Ohio at Northwestern Week 4 College Football Matchup Ohio at Northwestern Matchup - Week 4
Sat, Sep 25 2021 · Week 4 · 🏟 Ryan Field Evanston, IL · Turf · 47,130 cap
Ohio✈ 348 mi-1 hr TZ
Away
6 35
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Ohio
23
Northwestern
26
P&R Line Northwestern -3
P&R Total O/U 48.5
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Northwestern -13.5 · O/U 47.5
Matchup Prediction
Northwestern has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Northwestern entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Northwestern wins
Lean
Game Control
58.6%
Northwestern wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Northwestern -13.5
O/U 47.5
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Ohio · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🚌 Ohio 2nd straight Road Game
Ohio 2021 Schedule
Ohio's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Ohio vs Syracuse-2.0L9–2955.5L9–29UN
Sat 9/11Ohio vs Duquesne-28.5L26–2849.0L26–28ON
Thu 9/16Ohio at Louisiana+18.5L14–4956.5L14–49ON
Sat 9/25Ohio at Northwestern+13.5L6–3547.5L6–35UN
Sat 10/2Ohio at Akron-10.0W34–1755.0W34–17UY
Sat 10/9Ohio vs Central Michigan+5.0L27–3058.0L27–30UY
Sat 10/16Ohio at Buffalo+7.5L26–2754.5L26–27UY
Sat 10/23Ohio vs Kent State+5.0L27–3468.5L27–34UN
— Bye Week —
Tue 11/2Ohio vs Miami (OH)+7.0W35–3354.5W35–33OY
Tue 11/9Ohio at Eastern Michigan+6.0W34–2661.5W34–26UY
Tue 11/16Ohio vs Toledo+7.5L23–3557.5L23–35ON
Fri 11/26Ohio at Bowling Green-6.0L10–2148.0L10–21UN
Northwestern 2021 Schedule
Northwestern's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 9/3Northwestern vs Michigan State-3.0L21–3845.5L21–38ON
Sat 9/11Northwestern vs Indiana State-28.5W24–646.0W24–6UN
Sat 9/18Northwestern at Duke-2.5L23–3050.0L23–30ON
Sat 9/25Northwestern vs Ohio-13.5W35–647.5W35–6UY
Sat 10/2Northwestern at Nebraska+11.0L7–5651.5L7–56ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/16Northwestern vs Rutgers+2.5W21–745.0W21–7UY
Sat 10/23Northwestern at Michigan+23.5L7–3351.5L7–33UN
Sat 10/30Northwestern vs Minnesota+7.5L14–4143.5L14–41ON
Sat 11/6Northwestern vs Iowa+11.5L12–1740.5L12–17UY
Sat 11/13Northwestern at Wisconsin+26.0L7–3541.5L7–35ON
Sat 11/20Northwestern vs Purdue+11.0L14–3247.5L14–32UN
Sat 11/27Northwestern at Illinois+7.0L14–4745.0L14–47ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Ohio PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Ohio
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Ohio
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Ohio
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Ohio
+0.513
Northwestern
+0.386
Ohio Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Ohio
+0.414
Northwestern
+0.492
Northwestern Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Ohio
0.122
Northwestern
0.120
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Ohio Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Ohio
+8.136
Northwestern
+6.980
Ohio Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Ohio
+0.915
Northwestern
+0.854
Ohio Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Ohio
71.0
Northwestern
73.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Ohio Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Northwestern Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Ohio
-10.4
Northwestern
-0.6
Offense Rating
Ohio
7.5
Northwestern
16.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Ohio
17.8
Northwestern
16.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Northwestern Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Ohio #76
0.00
Northwestern #133
0.50
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Ohio #101
2.00
Northwestern #137
1.50
Northwestern +0.50
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Northwestern Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Ohio #1
26.4
Northwestern #1
36.4
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Ohio #93
63.6
Northwestern #121
61.3
Northwestern +10.0
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.6% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Northwestern
2 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
Northwestern
94.3 — 2.3 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Northwestern won by 29
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Northwestern. Teams with this edge profile have covered 50.3% historically — essentially a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Ohio
Tim Albin #1
0–3 (0%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Scott Ishpording Yr 1 #1
DC Pete Germano Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Northwestern
Pat Fitzgerald #1
107–83 (56%) · Yr 16 at school
OC Mike Bajakian Yr 1 #1
DC Jim O'Neil Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself