Big Ten: Week 9 Preview
True freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg will look to lead Penn State to an upset victory.
Two of the Big Ten’s biggest rivals take to the field Saturday as No. 4 Ohio State hosts Penn State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
The primetime fixture headlines a four-game slate in the Big Ten, a slate that has lost a lot of its luster thanks to poor in-conference showings from the likes of Minnesota and Northwestern.
Read on for the BettingSports.com preview of Week 9 in the Big Ten.
Penn State at No. 4 Ohio State
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH, 8:00 p.m. ET
Carlos Hyde will be a running threat.
With no postseason play on the agenda, there’s nothing Penn State (4-2, 1-1 Big Ten) would like more than to play spoiler against rivals Ohio State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten). Spoilers the Nittany Lions could be.
Having edged out Michigan in a four-overtime thriller two weeks ago, Bill O’Brien’s side has had an extra week to prepare for this trip to Ohio Stadium, where the Nittany Lions have won two of the last three.
Ohio State meanwhile returned from a bye last weekend to pick up a 34-24 win over Iowa last week, a win that was less convincing than maybe it should have been. The Hawkeyes led that game 17-10 going into the half, and the game was tied 24-24 going into the fourth quarter.
The Buckeyes have won all three conference games this season, but none by more than 10 points. We mentioned last week that the Big Ten’s weakened reputation could cost Urban Meyer’s team when it comes to the BCS standings; OSU’s inability to crush its conference foes could prove equally as costly.
With a 19-game winning streak, not to mention any hope of a berth in the national title game, on the line, Ohio State will look to make a more convincing showing for itself Saturday. The Buckeyes’ high-powered offense will face some competition from PSU’s own fast-moving offensive unit, which should create something of a spectacle for fans in attendance and those watching on national TV.
Get Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Ohio State Buckeyes odds and trends now.
Ohio State opened as the favorite with the spread at 13.5. That number has increased to 16 as people expect the Buckeyes to crush the young and inexperienced Nittany Lions. But taking Ohio State against the spread here could be costly.
As mentioned, the Buckeyes (5-2-0 ATS) have not won by more than 10 in conference play this season. The side also failed to cover the spread in last weekend’s game. That being said, Penn State (3-3-0 ATS) has struggled against the spread in recent times against the Buckeyes, going 2-7-0 ATS in the last nine head-to-head meetings, and 2-7-0 ATS in the last nine played in Columbus.
The over/under opened at 60 but has slipped as low as 55. Both Ohio State (5-2-0) and Penn State (4-2-0) have favored the over this season, with both teams seeing the total go over in their last two games. However, the total has gone under in six of the last nine head-to-head games, and five of the last six at Ohio Stadium.
Around the Conference
Taylor Martinez could return for Nebraska.
No. 24 Nebraska (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) will look to cement its position in the BCS standings with a road win over Minnesota (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten). Cornhuskers quarterback Taylor Martinez (foot) – who hasn’t seen action since Week 3’s crushing home defeat to UCLA – will be a game time decision for head coach Bo Pelini.
The Cornhuskers have won 16 straight against the Golden Gophers dating back to September 1963, and have won 10 on the bounce in Minnesota. Nebraska opened as favorite with the spread at 10 and the over/under at 51.
Quietly pacing the Legends Division, Michigan State (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten) faces Illinois (3-3, 0-2 Big Ten) on the road Saturday afternoon. The Spartans have benefited from a quiet schedule so far this season, and last week’s 14-0 win over Purdue – a team that both Wisconsin (41-10) and Nebraska (44-7) destroyed – put a big fat question mark above Mark Dantonio’s side.
The Spartans have won 11 of their last 12 meetings with the Fighting Illini, and unsurprisingly open as the favorite. The spread opened at 11 but has slipped as low as 9.5. The over/under opened at 52.5, with the under looking very tempting.
Winless in conference play this season, Northwestern (4-3, 0-3 Big Ten) has been stripped of its AP status and now looks to be just another also-ran in the Big Ten. Iowa (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten) will look to leave the Wildcats winless in the conference when the two meet at Kinnick Stadium.
Northwestern has taken six of the last eight head-to-head meetings between the schools, but the Wildcats fell 41-31 to the Hawkeyes the last time they traveled to Iowa City. Iowa is a four-point favorite heading into the game, with the over/under at 52.
BIG TEN SCHEDULE
Week 9
Saturday (All times ET)
12:00 Northwestern (4-3, 0-3 Big Ten) at Iowa (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten) (matchup)
12:00 No. 24 Nebraska (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) at Minnesota (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten) (matchup)
3:30 Michigan State (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten) at Illinois (3-3, 0-2 Big Ten) (matchup)
8:00 Penn State (4-2, 1-1 Big Ten) at No. 4 Ohio State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) (matchup)
Bye: Indiana, No. 22 Michigan, Purdue, Wisconsin
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