COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State will play its third top-five opponent on Saturday when it faces Indiana.
For one side, Saturday is a chance to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time while making a national statement. The other side is trying to get back there for the first time since 2020.
The Buckeyes have spilt their matchup games so far this season but both of those came on the road. Now they get to host one against a Hoosiers team, who while still undefeated still seems to have plenty of doubter.
Ohio State is a 13-point favorite against Indiana. Here’s how we predict the game to go.
Stephen Means
Ohio State 38, Indiana 10
Cute Cignetti has done the impossible by turning Indiana into a playoff game. You have to acknowledge that. You also have to acknowledge that there is a chance that these two teams are fighting in different weight classes talent-wise. At some point on Saturday that becomes the deciding factor.
This game gives off the same vibes a OSU’s 56-7 win over Michigan State in 2021. A game where a team with a new coach who’d just gotten an extension came to Columbus looking to make a statement. Only to be on the wrong end of one.
Game pick: Ohio State -13 (3 Buckeye Talk Tokens)
Over/under: Under 51 (3 BTT)
Record: 9-1
Against the spread: 6-4
Over/under record: 4-5-1
Tokens left: 126
Stefan Krajisnik
Ohio State 41, Northwestern 6
Ohio State, after some early mishaps, felt in control of its win at Penn State despite the score showing a tight matchup. This week’s game against Indiana could go the same way.
The Buckeyes will maintain a lead between 7-10 points throughout the contest before eventually scoring late to put the game on ice.
IU will prove it’s worthy of making the College Football Playoff at 11-1, but Ohio State will show why it’s arguably the best team in the country.
Game pick: Ohio State -13 (5 BTT)
Over/under: Under 51 (5 BTT)
Record: 9-1
Against the spread: 5-5
Over/under record: 4-5-1
Tokens left: 90
Andrew Gillis
Ohio State 35, Indiana 20
This has been a remarkably tough game to get a read on. Indiana’s strength of schedule, and lack thereof, has really been a difficult thing to digest headed into the match. (For context, it’s 106th, per ESPN, which is sandwiched in-between Hawai’i and South Alabama)
I do think Indiana will have something up its sleeve for Ohio State, though. The Hoosiers are coming off a bye week, and I’m not expecting coach Curt Cignetti to show up and play scared. That’s not who he is as a coach, and I think it’ll do enough to keep Indiana afloat for a little while.
But Ohio State just has too much talent for Indiana to handle. At a point, there’s not a gap that you can bridge when the Buckeyes are as deep, and as talented, as they are. I think over the course of the game, the Buckeyes will pull away. Then, when the game is comfortably in hand, Indiana will close the gap to try and strengthen a College Football Playoff resume.
Game pick: Ohio State -13 (10 BTT)
Over/under: Over 51 (5 BTT)
Record: 8-2
Against the spread: 4-6
Over/under record: 3-6-1
Tokens left: 52