Ohio State @ Nebraska preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2016 ) Nebraska 3, Ohio State 62

Eighth-ranked Ohio State’s defense is following the lead of its productive offense during an impressive four-game winning streak and the Buckeyes hope to extend that to five when they visit Nebraska for a Big Ten matchup on Saturday night. Ohio State is averaging 52.5 points over the last four games, but has also allowed just 10.5 in the same stretch and limited Maryland to 66 total yards in a 62-14 victory last week.

“The defense smothered them and stopped them,” Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer told reporters of his team, which has allowed 53.8 yards per game through the air during the win streak after struggling early in the season. “The line of scrimmage we dominated.” Senior quarterback J.T. Barrett (16 touchdown passes, one interception in 2017) looks to continue his roll leading the Ohio State offense and match last season’s performance when he threw for four scores in a 62-3 win over the Cornhuskers. Nebraska was within seven points of No. 6 Wisconsin entering the fourth quarter last week before dropping a 38-17 decision after winning its first two Big Ten contests. The Buckeyes have given up some rushing yards (150.5 per game) during their winning streak and junior running back Devine Ozigbo will try to take advantage after registering at least 100 in three straight games for the Cornhuskers.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Ohio State -24

ABOUT OHIO STATE (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten): Barrett, who is completing 63.8 percent of his passes, has seven receivers who have recorded at least 143 yards and 10 different players own touchdown receptions. Freshman running back J.K. Dobbins continues to add to his outstanding season with 669 yards rushing (7.6 per carry) and four touchdowns, gaining at least 95 in four of six games, while Barrett has run for 311 yards to place second on the team. The Buckeyes lost right guard Branden Bowen for the season with a broken left leg, but could get back defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones back after he missed the last two contests with a leg injury.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (3-3, 2-1): Ozigbo has rushed for 327 yards - including a career-best 112 last week - and may get some help Saturday if junior Mikale Wilbon (251 yards) can return from an ankle injury that kept him out of last week. Junior quarterback Tanner Lee has thrown for 1,406 yards and 11 touchdowns, but owns a Big Ten-most 10 interceptions while junior Stanley Morgan Jr. (five TD receptions) and senior De’Mornay Pierson-El (four TDs) are the top two targets. Junior safety Aaron Williams has 40 tackles along with a pair of interceptions to lead the Cornhuskers - averaging 26.7 points against - and senior safety Joshua Kalu has 185 career tackles.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Morgan’s 30 receptions are tied for second-most and his 510 receiving yards are second alone through six games of a single season in Nebraska history.

2. Barrett needs 21 yards to pass former Nebraska star Tommy Armstrong for seventh on the Big Ten’s all-time list in total offense and 76 to go by Denard Robinson for sixth.

3. The Cornhuskers have lost four of five against the Buckeyes, but earned the only victory in the last game at Lincoln 34-27 in 2011 before giving up 125 points in the last two meetings.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 45, Nebraska 21