Events
NCAAF
Northwestern
Wildcats
6 - 1
Ohio State
Buckeyes
5 - 0
December 19, 2020, 12:00 PM EST
 | Lucas Oil Stadium

Game Preview

Northwestern
Wildcats
6 - 1
Ohio State
Buckeyes
5 - 0
December 19, 2020, 12:00 PM EST
 | Lucas Oil Stadium

  • With Justin Fields expected to be a high NFL draft pick this spring, a date with the Northwestern Wildcats might represent the closest thing to an NFL-caliber defense he will face this season. Fields leads the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0 SU, 3-2 ATS) into Saturday’s Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis against a defensively stout Wildcats team (6-1 SU, 5-1-1 ATS).

    Big Ten Championship: Northwestern vs Ohio State
    • Date/Time: December 19, 12 noon ET
    • Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium
    • TV Coverage: Fox
    • Sportsbook Odds: Ohio State -19.5 | O/U 59.5 (Line History)
    • Northwestern vs Ohio State Matchup Report

    Sportsbook Odds Analysis

    Ohio State opened at -19.5, but it didn’t take long for that line to jump to -20.5 or -21 depending on where you bet. The total has settled in at 58.5 in most places after Sportsbook at 59.5.

    Northwestern News & Notes

    The Wildcats rode their trademark suffocating defense to an impressive 2020 season that included a 17-7 victory over then-No. 10 Wisconsin and only one game in which they allowed more than 20 points. Northwestern surrendered just nine total offensive touchdowns in seven games, while its plus-4 turnover differential ranked inside the top 30 nationally.

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    The offense, however, is a different story – and is a major reason why the Wildcats aren’t being given much of a chance. While they ranked 60th in rushing yards, their pass offense averaged just over 180 yards per game. Senior quarterback Peyton Ramsey led the team with 1,218 passing yards but had just nine touchdowns against six interceptions on the season.

    Ohio State News & Notes

    A handful of cancellations trimmed the Buckeyes’ regular-season schedule considerably – but they were still comfortably able to exert their dominance on the opposition. The Buckeyes scored at least 38 points in all five of their games while averaging 46.6 points per game overall (fourth-most in FBS). They also averaged more than 530 total yards per game.

    At the center of it all is Fields, who is a Heisman Trophy long shot at +2500 but is still expected to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft. Fields threw for more than 1,400 yards with 15 touchdowns in his five-game stint, and added five scores on the ground. He had 194 passing yards and four touchdowns against Northwestern in their previous meeting in October 2019.

    Betting Pick: UNDER 59.5 (-110)

    We’re not quite sure how the Wildcats are going to do enough on offense to challenge the OVER here; that, combined with Northwestern’s elite defense, should keep this score well below the total.

    Shark Bites
    • Northwestern is 4-1 ATS in its past 5 games.
    • Ohio State is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 vs Big Ten foes.
    • The UNDER is 6-1 in Northwestern’s last 7 games.
Back to Matchup

Odds

Saturday, December 19 Sat Dec 19

Opening
Current
Northwestern
vsFinal
Ohio State
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
+19.5
-110
+886
o59.5
-110
-19.5
-110
-1322
u59.5
-110
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+16.5
-110
+605
o57.5
-110
-16.5
-110
-825
u57.5
-110
Line History
Final

Edge Finder

13.75
 Total Score
44.50
203.58
 Passing Yards
292.42
125.08
 Rushing Yards
198.50
29:01
 Time on Field
30:35
73.83
 Number of Plays
67.50
4.54
 Yards Per Play
7.30
13.75
 Total Score
44.50
2.58
 First Quarter
13.50
3.92
 Second Quarter
9.08
2.25
 Third Quarter
11.58
5.00
 Fourth Quarter
10.33
203.58
 Passing Yards
292.42
34.75
 Pass Attempts
31.33
20.42
 Pass Completions
20.92
1.75
 Sacks
0.67
10.83
 Sack Yards
3.83
9.97
 Yards Per Pass
13.98
125.08
 Rushing Yards
198.50
39.08
 Rush Attempts
36.17
3.20
 Yards Per Rush
5.49
1.42
 Interceptions
0.50
1.67
 Fumbles
0.75
1.08
 Fumbles Lost
0.33
2.50
 Total Turnovers
0.83
4.58
 Penalties
5.75
40.83
 Penalty Yards
50.00
29:01
 Time on Field
30:35
73.83
 Number of Plays
67.50
4.54
 Yards Per Play
7.30
4.83
 Punts
3.75
39.47
 Punt Average
45.49
20.42
 Return Yards
45.25

Head To Head

NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
1-9
 Record
9-1
2-7-1
 ATS
7-2-1
7-3
 O/U
7-3
14.40
 Score
41.30
112.00
 Rush Yds
204.80
34.50
 Pass Attempts
27.00
54.78
 Completion %
63.70
193.10
 Passing Yds
222.40
305.1
 Total Yds
427.2
2.40
 Turnovers
1.30
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
0-3
 Record
3-0
1-2
 ATS
2-1
2-1
 O/U
2-1
15.67
 Score
40.33
152.00
 Rush Yds
198.33
36.33
 Pass Attempts
33.00
51.38
 Completion %
74.75
189.00
 Passing Yds
307.67
341
 Total Yds
506
2.00
 Turnovers
0.67
Oct 18/19 (1 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Home
Away
3
 Score
52
+27
 ATS
-27
49.5 o
 O/U
49.5 u
157
 Rush Yds
279
21
 Pass Attempts
26
28.57
 Completion %
73.08
42
 Passing Yds
201
199
 Total Yds
480
2
 Turnovers
0
Dec 1/18 (2 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Away
Home
24
 Score
45
+16.5
 ATS
-16.5
63 o
 O/U
63 u
151
 Rush Yds
108
44
 Pass Attempts
41
61.36
 Completion %
82.93
267
 Passing Yds
499
418
 Total Yds
607
3
 Turnovers
2
Oct 29/16 (3 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Away
Home
20
 Score
24
+26
 ATS
-26
53.5 o
 O/U
53.5 u
148
 Rush Yds
208
44
 Pass Attempts
32
52.27
 Completion %
65.63
258
 Passing Yds
223
406
 Total Yds
431
1
 Turnovers
0
Oct 5/13 (4 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Home
Away
30
 Score
40
+6.5
 ATS
-6.5
61 o
 O/U
61 u
94
 Rush Yds
248
31
 Pass Attempts
26
80.65
 Completion %
57.69
343
 Passing Yds
203
437
 Total Yds
451
2
 Turnovers
3
Nov 8/08 (5 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Home
Away
10
 Score
45
+12.5
 ATS
-12.5
38.5 o
 O/U
38.5 u
117
 Rush Yds
244
27
 Pass Attempts
16
66.67
 Completion %
56.25
177
 Passing Yds
197
294
 Total Yds
441
3
 Turnovers
0
Sep 22/07 (6 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Away
Home
7
 Score
58
+24.5
 ATS
-24.5
49 o
 O/U
49 u
0
 Rush Yds
191
33
 Pass Attempts
20
51.52
 Completion %
70.00
120
 Passing Yds
205
120
 Total Yds
396
3
 Turnovers
2
Nov 11/06 (7 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Home
Away
10
 Score
54
+22.5
 ATS
-22.5
42.5 o
 O/U
42.5 u
68
 Rush Yds
231
36
 Pass Attempts
24
58.33
 Completion %
58.33
229
 Passing Yds
194
297
 Total Yds
425
5
 Turnovers
2
Nov 12/05 (8 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Away
Home
7
 Score
48
+20.5
 ATS
-20.5
58 o
 O/U
58 u
98
 Rush Yds
317
40
 Pass Attempts
15
45.00
 Completion %
60.00
153
 Passing Yds
105
251
 Total Yds
422
2
 Turnovers
1
Oct 2/04 (9 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Home
Away
33
 Score
27
+11.5
 ATS
-11.5
45 o
 O/U
45 u
166
 Rush Yds
97
44
 Pass Attempts
38
54.55
 Completion %
47.37
278
 Passing Yds
211
444
 Total Yds
308
2
 Turnovers
2
Sep 27/03 (10 of 10)
NWEST
 Stat Type OSU
Away
Home
0
 Score
20
+20
 ATS
-20
46 o
 O/U
46 u
121
 Rush Yds
125
25
 Pass Attempts
32
40.00
 Completion %
59.38
64
 Passing Yds
186
185
 Total Yds
311
1
 Turnovers
1

Team Records

NWEST
 Record OSU
6-1
 All
5-0
4-0
 Home
3-0
2-1
 Away
2-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
5-1-1
 ATS
3-2
4-0
 ATS Home
1-2
1-1-1
 ATS Away
2-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
1-6
 O/U
3-1-1
0-4
 O/U Home
2-1
1-2
 O/U Away
1-0-1
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
NWEST
 Record OSU
6-1
 All
5-0
4-0
 Home
3-0
2-1
 Away
2-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
5-1-1
 ATS
3-2
4-0
 ATS Home
1-2
1-1-1
 ATS Away
2-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
1-6
 O/U
3-1-1
0-4
 O/U Home
2-1
1-2
 O/U Away
1-0-1
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
NWEST
 Record OSU
6-1
 All
5-0
4-0
 Home
3-0
2-1
 Away
2-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
5-1-1
 ATS
3-2
4-0
 ATS Home
1-2
1-1-1
 ATS Away
2-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
1-6
 O/U
3-1-1
0-4
 O/U Home
2-1
1-2
 O/U Away
1-0-1
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0

Gametime Weather

11:00 am EST PM Showers
5ºC / 41ºF
78% Humidity
44% Precipitation
95% Cloud Cover
Wind Impact Stadium Type N/A
Field Image
Arrow Image 11
 mph

Trends

  • Northwestern are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Northwestern's last 7 games.
  • Northwestern are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games.
  • Northwestern are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games against Ohio State.
  • Northwestern are 0-8 SU in their last 8 games against Ohio State.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Northwestern's last 5 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
  • Northwestern are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games played in December.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Northwestern's last 5 games played on a Saturday.
  • Northwestern are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games when playing as the underdog.
  • Northwestern are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 games played on a Saturday when playing on the road.
  • Ohio State are 12-6 ATS in their last 18 games.
  • Ohio State are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ohio State's last 7 games against Northwestern.
  • Ohio State are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
  • Ohio State are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games played in December.
  • Ohio State are 13-7 ATS in their last 20 games played on a Saturday.
  • Ohio State are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games when playing as the favourite.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Ohio State's last 6 games played on a Saturday when at home.

Injuries

Name Position Inj Desc
No Injuries to Report
Name Position Inj Desc
DeaMonte TrayanumRBIs OUT Friday vs Missouri, Personal
Julian FlemingWRIs OUT Friday vs Missouri, Personal
Lathan RansomSIs out indefinitely, Undisclosed
Miyan WilliamsRBIs out for season, Undisclosed
Marvin Harrison Jr.WRIs "?" Friday vs Missouri, Personal
Kyle McCordQBIs OUT Friday vs Missouri, Personal

Last 10 Games

Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 12, 2020ILL28-10W-13.5/41.5W/U411824931551072621
Nov 28, 2020MSU20-29L-13.5/40.5L/O632222851951673623
Nov 21, 2020WIS17-7W+7/43W/U24239263136230366-4
Nov 14, 2020PUR27-20W-3.5/48W/U8021229222632650
Nov 7, 2020NEB21-13W-4/54W/U1481693172242184420
Oct 31, 2020IOWA21-20W-1/42.5P/U143130273772162930
Oct 24, 2020MARY43-3W-13/52.5W/U32521253764143207-4
Nov 30, 2019ILLINO29-10W+6/39W/P3785543314146160-1
Nov 23, 2019MINN22-38L+16/41P/O12795222212211423-1
Nov 16, 2019MASS45-6W-39/57.5P/U33476410832273102
View Game Logs
Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 5, 2020MSU52-12W-22.5/59W/O32219952181180261-3
Nov 21, 2020INDY42-35W-21/67L/O307300607-1491490-1
Nov 7, 2020RUT49-27W-37.5/63L/O203314517141232373-1
Oct 31, 2020PSU38-25W-10/63W/P20831852644281325-1
Oct 24, 2020NEB52-17W-27.5/69.5W/U222276498217160377-1
Dec 28, 2019CLEM23-29L+2.5/62.5L/U1963205161582594172
Dec 7, 2019WISCSN34-21W-16.5/57.5L/U1723204922002324321
Nov 30, 2019MICH56-27W-9/53W/O26431357791305396-1
Nov 23, 2019PENNST28-17W-20/58L/U229188417991282272
Nov 16, 2019RUTGER56-21W-52/63L/O217377594110121231-1
View Game Logs
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