Despite owning the nation’s longest winning streak at 20 game, No. 4 Ohio State isn’t getting much respect from national media, polls or college football fans in general.
If the Buckeyes struggle against Purdue on Saturday—something that has happened with surprising consistency over the last decade, their reputation will take another hit it can’t afford.
Ranked a distant fourth in the AP poll behind undefeated Alabama, Oregon and Florida State, and with other unbeatens such as Baylor and Miami nipping at their heels, the Buckeyes need to win impressively—like they did last Saturday against Penn State—to keep pace in a race that few are giving them a chance to win.
It would be safe to assume that the Boilermakers, who enter Saturday’s game with a 1-6 record along with the country’s 120th-ranked offense and a defense that is giving up an average of 274 rushing yards to Big Ten opponents, would be the kind of team that Ohio State (8-0) could blow out.
But the Buckeyes don’t usually blow out Purdue. In fact, they typically leave Ross-Ade Stadium with a black eye and a humbling loss in tow.
That’s not likely to happen this Saturday, as Ohio State is currently favored by a historic margin of 31 to 32 points, via Covers.com.
Purdue doesn’t mind the underdog role, although against the Buckeyes, it hasn’t mattered. The Boilermakers have won three of their last four games against Ohio State at home.
In 2011, a Buckeyes team that…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Can’t Afford Letdown at Purdue
