterate Vernon Gholston’s single season sack record set in 2007 (14 sacks). Also impressive is the fact Young is not alone. Ohio State linebackers, which have shown massive improvement so far in 2019, have gotten in on the sack game. Malik Harrison is second on the team with 3.5 sacks on the year, while fellow linebacker Baron Browning is tied for third with 2.5 of his own. Collectively, the entire Ohio State defense has proven to be a threat to quarterbacks, with 13 different players getting in on the sack game this season.
Pat Fitzgerald, back for more
Pat Fitzgerald is the charming hometown hero for Northwestern, not unlike Scott Frost is at Nebraska. Like Frost, Fitzgerald was part of one of the most storied teams in Northwestern program history as he led the Wildcats to the 1995 Rose Bowl. As a player for Northwestern in the 1990s, Fitzgerald was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as well as two-time honoree of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award. Somehow, he was not drafted after his senior season.
As a coach, Fitzgerald was way ahead of the “young coach” trend, having taken over head coaching responsibilities at Northwestern when he was just 31 years old following the untimely death of then-head coach Randy Walker. Fitzgerald earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors last season after taking his Cats to a Big Ten West title.
Overall, Fitzgerald has amassed a 97-74 record as head coach in Evanston and, impressively, has led the Wildcats to three-straight bowl victories.
Summary
If limited to records, there’s little evidence which would place doubt on the outcome of this matchup. The Buckeyes have hardly seemed to have been tested throughout their six wins this season, while Northwestern has struggled to put together a complete game.
In Friday’s matchup, Ohio State is favored by 28.5 points over Northwestern. The Wildcats have yet to find an identity on offense, while the Buckeyes seem to be firing on all cylinders. Given that information, a four-touchdown win sounds about right -- even for a road game against a conference opponent who put up a fight in last year’s Big Ten Championship.
With a Heisman contender at quarterback, a running back who is on track for his third-straight 1,000-yard season and a myriad of defenders who can sniff out and take down opposing quarterbacks, Ohio State seems to have every advantage in its corner.
But it is October. Spookier things have happened. Ohio State is on the road. Both teams are coming off bye weeks. And the Buckeyes are playing on a Friday night regular season game for the first time in 60 years. Plus, Northwestern has shown that it can hold even the most potent offensive attacks at bay long enough to keep things interesting.
All signs point to an Ohio State win Friday. But the Buckeyes better have their wits about them.
LGHL prediction: Ohio State 35, Northwestern 3
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Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes look to stay on track when they head to Evanston Friday night.
The No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes have had a bye week to rest after their 34-10 win over then-No. 25 Michigan State. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to a perfect 6-0 record -- one of just 12 undefeated teams remaining in the FBS. Now, Ryan Day’s squad prepares to face the Northwestern Wildcats in a rare Friday night matchup on the road in Evanston that also happens to be a rematch of last year’s Big Ten Championship.
The Wildcats’ 1-4 record has been something of a disappointment for Pat Fitzgerald and company, especially since Northwestern’s surprising run to a Big Ten West title last year positioned the squad as an upstart heading into 2019. The lone win this season came over UNLV in week two, and the Wildcats have lost three-straight to Michigan State, No. 6 Wisconsin and Nebraska since. Most recently, Northwestern dropped a heartbreaker on a last-second field goal to fall to the Huskers 13-10.
In 2018, Fitzgerald’s team went 9-5 overall, including 8-2 in conference. But what was especially impressive about that sqad was that it went from a 1-3 start, during which the Wildcats lost to Duke, Akron and Michigan in succession, to finish the season with a win in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl over Utah.
Through six games, the Buckeyes have shown few points of weakness this season. All signs point to an Ohio State victory. But the Buckeyes have a big matchup against Wisconsin next week. And it is all-too easy to look ahead.
First, some history…
Ohio State holds a 62-14-1 all-time advantage over Northwestern, and is currently riding a seven-game win streak dating back to 2005. However, the Wildcats have not been a frequent opponent of the Buckeyes as of late, as the programs have only squared off three times since 2013 -- including once in last year’s Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis. In that matchup, Ohio State brought home a 45-24 win to earn a conference title and a bid to the Rose Bowl behind Dwayne Haskins’ 499 yards passing and five touchdowns.
The last time the Buckeyes lost to Northwestern was back in 2004. Coincidentally, that loss came on the road after a bye week for Jim Tressel’s squad. Spooky.
Friday night lights
In a rare scheduling anomaly, Ohio State plays Northwestern on a Friday night, which has been the new Thursday night for college football this season. But even Thursday night matchups have been rare for the Buckeyes in the past. In fact, the last time the Buckeyes played a mid-season (i.e., not a season opener or bowl game) non-Saturday game was way back in 1959, when Woody Hayes’ 14th-ranked Buckeyes traveled to No. 11 USC to face the Trojans on a Friday night. On that occasion, Ohio State fell 17-0 to the Trojans. Such games are rare for the Ohio State program, which has played just three non-Saturday regular season games since the turn of the century.
Bye, bye, bye
Both Northwestern and Ohio State are coming off bye weeks last week, giving each side a chance to rest and recoup. Northwestern had two byes on the schedule this season, including one after its season opening loss against Stanford. Last year, the Wildcats also fell against Michigan after their early bye. In 2017, Northwestern also fell to Wisconsin following a bye in September.
Ohio State, meanwhile, hasn’t seemed to have had trouble when it comes to staying on track after bye weeks (though, realistically, the Buckeyes haven’t lost all that many games in the last decade, so identifying a pattern among these losses becomes more difficult).
Running down a dream
Running back J.K. Dobbins has continued to impress this season -- and not just within the Big Ten. The junior back is second in the NCAA in rushing yards with 826 this season (one yard more than Wisconsin’s Jonathon Taylor, whom the Buckeyes will face off against next week) and is averaging more than seven yards per carry while scoring six touchdowns for the Buckeyes. If Dobbins has the kind of day Friday that he had against Michigan State or Nebraska, he could top 1,000 yards on the year just seven games into the season. Such a feat would mark Dobbins’ third-straight 1,000 yard season at Ohio State, and would set him nearly on pace to overtake Eddie George’s single season rushing yards record set in 1995 (1,927 yards).
Dobbins and the offensive line will have their hands full, however, when they face Northwestern’s linebackers, which held Taylor to 119 yards and one touchdown on the day (more on that later).
Hei-hei-Heisman hopes
Dobbins’ touchdown total might seem lower than expected given his yardage (Wisconsin’s Taylor, by comparison, has 14 touchdowns on the season). But that’s because the running back is part of a highly-balanced offense. And frankly, things have continued to go just about perfectly for quarterback Justin Fields in his inaugural season in Columbus. Fields has thrown for 18 touchdowns while tossing only a single interception all season. For his efforts, Fields has been recognized as a top Heisman contender along with LSU’s Joe Burrow, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts (and Taylor). More impressive is the fact Fields is the sole first year starter on the watch list.
Coincidentally, Fields was recruited early on by Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern, which was the first Big Ten school to offer him back in 2016. It certainly has to be something of a frustration for the Northwestern offense, whose quarterback struggles have been a source of consternation through five games.
Not so wild offense
Eight: The total number of touchdowns Northwestern has scored this season on offense. By comparison, Ohio State has recorded 39 offensive touchdowns in six games. There have certainly been injury issues to several key position groups (including at quarterback), but the fact remains the Wildcats have the 128th-ranked scoring offense in the NCAA. For clarity’s sake, that’s out of 130 teams. They’re also 125th in yards per game, averaging a mere 292.8. Even more unfortunate is the fact the Northwestern defense is actually really good and has been able to force turnovers -- but the offense has simply been unable to convert, totaling just six points off eight turnovers this season.
Fighting for air
On that note, Northwestern has struggled immensely on offense this season, especially when it comes to the Wildcats’ passing situation. Three quarterbacks have combined for just 702 yards in five games. The trio has a mere two passing touchdowns and (here’s the sad part) eight interceptions. Northwestern ranks in the bottom 10 nationally in several major passing statistics, including completion percentage, passing touchdowns and total passing offense.
Redshirt junior Aidan Smith took over starting duties for the Wildcats when they took on Nebraska last week. In that matchup, Smith went 19-for-32 for 136 yards and a pick. Sophomore Hunter Johnson had started the previous four games of the year for Northwestern, but had left the Wisconsin game with a knee injury. The sting of Fields coming to Evanston hits even stronger considering Johnson, a five-star dual threat quarterback recruit who initially attended Clemson, transferred to Northwestern in 2018.
A tale of two receiving corps
It makes sense that, when one quarterback has thrown for nearly twice as many yards as the collective quarterback room for another team, the spread to different receivers would be similarly distributed. So it’s no surprise that, while Northwestern has just a single receiver who has caught the team’s only two touchdown passes this year, Fields has thrown scoring passes to 10 different receivers.
For Northwestern, receiver J.J. Jefferson has managed to stand out despite the Wildcats’ struggles through the air. Jefferson has had 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore will need to play an even bigger role Friday, given senior receiver Bennett Skowronek, who leads Northwestern in receiving yards, is out for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery.
Ohio State, meanwhile, has no shortage of targets for Fields, but three have emerged this season as leaders on the outside. Senior K.J. Hill, senior Binjimen Victor and sophomore Chris Olave all have more than 250 receiving yards and have caught multiple touchdowns this season.
A mixed bag on special teams
Northwestern is at rock bottom in the Big Ten when it comes to punting, averaging less than 38 yards per attempt. Given the Wildcats’ difficulties finding their way to the endzone, that average can be a problem when it comes to playing for field position.
Despite the offensive struggles, Northwestern has the top kickoff return game in the Big Ten, averaging 28 yards per return. Quarterback-turned-receiver Riley Lees has been solid in this space, leading the Big Ten with 33.3 yards per kick return.
Down to defense
In a game which features such lopsided offenses, the true test might just come down to defense. And when it comes to total defense, both Ohio State and Northwestern are among the best in the Big Ten and nation. The Buckeyes are No. 2 in the NCAA in total defense, allowing just 234 yards per game, while Northwestern has surrendered a mere 318.8 yards per game (26th in the country). When it comes to scoring, Ohio State is allowing less than nine points per matchup. Though the Wildcats have given up nearly 20 points per game, they still boast the 30th-ranked scoring defense in the country, which is impressive considering they’ve faced one of the NCAA’s top scoring offenses (again, Wisconsin).
More about that…
The Wildcats may have won only a single game this year, but they haven’t gone down without a fight as they’ve boasted a surprisingly stout defense. Of their four losses, only their 31-10 loss to Michigan State could be considered a blowout. In fact, Northwestern’s defense held Wisconsin to just 10 points on the road in Madison (the Badgers’ defense scored 14 of the team’s 24 points). Northwestern’s red zone defense is particularly strong, allowing opponents six touchdowns on 10 red zone attempts (T-19th in the NCAA). Additionally, opposing offenses have only made it down within the Wildcats’ 20-yardline 14 times this season.
One of the strong points of the Northwestern defense has been its ability to force turnovers -- particularly fumbles. Through five games the Wildcats have forced six fumbles, led by defensive lineman Joe Gaziono and defensive back Travis Whillock.
But then there’s the sack situation
Ohio State is the top team in the nation when it comes to total sacks, totaling 28 this season. ICYMI, the Buckeyes are led by junior defensive end Chase Young, who himself is tied for second in the country with 8.5 sacks on the season -- which puts him well on pace to obliterate Vernon Gholston’s single season sack record set in 2007 (14 sacks). Also impressive is the fact Young is not alone. Ohio State linebackers, which have shown massive improvement so far in 2019, have gotten in on the sack game. Malik Harrison is second on the team with 3.5 sacks on the year, while fellow linebacker Baron Browning is tied for third with 2.5 of his own. Collectively, the entire Ohio State defense has proven to be a threat to quarterbacks, with 13 different players getting in on the sack game this season.
Pat Fitzgerald, back for more
Pat Fitzgerald is the charming hometown hero for Northwestern, not unlike Scott Frost is at Nebraska. Like Frost, Fitzgerald was part of one of the most storied teams in Northwestern program history as he led the Wildcats to the 1995 Rose Bowl. As a player for Northwestern in the 1990s, Fitzgerald was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as well as two-time honoree of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award. Somehow, he was not drafted after his senior season.
As a coach, Fitzgerald was way ahead of the “young coach” trend, having taken over head coaching responsibilities at Northwestern when he was just 31 years old following the untimely death of then-head coach Randy Walker. Fitzgerald earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors last season after taking his Cats to a Big Ten West title.
Overall, Fitzgerald has amassed a 97-74 record as head coach in Evanston and, impressively, has led the Wildcats to three-straight bowl victories.
Summary
If limited to records, there’s little evidence which would place doubt on the outcome of this matchup. The Buckeyes have hardly seemed to have been tested throughout their six wins this season, while Northwestern has struggled to put together a complete game.
In Friday’s matchup, Ohio State is favored by 28.5 points over Northwestern. The Wildcats have yet to find an identity on offense, while the Buckeyes seem to be firing on all cylinders. Given that information, a four-touchdown win sounds about right -- even for a road game against a conference opponent who put up a fight in last year’s Big Ten Championship.
With a Heisman contender at quarterback, a running back who is on track for his third-straight 1,000-yard season and a myriad of defenders who can sniff out and take down opposing quarterbacks, Ohio State seems to have every advantage in its corner.
But it is October. Spookier things have happened. Ohio State is on the road. Both teams are coming off bye weeks. And the Buckeyes are playing on a Friday night regular season game for the first time in 60 years. Plus, Northwestern has shown that it can hold even the most potent offensive attacks at bay long enough to keep things interesting.
All signs point to an Ohio State win Friday. But the Buckeyes better have their wits about them.
LGHL prediction: Ohio State 35, Northwestern 3
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LGHL Four-star wide receiver Mookie Cooper ruled ineligible for senior season
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Four-star wide receiver Mookie Cooper ruled ineligible for senior season
Patrick Yen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The OSU commit transferred earlier this year in order to graduate early, but was ruled ineligible.
The story of Mookie Cooper took another turn yesterday night. The four-star OSU commit is the 78th prospect in the nation, the No. 16 wideout and another highlight in Brian Hartline’s incredible 2020 class. He committed to the Buckeyes on July 8, but I’m sure both he and the Buckeyes would’ve loved to have seen what he could do in his final high school year.
That is not going to happen, as Cooper was officially ruled ineligible for his senior year. Cooper, like many high school athletes that will go on to play in the NCAA, wanted to graduate early and join OSU as soon as possible. Unfortunately, his initial school Trinity Catholic does not allow their students to do this. So Cooper left for a school that would, and transferred to Pattonville Senior High School.
Transfers are always a tricky subject, not just in college athletics, but also high school sports as well. The transfer portal has been making waves in the NCAA landscape, and the NCAA regulations on who gets a waiver and who doesn’t remains maddeningly inconsistent.
Regardless, the high school level doesn’t have any sort of portal, and generally will not allow waivers for players transferring for mainly athletic reasons. Cooper’s old school of Trinity Catholic made that specific case and the ruling finally came down that Cooper could not play for Pattonville.
It’s not particularly surprising, but it is disappointing that schools still feel the need to block high schoolers from playing football where they want, especially when the player otherwise meets all of the zoning and eligibility requirements.
Competitive balance is important, but, at the same time, I feel like it should take a back seat to these athletes that are simply trying to do what is best for their futures. However, as of now, these are the rules, and this is the reality.
Cooper is not letting it get him down however, and the Buckeyes confirmed to him that this does not change their offer. In fact, it may be a blessing in disguise for him, as he does not risk his body to injury, and clearly OSU does not feel like he needs to prove anything else on the field.
He can now use the time to make sure that he’s in the best shape of his life, study the Buckeyes’ film and talk to the coaches, making sure that he’s 100 percent ready when he does step on campus hopefully this spring.
Number one 2021 athlete has OSU in his top-ten
1 Timothy 4:8 ..
FINAL 10 .. pic.twitter.com/2gGhnx9nvq
— Emeka ‘21 (@emeka_egbuka) October 16, 2019
On Wednesday, Emeka Egbuka released his list of the final ten schools that he is considering. He is one of the most talented players in the country, and his 247sports rankings say it all. He’s a coveted five-star prospect, .9943 composite grade, ranked ninth in the nation, and naturally has every big program after his signature.
For Ohio State, his recruiting has been handled by Hartline, and given the wide receiver coach’s recent track record, that can only mean good things for the Buckeyes. The crystal ball predictor on 247sports has Washington as the leading candidate at 50 percent, but has OSU second at 25.
The young buck (and hopefully Buckeye) is being recruited as a wide receiver by OSU, but also has the potential to play defensive back. The Washington product has good size at 6-foot-1 and recorded a 4.42 40-yard dash time, and that was just in his sophomore season. He has room to grow and get faster, and that’s just scary.
He will be at the ‘Shoe to watch OSU take on Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Watching the receivers run wild against Wisconsin’s top defensive unit would no doubt bolster the program’s impression for Egbuka. The talented athlete will undoubtedly be a priority for the 2021 class that is shaping up to be an all-time best.
@OhioStateFB This is All this support to ensure the players success... I like it
I see y’all @ryandaytime @CoachWash56 pic.twitter.com/Un9bkNbV0O
— Coach Glover (@dhglover) October 10, 2019
A graphic that OSU is using to recruit the nation’s best student-athletes has been making the rounds on Twitter recently. This particular one was sent to 2021 cornerback Tony Grimes, but I’m sure most recruits are seeing something similar, if not identical.
It’s cool little look into all that OSU can offer these young men, not just on the field, but off of it as well. Not many schools can compete with this level of attention. It says a lot when the storied history of Buckeye football is just the 12th talking point in the recruiting spectrum. Circle of Care indeed.
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Patrick Yen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The OSU commit transferred earlier this year in order to graduate early, but was ruled ineligible.
The story of Mookie Cooper took another turn yesterday night. The four-star OSU commit is the 78th prospect in the nation, the No. 16 wideout and another highlight in Brian Hartline’s incredible 2020 class. He committed to the Buckeyes on July 8, but I’m sure both he and the Buckeyes would’ve loved to have seen what he could do in his final high school year.
That is not going to happen, as Cooper was officially ruled ineligible for his senior year. Cooper, like many high school athletes that will go on to play in the NCAA, wanted to graduate early and join OSU as soon as possible. Unfortunately, his initial school Trinity Catholic does not allow their students to do this. So Cooper left for a school that would, and transferred to Pattonville Senior High School.
Transfers are always a tricky subject, not just in college athletics, but also high school sports as well. The transfer portal has been making waves in the NCAA landscape, and the NCAA regulations on who gets a waiver and who doesn’t remains maddeningly inconsistent.
Regardless, the high school level doesn’t have any sort of portal, and generally will not allow waivers for players transferring for mainly athletic reasons. Cooper’s old school of Trinity Catholic made that specific case and the ruling finally came down that Cooper could not play for Pattonville.
It’s not particularly surprising, but it is disappointing that schools still feel the need to block high schoolers from playing football where they want, especially when the player otherwise meets all of the zoning and eligibility requirements.
Competitive balance is important, but, at the same time, I feel like it should take a back seat to these athletes that are simply trying to do what is best for their futures. However, as of now, these are the rules, and this is the reality.
Cooper is not letting it get him down however, and the Buckeyes confirmed to him that this does not change their offer. In fact, it may be a blessing in disguise for him, as he does not risk his body to injury, and clearly OSU does not feel like he needs to prove anything else on the field.
He can now use the time to make sure that he’s in the best shape of his life, study the Buckeyes’ film and talk to the coaches, making sure that he’s 100 percent ready when he does step on campus hopefully this spring.
Number one 2021 athlete has OSU in his top-ten
1 Timothy 4:8 ..
FINAL 10 .. pic.twitter.com/2gGhnx9nvq
— Emeka ‘21 (@emeka_egbuka) October 16, 2019
On Wednesday, Emeka Egbuka released his list of the final ten schools that he is considering. He is one of the most talented players in the country, and his 247sports rankings say it all. He’s a coveted five-star prospect, .9943 composite grade, ranked ninth in the nation, and naturally has every big program after his signature.
For Ohio State, his recruiting has been handled by Hartline, and given the wide receiver coach’s recent track record, that can only mean good things for the Buckeyes. The crystal ball predictor on 247sports has Washington as the leading candidate at 50 percent, but has OSU second at 25.
The young buck (and hopefully Buckeye) is being recruited as a wide receiver by OSU, but also has the potential to play defensive back. The Washington product has good size at 6-foot-1 and recorded a 4.42 40-yard dash time, and that was just in his sophomore season. He has room to grow and get faster, and that’s just scary.
He will be at the ‘Shoe to watch OSU take on Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Watching the receivers run wild against Wisconsin’s top defensive unit would no doubt bolster the program’s impression for Egbuka. The talented athlete will undoubtedly be a priority for the 2021 class that is shaping up to be an all-time best.
@OhioStateFB This is All this support to ensure the players success... I like it
I see y’all @ryandaytime @CoachWash56 pic.twitter.com/Un9bkNbV0O— Coach Glover (@dhglover) October 10, 2019
A graphic that OSU is using to recruit the nation’s best student-athletes has been making the rounds on Twitter recently. This particular one was sent to 2021 cornerback Tony Grimes, but I’m sure most recruits are seeing something similar, if not identical.
It’s cool little look into all that OSU can offer these young men, not just on the field, but off of it as well. Not many schools can compete with this level of attention. It says a lot when the storied history of Buckeye football is just the 12th talking point in the recruiting spectrum. Circle of Care indeed.
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LGHL Justin Fields utilized the off week for reflection, improvement
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Justin Fields utilized the off week for reflection, improvement
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
The Ohio State quarterback is looking to refine his game in the second half.
“‘We got back to the fundamentals a lot,’ Fields said of the team’s approach last week. ‘We went back to Week 1 and focused on the basics and tightened those up. Usually, some teams can shy away from those.’”
- Justin Fields via Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com
Ohio State had its first week off on this year’s schedule following a dominant 6-0 start to the season, allowing for some much needed rest. However, it wasn’t all relaxation for the Buckeyes this past weekend, as Ryan Day looks to keep his guys sharp going into the second half. The first-year head coach instituted a “three up, three forward” policy, having every position coach give each player three things they've done well, and three things they can improve on. Quarterback Justin Fields was no exception.
While Fields would not discuss what his exact assignments were, he mentioned that he had to work on both progressing through his reads faster and improving on his footwork in the pocket — neither of which he said came as any sort of revelation. The first-year starter said that they went back and watched film from as early as week one, putting an emphasis on the fundamentals and tightening up on the basics before anything else.
Despite a few areas that could use a little improvement, Fields has been stellar for Ohio State this season, and his confidence in both his own abilities, his team and his leadership role is growing. The sophomore QB said his command of the offense has “definitely changed from the start of the season to now,” feeling that he is a leader with a mutual feeling of trust between himself and his teammates.
Fields will continue to put up big numbers in the second half as his name remains in the Heisman race. His candidacy has almost been hurt by too good a performance by the team as a whole, as he has not yet had to play a game to the final whistle. Overall, Fields ranks sixth nationally in quarterback efficiency with a 187.54 rating, totaling 26 touchdowns to just one interception. If Ohio State is to compete for a nation title this season, it will need to see a continued high level of play from its signal caller.
PARIS JOHNSON BRINGING IT @ParisJohnsonJr pic.twitter.com/jPyFHgDfNv
— Overtime (@overtime) October 16, 2019
If you were worried about the future of the Buckeyes’ offensive line — don’t be. Meet Paris Johnson Jr., a five-star offensive tackle. The 6-foot-7, 290 pound lineman out of Cincinnati is the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country, No. 1 player in the state of Ohio and No. 7 recruit nationally based on 247sports composite.
He’s big, he’s mean, and he’ll be coming to the Ohio State offensive line next season. As you can tell by the kind of day No. 7 was having in this highlight, it will be a tough assignment for defensive ends in the near future.
I went back to OSU to finish school. Something I worked as hard on as my football career. I’m my own man and think for myself. Going back benefited me & my family LONG term. Educate yourself on the situation before commenting and spreading the wrong message. https://t.co/G0i3kiP9iJ
— Cardale Jones (@CJ1two) October 16, 2019
Cardale Jones — a man that once said he did not go to Ohio State to play school — does not regret playing said school. Jones, a third-string quarterback who led the Buckeyes to their National Championship victory over Oregon in 2014, elected to return to Columbus for his junior season rather than declaring for the NFL Draft, where many thought he had potential to be a first-round pick.
Jones spent his final year at OSU flip-flopping with J.T. Barrett for the starting job. In the end, he played in 10 games, completing over 62 percent of his passes for about 1,500 yards and 10 total touchdowns with five interceptions. In what appeared a step back from his unbelievable three-game stretch the year, Jones would wind up a fourth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Jones played in just one game for the Bills in 2016 in a reserve role, and would be traded to the Los Angeles Chargers the following year. After being demoted to practice squad duty in 2018, the Seattle Seahawks would pick him up in 2019 before ultimately cutting the 26-year-old QB. Just yesterday, he was drafted to the XFL by the DC Defenders.
The decision to return to Ohio State for one more season likely cost Jones a good amount of money, but the former Buckeye does not regret his decision. Jones defended his decision on Twitter today, stating that going back to school to get his degree was his main goal, and that the decision helped benefit himself and his family long term.
Cardale Jones will always be a legend in Columbus for his unlikely and spectacular National Championship run, as I'm sure the DC Defenders just earned themselves a ton of new fans from central Ohio.
#B1GCats x #GoCats pic.twitter.com/pATyuXhnRJ
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 16, 2019
It is not a hot take to say that Northwestern football has not been good this season. However, the Wildcats will certainly at least look better this Friday as they try to pull out all the stops in an attempt for a huge upset over Ohio State with some alternate jerseys. The Cats will be donning all black against the Buckeyes this weekend, as they try to employ the mantra of look good play good.
Will it be enough to take down Ohio State? Probably not. But hey, at least the hype video is pretty cool.
Stick to Sports
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Ohio State quarterback is looking to refine his game in the second half.
“‘We got back to the fundamentals a lot,’ Fields said of the team’s approach last week. ‘We went back to Week 1 and focused on the basics and tightened those up. Usually, some teams can shy away from those.’”
- Justin Fields via Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com
Ohio State had its first week off on this year’s schedule following a dominant 6-0 start to the season, allowing for some much needed rest. However, it wasn’t all relaxation for the Buckeyes this past weekend, as Ryan Day looks to keep his guys sharp going into the second half. The first-year head coach instituted a “three up, three forward” policy, having every position coach give each player three things they've done well, and three things they can improve on. Quarterback Justin Fields was no exception.
While Fields would not discuss what his exact assignments were, he mentioned that he had to work on both progressing through his reads faster and improving on his footwork in the pocket — neither of which he said came as any sort of revelation. The first-year starter said that they went back and watched film from as early as week one, putting an emphasis on the fundamentals and tightening up on the basics before anything else.
Despite a few areas that could use a little improvement, Fields has been stellar for Ohio State this season, and his confidence in both his own abilities, his team and his leadership role is growing. The sophomore QB said his command of the offense has “definitely changed from the start of the season to now,” feeling that he is a leader with a mutual feeling of trust between himself and his teammates.
Fields will continue to put up big numbers in the second half as his name remains in the Heisman race. His candidacy has almost been hurt by too good a performance by the team as a whole, as he has not yet had to play a game to the final whistle. Overall, Fields ranks sixth nationally in quarterback efficiency with a 187.54 rating, totaling 26 touchdowns to just one interception. If Ohio State is to compete for a nation title this season, it will need to see a continued high level of play from its signal caller.
PARIS JOHNSON BRINGING IT @ParisJohnsonJr pic.twitter.com/jPyFHgDfNv
— Overtime (@overtime) October 16, 2019
If you were worried about the future of the Buckeyes’ offensive line — don’t be. Meet Paris Johnson Jr., a five-star offensive tackle. The 6-foot-7, 290 pound lineman out of Cincinnati is the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country, No. 1 player in the state of Ohio and No. 7 recruit nationally based on 247sports composite.
He’s big, he’s mean, and he’ll be coming to the Ohio State offensive line next season. As you can tell by the kind of day No. 7 was having in this highlight, it will be a tough assignment for defensive ends in the near future.
I went back to OSU to finish school. Something I worked as hard on as my football career. I’m my own man and think for myself. Going back benefited me & my family LONG term. Educate yourself on the situation before commenting and spreading the wrong message. https://t.co/G0i3kiP9iJ
— Cardale Jones (@CJ1two) October 16, 2019
Cardale Jones — a man that once said he did not go to Ohio State to play school — does not regret playing said school. Jones, a third-string quarterback who led the Buckeyes to their National Championship victory over Oregon in 2014, elected to return to Columbus for his junior season rather than declaring for the NFL Draft, where many thought he had potential to be a first-round pick.
Jones spent his final year at OSU flip-flopping with J.T. Barrett for the starting job. In the end, he played in 10 games, completing over 62 percent of his passes for about 1,500 yards and 10 total touchdowns with five interceptions. In what appeared a step back from his unbelievable three-game stretch the year, Jones would wind up a fourth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Jones played in just one game for the Bills in 2016 in a reserve role, and would be traded to the Los Angeles Chargers the following year. After being demoted to practice squad duty in 2018, the Seattle Seahawks would pick him up in 2019 before ultimately cutting the 26-year-old QB. Just yesterday, he was drafted to the XFL by the DC Defenders.
The decision to return to Ohio State for one more season likely cost Jones a good amount of money, but the former Buckeye does not regret his decision. Jones defended his decision on Twitter today, stating that going back to school to get his degree was his main goal, and that the decision helped benefit himself and his family long term.
Cardale Jones will always be a legend in Columbus for his unlikely and spectacular National Championship run, as I'm sure the DC Defenders just earned themselves a ton of new fans from central Ohio.
#B1GCats x #GoCats pic.twitter.com/pATyuXhnRJ
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 16, 2019
It is not a hot take to say that Northwestern football has not been good this season. However, the Wildcats will certainly at least look better this Friday as they try to pull out all the stops in an attempt for a huge upset over Ohio State with some alternate jerseys. The Cats will be donning all black against the Buckeyes this weekend, as they try to employ the mantra of look good play good.
Will it be enough to take down Ohio State? Probably not. But hey, at least the hype video is pretty cool.
Stick to Sports
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