By Garin Turner
A lot is on the line in the Big Ten Championship game as the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes take on the #2 Indiana Hoosiers Saturday, December 6, at 8 PM EST on FOX. Both teams are undefeated at 12-0.
What’s at stake (besides the Big Ten Championship)
Both teams are in the college football playoff win or lose. It’s a chance to stay undefeated and a chance of running the table. It’s the championship trophy. It’s better seeding and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Buckeyes’ closest game came in week one when they defeated then #1 Texas 14-7. They went on five weeks later to defeat then #17 Illinois 34-16.
They ended Michigan’s four-game winning streak in The Game last week, 27-9. Ohio State hasn’t lost since last year’s game against Michigan.
For Indiana, they destroyed a then #9 Illinois team 63-10 in week four. Two weeks later, they beat then #3 Oregon 30-20. Oregon has a shot to make it in the college football playoffs. The Hoosiers have scored 50-plus in half their games this season.
Keys to the game
Both teams can score and don’t make a lot of mistakes. The quarterbacks have five interceptions each.
Will Ohio State stick to what they do?
Sometimes Ohio State gets away from what they do and that’s cost them in the past. Indiana has to prove one more time it’s not a fluke. They beat a solid Oregon team and took care of an Illini team that many thought would be the “Indiana” this year.
The quarterbacks.
A good showing (and a win) for either quarterback could mean the Heisman Trophy. Whoever has the better game, their team will win.
Ohio State Team Leaders
Passing: Julian Sayin, 3,065 yards with 30 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Rushing: Bo Jackson, 952 yards on 151 carries and five touchdowns.
Receiving: Jeremiah Smith, 72 catches for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Indiana Team Leaders
Passing: Fernando Mendoza, 211/293 for 2,758 yards with 32 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Rushing: Roman Hemby, 163 carries for 866 and six touchdowns.
Receiving: Omar Cooper Jr., 58 catches for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Prediction
Indiana continues to prove people wrong and beats Ohio State 28-21 to win
their first Big Ten Championship and first conference title since 1967.
