2013 College Football Picks: Ohio State @ Northwestern Odds and Predictions – Free NCAAF Picks 10/5/2013

2013 College Football Picks: Ohio State @ Northwestern Odds and Predictions – Free NCAAF Picks 10/5/2013: A battle between ranked Big Ten teams is on tap for Saturday night when the fourth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) head to Evanston to face the 16th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten). For the Buckeyes, the game is likely the lone hurdle until remaining on their schedule until the season finale against rival Michigan as they pursue a potential national title. Meanwhile, Saturday’s contest is the conference opener and first real test for a Northwestern bunch hoping to capture the Legends Division crown and play for a spot in the Rose Bowl. In a battle of undefeated teams, Ohio State is a 7-point favorite on the road.

Ohio State’s offense has blossomed in Urban Meyer’s second year at the helm, and the Buckeyes enter Saturday’s matchup ranked seventh in the country in scoring and 12th in rushing. Dual-threat quarterback Braxton Miller missed a few games with an injury, but he threw four touchdowns against Wisconsin in his return last weekend. Miller has plenty of weapons to work with, including receivers Devin Smith and Corey Brown. Meanwhile, the running back tandem of Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall is one if the strongest around. Defensively, linebacker Ryan Shazier and corner Bradley Roby are among the stars, but a unit that has already given up some big passing plays did lose safety Christian Bryant for the year against the Badgers.

Northwestern’s fast start has been fueled largely by a potent ground attack. The Wildcats rank in the top 20 nationally in rushing at almost 250 yards per game, and they also rank in the top 25 in scoring at more than 41 points per game. Quarterbacks Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian both see time under center with Siemian being the better passer and Colter bringing his scrambling ability to the table. Meanwhile, Treyvon Green has been averaging 7.0 yards per carry as the starting running back, and the backfield is about to get even stronger with senior Venric Mark returning this weekend.

The Buckeyes Win If:

In order to preserve their undefeated season, the Buckeyes need to make sure they keep some balance to their potent offense. At times, Ohio State falls in love with going for big plays, even when the offense has had no trouble steadily moving up and down the field. Going into a hostile environment, controlling the pace and quieting the crowd need to be the top priorities.  After all, the longer the Wildcats can stay close, the tougher they will be to put away. On the defensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes need to bottle up the Northwestern rushing attack and force whoever is under center to throw the ball in order to beat them. If OSU takes the crowd and the ground game away from Northwestern early and maintains a solid pace on offense, the Wildcats won’t be able to keep pace.

The Wildcats Win If:

If Northwestern is going to pull off the upset, establishing the run game and controlling the clock are a must. Not only will consistent, sustained drives keep the Buckeyes’ high-powered offense on the sidelines, but it will keep the Wildcats in the game and keep the crowd roaring. Defensively, Northwestern has to limit the big plays and quick scores for the Buckeyes. The last thing the Wildcats want to do is to try to keep pace with OSU in a high-scoring shootout. If Northwestern can control the clock, keep the score close and keep the crowd involved, an upset is possible.

Bottom Line:

While Northwestern certainly has some playmakers to work with this season, the Wildcats have yet to face a team with as much talent and speed as Ohio State. Granted, the Buckeyes have had lapses on both sides of the ball this year, but at their best, they have been excellent. Not to mention the fact they stifled the seemingly unstoppable power running game of the Wisconsin Badgers last weekend. Ohio State’s defense should have no problem slowing down the Wildcats’ solid ground attack, which is going to force the Wildcats out of their comfort zone on offense. Northwestern simply doesn’t have the weapons it needs to keep pace with the OSU offense in a fast-pace shootout, and while the Wildcats might hang close in the first half, the Buckeyes are going to eventually stretch things out.

Prediction: Ohio State Buckeyes (-7) Cover the Spread 

Ohio State @ Northwestern
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Line: Ohio St -7
Total: Over/Under 59

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