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Ohio State football: Big Ten West Division Week 1 predictions

By Thomas Scurlock

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 6: J.K. Dobbins #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates his first quarter touchdown run against the Indiana Hoosiers with Thayer Munford #75 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 6: J.K. Dobbins #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates his first quarter touchdown run against the Indiana Hoosiers with Thayer Munford #75 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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EVANSTON, IL – SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats gives instructions to Greg Newsome II #29 against the Michigan Wolverines at Ryan Field on September 29, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL – SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats gives instructions to Greg Newsome II #29 against the Michigan Wolverines at Ryan Field on September 29, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Every week this season I will make my predictions for Big Ten games.  I am excluding games against FCS teams.  First up is the Big Ten West Division.

I’ll start with the game of the week in the Big Ten.

Northwestern (+6) against Stanford

No one is giving any love to the Wildcats which is odd considering they are the defending Big Ten West champions and return several key pieces from a defense that was strong last year.

I don’t anticipate much of a drop off from Pat Fitzgerald’s team.

David Shaw is a great coach. He’s got his work cut out for him if 2019 is going to be a special year.  After this game, the Cardinals play at USC, UCF and then at home against Oregon.

Hard to call game one a must win, but it certainly has that feel.

My biggest concern for Northwestern is Fitzgerald’s teams typically do not play well in September.  Will this year be similar?

My concern about Stanford is experience.  Shaw has just nine returning starters.

I expect a close game as both programs are built on the same DNA.

Stanford will win, but Northwestern will cover.  Cardinals 31-27.

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