My Northwestern vs. Ohio State prediction sees the Wildcats covering a generous 13.5-point spread when these Big Ten rivals meet in Columbus today, Nov. 14, at noon ET on FOX.
I like the Wildcats to keep it close behind their capable offense and a stunted Buckeyes attack. Keep reading to see my college football picks for today's showdown.
See the latest Northwestern-Ohio State lines on Kalshi, where Ohio State carries an 83% win probability, plus our Week 11 Top Picks and Brad Powers' Week 11 predictions.
Who will win Northwestern vs Ohio State today: Northwestern +13.5
The Ohio State Buckeyes have lost two straight games, and are struggling to do work on offense since quarterback Julian Sayin went down with an elbow injury. Even worse for the Buckeyes, they've allowed a total of 71 points over their last two games, a stunning reversal for a defense that had previously allowed just 13.4 ppg over its first seven games.
The Northwestern Wildcats are not who a struggling defense wants to get right against. The Wildcats are putting up 421.2 yards and 31.0 ppg. They do consistent damage, with a Top-30 success rate (48.0%) on offense. Those numbers look even better when you consider Northwestern's schedule, ranked 31st nationally.
Right now, the Buckeyes aren't scoring enough points to blow out a potent offense. I like Northwestern to cover +13.5 at up to 55%.
See our college football picks against the spread for more Week 11 sides.
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Northwestern vs Ohio State Over/Under pick today: Over 45.5
Given my expectations for the Northwestern offense, it should come as no surprise that I'm also backing the Over. The Wildcats have played above this total in every game this season except one — their loss last week to the Iowa Hawkeyes, perhaps the team least conducive to scoring in major college football.
While Ohio State's offense has stumbled a bit, this is still a unit that put up 28 points against the Oregon Ducks last week behind freshman quarterback Luke Fahey.
These are two of the Top 20 offenses in the country in adjusted EPA, and that has me trading the Over up to 47.5 points.
See our college football Over/Under picks for more Week 11 totals.
TOP PICK
Northwestern vs Ohio State prop: Northwestern team total Over 13.5 points
Outside of Iowa, no team has held Northwestern to fewer than 23 points this year. And while I might normally be worried about Ohio State changing that, the Buckeyes have seemingly lost a step defensively.
Even before the two-game losing streak, Ohio State's defense hasn't been quite at the level of Iowa or Indiana, so Northwestern has already faced more imposing units. The Buckeyes also won't grind the game to a halt in the same way Iowa did.
The Wildcats are going to have more success than expected here. I like their team total Over at up to 60%, and would consider Over 16.5 at up to 50%.
See our college football Top 25 predictions for more on today's Big Ten matchups.
COVERS INTEL: Northwestern ranks 9th this season among FBS teams in adjusted EPA per offensive play (0.18).Northwestern vs Ohio State combo
Along with combining Northwestern to cover with the Over, I'm also going to take the Wildcats to cover the first-half spread on Saturday. This combos naturally to begin with, but it's also appetizing because the spread on the first half is just over a touchdown at +7.5.
For all the reasons already discussed, Northwestern's offense should keep them tight with the Buckeyes, so I like these generous spreads on both the full game and any individual quarters or halves.
Northwestern vs Ohio State combo
- Northwestern +13.5
- Over 45.5
- Northwestern +7.5 1H
Northwestern vs Ohio State market trends
Here's how trusted traders at Kalshi are dealing on today’s matchup. Follow the smart money via the widget below to help inform your Northwestern vs. Ohio State prediction.
- Top picks: 5-2, +3.05 units
- Combos: 1-6, -0.70 units
More Week 11 college football picks and predictions
- Week 11 college football Top Picks for Saturday, Nov. 14: Top pick from every game preview
- College football predictions Week 11: Brad Powers' CFB picks
- Week 11 college football AI predictions
- College football Top 25 predictions Week 11: watchability ratings and picks
- College football Week 11 picks against the spread
- College football Week 11 moneyline picks
- College football Over/Under picks: Week 11
- College football underdog picks and upset predictions: Week 11
- College football player props: Week 11
- Our favorite college football Group of 6 predictions: Week 11
Northwestern vs Ohio State odds today
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Spread: Northwestern +13.5 | Ohio State -13.5
- Over/Under: Over 45.5 (46%) | Under 45.5 (55%)
- Moneyline: Northwestern 17% | Ohio State 83%
Follow the Northwestern vs. Ohio State market prices on Kalshi up to kickoff. See our college football moneyline picks for more win probabilities.
See our college football odds board for the full slate of college football matchups.
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Northwestern vs Ohio State weather
It'll be a chilly day in Columbus with a high of 43, but the cloudy weather won't have any impact on today's game.
See our college football weather page for up-to-date info on every matchup.
Northwestern vs Ohio State trend to know
Northwestern is 3-0 ATS in its last three games against Ohio State. Find more college football betting trends for Northwestern vs. Ohio State, and see our college football AI predictions.
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How to watch Northwestern vs Ohio State
| Location | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio |
| Date | Today, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 |
| Kickoff | Noon ET |
| TV | FOX |
Northwestern vs Ohio State latest injuries
See our college football injuries page for updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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