Ohio State-Indiana
Saturday, Dec. 6
8:10 p.m. Eastern, 6:10 p.m. Pacific
Fox
Ohio State-Indiana gives us something we have never previously seen before at the Big Ten Championship Game. This Big Ten football title game event has been around since 2011. In a decade and a half of Big Ten title tilts, none have had a 1-versus-2 matchup. In 2006, the Big Ten gave us a 1-versus-2 Ohio State-Michigan game in late November, but that was five years before the Big Ten Championship Game began. Notably, Ohio State and Michigan have never played each other in the Big Ten Championship Game. One of the two teams just hasn’t been able to join the other on this stage in Indianapolis. It’s Indiana — author of a 12-0 season for the first time in school history — which will face the unbeaten Buckeyes. One team will finally lose its first game of the season in December.
Ohio State-Indiana is a unique game played in a unique situation
Buckeyes and Hoosiers want to win but have reason to keep cards hidden
Ohio State-Indiana is such an unusual game for reasons far beyond the fact that it’s 1-versus-2 in a conference title game, and that Indiana is 12-0 and doing things it has never done before. (This is Indiana’s first-ever Big Ten Championship Game appearance.) What makes this game really different is that in a 12-team playoff situation, these two teams know they will both be in the playoff and will probably both get first-round playoff byes, even for the loser. The only way the loser of this game does not get a playoff bye in the first round is if the margin of defeat is huge, at least 24 if not 30 or more points.
Because this game really won’t have that much of an impact on the playoff — the only real prize is a No. 1 seed, and last year Oregon’s No. 1 seed meant nothing — Ohio State and Indiana both know they could meet again in the playoff next month, in the semifinals or championship game. For that reason, both teams, while obviously wanting to win and lift a conference championship trophy, might limit their playbooks with an eye on January. That’s when these two teams, should they meet again, will want to throw the kitchen sink at the other side. The two coaches know that the first priority in this game is being healthy, so that being fresh and at full strength in the playoff quarterfinals on New Year’s Day will not be a question. It is hard to know exactly what kind of playing style we will see from these teams. It would not be shocking if both sides were conservative and tried to save up for a possible reunion in one month.
Ohio State Buckeyes-Indiana Hoosiers Odds
Hear TJ Rives and Jason Powers break down this game on the “3 Dog Thursday” Podcast by clicking Play below:
Spread: Ohio State -4 (-115), Indiana +4 (-105)
Total: 47.5 (Over -115, Under -105)
Underdog moneyline: Indiana +165
The Ohio State defense has been so good this season. It will probably hold down Indiana. The Buckeyes might have slightly more success on offense, but Indiana’s front four has been really strong all year. The under looks like the play here. Regardless of which team wins, points figure to be at a premium in Indianapolis.