The Ohio State Buckeyes are 4-0 straight up and against the spread in their last four games against the Northwestern Wildcats, and will look to extend those streaks when they visit the Wildcats at Ryan Field on Saturday. Ohio State was a 7-point road favorite midweek, with a total hovering around 59.5 at most shops monitored by OddsShark.com.
Ohio State vs. Northwestern betting odds, trends and pick: Buckeyes to cover
Ohio State needs to win impressively to stay in the BCS discussion. Northwestern has been a great bet lately. The odds favor the Buckeyes.
Jamie Sabau
Many teams would kill to have one elite quarterback, and the Buckeyes are gifted with two. Through their first five games of the season, Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton have combined for 1,070 passing yards with 19 touchdown passes to just three interceptions. They have also rushed for a combined 351 yards.
When healthy, Miller is the starter; but it must be nice for fans to know that the Buckeyes are in good hands if anything happens to him. Ohio State is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in college football betting so far in 2013.
Northwestern put together an outstanding campaign in 2012 with a 10-3 SU and 12-1 ATS record, and seems to have picked up right where it left off in 2013, with a 4-0 SU and 2-2 ATS start out of the gate. They are riding a 14-3 ATS streak in 17 games. Averaging 41.25 points per game on offense during their first four games, the Wildcats seem to have the ability to shootout with anyone, and should be amped up at the opportunity.
The total has gone OVER in four of the last five meetings between these two teams, and with two dynamic offenses averaging over 40 points per game taking the field this Saturday, that trend could continue. The total is currently set at 59 points.
If this game winds up being a shootout, it could obviously go either way. But to this point in the season, the Buckeyes have been the better team on defense, allowing just 17 points per game to Northwestern’s 23.75 while playing tougher opponents.
Ohio State should be able to get the job done and keep their undefeated record under Urban Meyer alive.
PICK: Ohio State -7.0 | Computer Prediction: 39-26 Ohio State (via OddsShark college football picks computer)
