Ohio State Football: Big Ten predictions for week 4
The Big Ten season is heating up in week four with five games on tap while the Ohio State football team will host Tulane in their last non-conference game
Every week I will provide my predictions for the slate of Big Ten games. Last week I finished 8-5 again thanks to the Big Ten West. Week four will be better.
Here are my predictions:
Tulane at Ohio State
The Buckeyes went down to Dallas last week and withstood a fight from TCU. They return home for a tune up game against the Green Wave before heading to Happy Valley.
Urban Meyer is back in charge. Will the team respond?
Part of me thinks this will be a closer than expected game because it is sandwiched between TCU and Penn State.
I am not sure it will matter.
Tulane is 1-2 and not very good, especially in defending the run. Tulane ranks No. 105 in the FBS allowing 199.7 rushing yards per-game.
J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber both have big games. Ohio State wins 48-13.
Penn State at Illinois
If this were 1994, maybe the Fighting Illini might have a chance. It’s not. Trace McSorley throws for 250 yards and three touchdowns in a dominating win. Penn State 48-13.
Wisconsin at Iowa
The Badgers laid a colossal and perhaps season-ending egg last week when they lost to BYU. Beating the Hawkeyes is a must if they want to keep their CFP hopes alive.
Iowa has breezed through its non-conference schedule largely on the back of its defense which is giving up just eight points-per-game.
This appears to be one of those seasons where Iowa plays up to its potential.
Beating Wisconsin won’t wrap up the West, but it will put Iowa in a strong position to make it back to the Big Ten Football Championship.
The key to the game is can the Hawkeyes’ defense can contain Jonathan Taylor and keep Alex Hornibrook from making big plays?
I think they will play well, but it won’t be enough as the Badgers take over late in the game to win 20-16.
Nebraska at Michigan
The Scott Frost era has not started off as expected, but he is the right coach to turnaround Nebraska’s program. It just won’t be in this year.
The Cornhuskers struggled with Colorado and Troy at home. Michigan is a step up in competition that Nebraska is not ready to handle.
Despite playing inferior teams, the Wolverines are starting to click on offense. Shea Patterson and David Peoples-Jones are getting in sync.
They will exploit Nebraska’s secondary and open-up a sizable lead in the first half and Michigan cruises to an easy win 42-21.
Purdue at Boston College
Nothing has gone right for the Boilermakers this year. Turnovers, penalties and the inability to get off the field defensively have plagued this team.
The Eagles might be the second-best team in the ACC. The offense ranks No. 6 in the FBS averaging 52.7 points-per-game.
Purdue will keep it close by slowing down A.J. Dillon, but Boston College will grind out a win. Eagles 34-23.
Michigan State at Indiana
The Spartans barely beat Utah State in week one and fell apart in the second half against Arizona State. Is this the week that they start playing to their potential?
The Hoosiers are 3-0 and a solid team. To pull the upset, they’ll have to do it through the air. I don’t think Peyton Ramsey is quite ready to do it.
Close game, but Michigan State has too much depth for Spartans 27-16.
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Minnesota at Maryland
After a 3-0 start, The Golden Gophers finally hit the road to take on a Maryland team that is looking to get back on track after a monstrous collapse against Temple last week.
This will be a ground game and that favors the Terps. Maryland wins a tight game 24-23.
Buffalo at Rutgers
Nothing went right for Rutgers last week against Kansas. Losses like that can impact the remainder of the season. Can Chris Ask rally his program and get his players refocused on Buffalo?
I think they’ll get it going. They had five turnovers which is unusual. I expect them to protect the ball and play better fundamentally. Scarlet Knights 31-17.