The upcoming game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday is an early-season Big Ten test between two teams coming off a loss in their last game. The Buckeyes will try to start their Big Ten campaign on the right foot, while Northwestern attempts to bounce back from a dismal showing in their conference opener. Before this game begins from Evanston, you will find my Ohio State vs Northwestern prediction below.
Our Ohio State vs Northwestern Pick
Pick: Ohio State Buckeyes Moneyline
Confidence: 4/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Ohio State Buckeyes @ Northwestern Wildcats
- Date & Time: December 6, 2025, 2:00 PM ET
- Venue: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, Illinois
- Broadcast: Big Ten Network
Key Storylines
- Ohio State’s offensive firepower: The Buckeyes enter the contest averaging 88.7 points on 52.3% shooting with close to 10 threes per game. Bruce Thornton leads the way at 20.6 points per game, while Christoph Tilly, John Mobley Jr., and Devin Royal are all scoring in double figures. Their variety of scoring threats allows them to play to their tempo throughout the game.
- Ohio State’s health watch: A close 67–66 road loss at Pitt left Mobley Jr. nursing an ankle issue, and reports indicated Tilly may have been limited late in that game. Their status could influence Ohio State's offensive rhythm.
- Northwestern’s efficiency: The Wildcats score 81.0 points per game with only 9.3 turnovers. Their assist-to-turnover ratio ranks among the strongest in the conference, and they have broken the 70-point threshold in every game this season.
- Nick Martinelli’s impact: Martinelli averages 19.8 points and 6.8 rebounds while maintaining consistent scoring output for the Wildcats. Forward Arrinten Page recently delivered a 21-point performance at Wisconsin, showing he can supply strong secondary scoring when he finds rhythm.
- Bounce-back opportunity: Ohio State suffered its first loss of the season in its last game against Pitt. Northwestern has dropped three of its last four games after a 4-0 start. One of these teams will bounce back with a win here.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Ohio State is 3-4 against the spread this season.
- Northwestern is 2-5-1 against the spread going into Saturday afternoon.
- The under has hit in 4 of the Buckeyes' first 7 games.
- The over is 6-2 in Northwestern's games to begin the year.
Ohio State vs Northwestern Model Projection
Score Projection: Ohio State 80 – Northwestern 74
Win Probability: Ohio State 57%, Northwestern 43%
Final Thoughts
Injuries will be something to watch out for when it comes to Ohio State in this game. But I think that the Buckeyes will be able to overcome those injuries against a Northwestern team that has lost three of their last four games against power conference teams. I'll take Ohio State as a slight underdog to start their Big Ten campaign with a victory.
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