Ohio State football is back home Saturday to try to get back in the win column after its first back-to-back losses since 2011. The team looked sloppy and unprepared in a loss at USC, then followed that up with an equally perplexing loss to Oregon back in the ‘Shoe.
Now, the Buckeyes face Northwestern, and they absolutely have to win if they want to keep their still-very-slim chances of reaching the Big Ten Championship game and a potential berth in the College Football Playoff. Ohio State is favored by a couple of scores by the oddsmakers, but it’ll all come down to whether or not OSU can execute on its offensive keys to the game.
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Before every Ohio State football game, we like to ask our writers to predict the outcome of the game, and Phil, Mark, and Alec are doing it again for this one. What does each say? Are all three in on Ohio State winning, or has the recent doom and gloom colored the perception of what this team can do?
Ohio State vs. Northwestern prediction, according to Phil Harrison, Lead Writer/Editor
Ohio State will get back on track. It’s taken a few weeks to figure things out with Julian Sayin shelved, but the Buckeyes will have learned from the last game against Oregon. The coaching staff will find ways to get the ball to wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and the defense will be a more aggressive unit with more designed pressure packages. It’ll all result in Ohio State winning this one somewhat comfortably. There will be some clunky moments, but the talent OSU has will win out.
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Score Prediction: Ohio State 28, Northwestern 17
Ohio State vs. Northwestern prediction, according to Mark Russell, Featured Writer
The Ohio State football team has looked more like a pretender than a contender as of late. And yet, the Buckeyes are not out of contention yet. Whether the team deserves to be there or not is beside the point. The fact is, with a little help, Ohio State could still end up in Indianapolis, playing for a Big Ten Championship. But in order for that to even be a possibility, the Buckeyes must win out, and a date with Northwestern is just what the doctor ordered. The Wildcats will be without quarterback Aiden Chiles, which should make life a little easier for a defensive unit that has been reeling.
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Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Northwestern 17
Ohio State vs. Northwestern, according to Alec Lasley, Featured Writer
Can Ohio State put together a full 60 minutes? It hasn’t been able to do so the last few weeks and, quite honestly, most of the season. It’s start three for Luke Fahey and it’s time to take another step in his progression in this offense. After a lot of conversation surrounding the lack of touches for Jeremiah Smith last week, I expect the Buckeyes to force-feed him early and often against Northwestern. On the flip side, the Wildcats without Aiden Chiles is a major positive for a struggling OSU defense and should allow Matt Patricia to dial up more pressure and create some momentum on that side of the ball to help the offense. Ohio State comes out on top and keeps its season alive, despite it remaining on life support.
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Score Prediction: Ohio State 24, Northwestern 13
Ohio State vs. Northwestern prediction summary
Phil Harrison | Ohio State 28, Northwestern 17
Mark Russell | Ohio State 31, Northwestern 17
Alec Lasley | Ohio State 28, Northwestern 17
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football vs. Northwestern Buckeyes Wire staff predictions
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
