Ohio State Opens Big Ten Schedule at Indiana
On Saturday afternoon in Bloomington, Indiana the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will make their Big 10 debut against the Indiana Hoosiers. The game is also the Big 10 season debut for the Hoosiers as well.
The Buckeyes are favored by 21 points and should have an easy time of things, but their offense has sputtered this season and that could keep the game closer than it should be.
Cardale Jones has kept his starting quarterback job, and will use the talents of running back Ezekiel Elliott and receiver Braxton Miller the former quarterback to keep the Indiana defense off balance.
Indiana has a five game winning streak heading into this contest, which is its longest since 1987. Although Indiana is undefeated, they have had close games including a win over 38-35 over Western Kentucky and 31-24 over Wake Forest.
Ohio State on the other hand has the longest active win streak in college football at 17. The all time series between the two has been dominated by Ohio State 71-12-5.
A key to the game will be the run defense of Ohio State against Jordan Howard. Howard is the leader in rushing yards in the Big Ten with 675 and averages 6.1 yards per carry. He has rushed for 140 or more in each of the first four Indiana games.
The Ohio State run defense is usually very strong but this season is allowing 121 yards per game and if Howard can have his way, Indiana might just have a change to upset the Buckeyes.
One key to stopping Howard will by Joey Bosa a defensive lineman for the Buckeyes. He averages 4.3 tackles per game but has only a half a sack this season.
Ohio State has won 20 straight head-to-head games against the Hoosiers. The Buckeyes have lost just twice to the Hoosiers since 1953.
Indiana is 0-15 when playing No. 1 teams in the history of its football program, including 0-5 versus Ohio State when the Buckeyes have held the top spot in the national poll.
Ohio State is 14-0 in its past 14 games on the road and has a won 24 straight Big 10 regular season games.
The Hoosiers opened the season 4-0 which they had not accomplished since 1990. Indiana has scored 51 points during the third quarter this season and has allowed zero.
Elliott has nine consecutive games of 100 yards or more rushing to Ohio State.
Prediction: Ohio State will easily win this game 51-23.
