The Ohio State Buckeyes jumped to No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings after their nine-point win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Week 10. They will look to cement their standing in the top 4 this Saturday when they square off with the Purdue Boilermakers. Read our preview for a breakdown of this Purdue vs. Ohio State game.
Purdue Boilermakers installed as +20.5 underdogs
Momentum is with Purdue heading into Saturday's matchup against Ohio State after the Boilermakers recorded a stunning 40-29 upset win over Michigan State in Week 10. It was an important victory for the Boilermakers, who improved their season record to 6-3 and 4-2 in conference play.
For the Boilermakers to record their second upset victory in a row, they will need to continue their excellent play on the offensive end. Aidan O'Connell starred for Purdue in the Week 10 win, completing 40 of 54 passes for 536 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He matched his career high with that three-touchdown performance as he torched the Michigan State defense all afternoon long.
David Bell was the main beneficiary of O'Connell's highly efficient play, catching 11 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. He leads the Big Ten with 1,003 yards, which is also sixth best in the FBS. Bell wreaked havoc in the upset wins over Iowa and Michigan State, recording 22 catches, 457 yards and two touchdowns in those two games. Bell's five touchdowns lead Purdue this season.
O'Connell has been throwing the ball well of late, averaging 343 yards per game in the last five outings. Purdue is eighth in the nation in passing offense, averaging 332.6 yards per game through the air this season.
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Ohio State Buckeyes enter Week 11 as -20.5 favorites
Ohio State extended its winning streak to seven games with a less than impressive 26-17 victory over Nebraska. C.J. Stroud led the way for the Buckeyes, who improved to 8-1 for the season and a perfect 6-0 in conference play. They have now won their last 24 games against a conference opponent.
Stroud completed 36 of 54 passes for 405 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He had not thrown a pick in Ohio State's previous four outings. Ohio State played without top wide receiver Garrett Wilson in this game but that did not pose a problem with Jaxon Smith-Njigba stepping up big time in his absence.
He caught a school-record 15 passes for a career-high 240 yards. Smith-Njigba made the play of the game in the first half, unleashing a 75-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. He has now recorded 888 receiving yards this season. Smith-Njigba leads Ohio State not only in receptions (50) but also in receiving yards per game (98.7).
Writer's Prediction
Ohio State wins, but Purdue covers the spread.
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