Ohio State vs. Northwestern Point Spread

Carrie Stroup here with your Ohio State vs. Northwestern point spread.  Be sure to claim your FREE $100 BET HERE.

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Ohio State -7.5 & 63.5

Opening Line & Total: Buckeyes -7 & 62

Only one of these two undefeated Big Ten schools will leave the field with their record unblemished Saturday night as No. 4 Ohio State is billed as a road favorite over No. 16 Northwestern.

With an undefeated 17-0 SU record under head coach Urban Meyer, the Buckeyes have been a tremendous bet lately, covering eight of their past nine decisions, including 3-1-1 ATS this season with a push last week against Wisconsin. The Wildcats are hot too though, winning seven in a row SU dating back to last season and covering in nine of their past 11 contests. Last season, the Wildcats went a remarkable 7-0 ATS at home en route to a 12-1 ATS record overall. This is their first game this season as an underdog, but since 2009, they are 16-12 ATS when receiving help from the lines. Ohio State has just been generally impressive since 2009, going 36-18 ATS. While these schools are technically conference rivals, they have not met since 2008 when the Buckeyes dismantled the Wildcats 45-10 in Evanston to easily cover a 12.5-point spread. Ohio State has covered and won SU their past four meetings against Northwestern with an average victory total of 40.3 points per game.

The good news for Ohio State is that QB Braxton Miller (knee) returned to action in last week’s victory and showed no signs of his injury, completing 17-of-25 passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns while not throwing a pick against Wisconsin. Overall, he’s completed 69.4% of his passes this year for 406 yards (8.3 YPA) while adding 165 yards on 4.1 YPC with his legs. RB Jordan Hall is part of a deep backfield, leading the unit with eight touchdowns already in 2013 on 69 carries for 427 yards. He has carried the ball only five times total in the last two games since Carlos Hyde (126 rush yds on 5.7 YPC) has returned following a suspension.  Hall also has the potential to ground-and-pound all game with two games of more than 150 yards already this season. Overall, the team has 14 rushing TD, two of which are from Ezekiel Elliot (21 carries for 200 yards), who leads the crew with 9.5 YPC. However, more impressive than the Buckeyes' offense has been the defense that is stifling opponents’ rushing attacks with 2.8 YPC allowed.

Northwestern, however, also lives off the ground with three rushers of more than 200 yards. This unit is led by RB Treyvon Green, who is averaging 7.0 YPC with 58 touches for 404 yards and five touchdowns, but top RB Venric Mark (1,366 rush yds, 12 TD in 2012) is expected to return on Saturday after a three-game absence due to an ankle injury. The passing reps have gone to two people: Trevor Siemian (47-for-70, 4 TD, 2 INT) and Kain Colter, who has completed 27-of-35 passes this season for 264 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. The team’s No. 1 receiver has been WR Tony Jones, who has racked up 362 yards on 24 catches for three touchdowns. The Wildcats' rushing defense has been great this season, holding foes to 3.7 YPC, though the pass defense has to improve, giving up 308 passing yards per game so far.

• Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter