Ticket Demand for 2013 Big Ten Championship

The “Unstoppable Force meets the Immovable Object” cliche seems like it was forged by the Big Ten marketing department back in the beginning of time, considering the bruising and often slow matchup of rush-heavy offenses and stout defenses seems like the common thread through just about every Big Ten preview you can find anywhere on the Internet. However apt the description may be, this weekend’s Big Ten Championship Game between Ohio State and Michigan State will be anything but plodding, and excitement for the affair is showing up in ticket demand, where average prices for the 2013 Big Ten Championship ($241) are more than twice those paid in the game’s first two years of 2011 ($89) and 2012 ($104). This year’s prices have been on the rise since first thing Sunday following Auburn’s win over Alabama, with Ohio State’s new play-in status for the BCS title game driving up the average 20% from $201.

Click here for 2013 Big Ten Championship Tickets, Ohio State Buckeyes & Michigan State Spartans Rivalry

Urban Meyer finally has a Buckeyes squad eligible for post-season play following a probation related to the days of former coach Jim Tressel, and his team has just completed its second straight undefeated season thanks to the leadership and running abilities of QB Braxton Miller and RB Carlos Hyde. While their defense started strong this year, developing weaknesses were further exposed in this year’s edition of The Game when Michigan passed (and completed! and scored!) seemingly at will last weekend. One two-yard stand in the game’s final minute punched Ohio State’s ticket into this title game, and you can expect a coach as meticulous (and somewhat maniacal) as Meyer to have his talented bunch ready to light up the Lucas Oil Field scoreboard in Indianapolis.

Being ready in and of itself won’t be enough to score on the unforgiving Spartans defense, a talented bunch in its own right. The top-ranked rushing defense in the country and a top five scoring defense, as well, makes Michigan State the toughest and final Big Ten opponent standing in the way of Ohio State’s hope of visiting the Rose Bowl in pursuit of the BCS National Title. Spartan Green is appropriate enough for this contest, as the Buckeyes will have to find a way around a defense that seems to be an extension of the ground that Ohio State has seemingly been able to run over freely for much of the year. Can Michigan State slow down Ohio State enough to allow its own offense the chance to exploit the Buckeyes’ problems? Can Ohio State withstand Sparty’s own brand of rugged running and get the ball back in the playmaking Miller’s hands? Will this game fulfill its destiny of being a Big Ten ground war, or is an aerial shootout waiting to happen when everyone least expects it? While there’s an outside chance both teams could play a BCS bowl in the Rose Bowl (with OSU in the National Championship Game and MSU in the more traditional Rose Bowl Game), the only way either can guarantee a January game in California is with a victory this weekend.

2013 Big Ten Championship Tickets

Ohio State Buckeyes Football Ticket Prices

Michigan State Spartans Football Ticket Prices

Ohio State Buckeyes & Michigan State Spartans Rivalry

Date Matchup Score City State Venue
9/29/2012 Ohio St at No. 20 Mich St 17-16 East Lansing MI Spartan Stadium
10/1/2011 Mich St at Ohio St 10-7 Columbus OH Ohio Stadium
10/18/2008 No. 12 Ohio St at No. 20 Mich St 45-7 East Lansing MI Spartan Stadium
10/20/2007 Mich St at Ohio St 17-24 Columbus OH Ohio Stadium
10/14/2006 Ohio St at Mich St 38-7 East Lansing MI Spartan Stadium

Ohio State vs. Michigan State Big Ten Championship Preview

Ohio State Escapes Michigan in The Game 2013

Ohio State withstood having two players ejected for fighting and a late surge by the Wolverines to escape the Big House with a victory over Michigan after Devin Gardner failed to compelte this two point conversion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf4RnsEwGnE

Michigan State Defense Dominates

Michigan State celebrated Senior Day by shutting down the Golden Gophers and punching their ticket to the 2013 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.