Northwestern to start Nicco Marchiol at Ohio State as Aidan Chiles misses a second game

Northwestern will go to Columbus without its starting quarterback for the second week in a row. Wednesday's Big Ten injury report lists Aidan Chiles as out for Saturday's game at No. 20 Ohio State, ESPN reported. The senior has an upper-body injury, and ESPN says there is still no clear timeline for his return.

West Virginia transfer Nicco Marchiol is expected to start again. ClutchPoints cited On3's Pete Nakos, who posted that Marchiol is "in line to get the start." In his first start for the Wildcats, last week's 24-10 home loss to Iowa, Marchiol completed 24 of 32 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 23 times for 52 yards, the team's top rushing total. The trouble was protection: he was sacked six times. ClutchPoints noted that he never passed for more than 720 yards in a season at West Virginia, though his running gives offensive coordinator Chip Kelly some options.

Losing Chiles costs Northwestern a lot. The Michigan State transfer has thrown for 1,898 yards, accounted for 23 touchdowns, thrown one interception and ranks 14th nationally in QBR at 81.3, according to ESPN. Northwestern scored 34 or more points in five of its first seven games. Without him against Iowa, it managed 10, its lowest total of the season.

What it means for Saturday

Both teams are 6-3 and both have lost two straight. Yardbarker reports that Ohio State is 4-2 in the Big Ten and Northwestern is 3-3. It also reports that the Buckeyes are on their first multi-game regular-season losing streak since 2011 and have struggled to score since quarterback Julian Sayin hurt his elbow against Indiana. Ohio State lost 30-18 at USC and then 41-28 at home to Oregon. Its 46 points across those two games is less than Northwestern scored against Ball State alone. Yardbarker adds that the Buckeyes have never been outside the Top 25 since the College Football Playoff rankings began in 2014, so a loss on Saturday could end that run.

The two teams have four common opponents this season. Ohio State beat Indiana 19-15 on the road, while Northwestern lost 29-23 in Bloomington. The Buckeyes won 31-14 at Iowa, and the Wildcats lost 24-10 to the Hawkeyes at home. Both lost to Oregon: Northwestern 34-26 on the road and Ohio State 41-28 at home. Both also beat Ball State easily. On those results, Ohio State has the edge, and that was before Northwestern lost its quarterback.

The prices point the same way. On this site's board, which tracks 12 venues, Ohio State is a heavy favorite. Novig has the Buckeyes at -506 on the moneyline and Northwestern at +471. Novig sets the spread at 14.5 points, priced at +111 on Ohio State and -117 on Northwestern. The best Ohio State number anywhere is a point lower, -13.5 at -113 on BetRivers. The best Northwestern price is +14.5 at -115 on Hard Rock Bet. The total is 44.5 on Novig, while theScore Bet has the best over at 43.5 for -115. Sportsbook hold ranges from 3.2% to 6.7% on the spread and from 3.7% to 6.2% on the moneyline. The low total reflects two offenses playing without their regular starting quarterbacks.

The Fox broadcast is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14. Northwestern's chances depend largely on whether its line can protect Marchiol better than it did against Iowa.