The Only Thing Standing Between Ohio State and The College Football Playoff Is.......Northwestern, Lol

Concern level about playing Northwestern: 0%

Serious question: what happened to the Big Ten? I'm not saying I've EVER been concerned to go to Indy and play someone from the weak West division, but I'm waking up this morning with literally zero nerves that the Buckeyes could lose this game. I'm more interested in seeing what happens in the other games to see who we'll play in the playoff. Because looking at the standings, it wouldn't matter who we're playing today in this game, the conference is officially trash. I'm embarrassed that we're going to have to hold up that trophy this afternoon and act like it was a huge accomplishment. 

I mean, there are only four teams in the entire conference with winning records. I know that there aren't non-conference games to pad everyone's resume, but my goodness, when the Michigans and Penn States and Michigan States and Wisconsins of the world are all below .500, this conference looks terrible. Are the top dogs really Indiana, Northwestern, and Iowa? My god, no one is shaking lining up against those teams. Let me get out ahead of this one early…..if we have a normal bowl season, fade the Big Ten. Yikes.

Now, with that being said, I'm sure you're all going to say THAT'S WHY OHIO STATE SHOULDN'T MAKE THE PLAYOFF! Listen here, chumps, I'm not concerned about today's game, and I'm not concerned about making the playoff. I heard someone on my television this morning say that Ohio State needs to win "convincingly" to ensure their spot in the playoff. Uhh, buddy, maybe get your brain checked? An undefeated Big Ten champion Ohio State football team will make the college football playoff 100 times out of 100. No exceptions. Even if the conference visibly stinks. I don't care if Texas A&M throws a temper tantrum down there, it's quite literally impossible to exclude an undefeated Buckeye team. Could you imagine?

"Well guys, I know they have the biggest fanbase in the entire world. I know they'll bring in a ton of money and viewership. I know that they have arguably the best player in the country. I know that they're undefeated. I know that they won their conference championship. I know that excluding them would exclude and alienate one of the most powerful conferences we have. I know that they've gone undefeated in the regular season back to back years. BUT, they were unable to get two more games in during the most deadly virus of our lifetime. And for that reason, I say we leave them at home"

Wow, really good point, you guys. Because that's essentially what all the haters are saying. But but but but but, they didn't play enough games! I'M SORRY THAT SOMEONE ATE A BAT IN WUHAN, but please let's not take this out on Justin Fields and Ryan Day. We played and won every single game we had the opportunity to play. And the fact of the matter is…..and you all know this…..is that if we could've played those games against Maryland, Illinois, and Michigan, we would have. And we would have won by about a combined 150 points. The Buckeyes playing 6 games against shitty teams is the same as the Buckeyes playing 9 games against shitty teams, and as long as we win today, we're in.

Alright….do we really need to talk about the game like it's a big one? I know there's rumors of covid still impacting Ohio State, and I know Northwestern's defense is the #2 ranked scoring defense in the country, but we're all adults here. The vast difference in talent is going to be the difference on the scoreboard today. There's a 0% chance the Buckeyes lose, so I'd rather focus on the gambling aspect. It looks like we're going to settle right around Ohio State -19 and the O/U being 56. 

Northwestern is 5-1-1 against the spread this season and the under has hit in 6 of their 7 games. In fact, the under is 106-72-7 in Pat Fitzgerald coached games. And the public has already drawn the total down from where it opened at 59.5. People LOVE the under today. And folks, if everyone wants to be on the under today, give me the Over. I do think Northwestern's defense has been good against the bottom dwellers of the conference, but Justin Fields and the Buckeyes are just different. Ohio State's lowest point total of the year is 38. They've been over 50 twice and hit 49 once. The Buckeyes are going to score points today. If they can get to 40 or more, do we not think Northwestern gets to 17? I do. I know Northwestern's offense stinks but the Buckeyes defense is trash as well. 

The only way I see this game not going over is if Northwestern can't score at all, sort of like last year's 52-3 game. Which is why I'm going Ohio State and the Over. Worst case scenario is you split. If the Buckeyes win 48-24, easy double winner. If the Buckeyes win 52-3 and it barely stays under, you covered the side by 30 points. But there's a chance we just do the whole damn thing and win both sides of the bet ourselves. It's been known to happen in this game….