- Ohio State is a 15.5-point favorite when they face Penn State in Happy Valley this weekend.
- Despite Penn State’s 13th overall ranking and strong start to the season, betting on Ohio State to cover is the best bet of the game.
- Ohio State is also a good bet to go over their 37.5-point team total based on their early season results.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – When the Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Happy Valley to face the Penn State Nittany Lions this weekend it will mark the first time this season that the Buckeyes will be favored by less than two scores.
Despite Penn State being the home team and being ranked 13th in the AP Poll, the spread at Bovada of 15.5 points in favor of the Buckeyes just barely comes in as less than two touchdowns and two two-point conversions.
Ohio State vs Penn State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State (#2) | -15.5 (-110) | -750 | O61.5 (-105) |
| Penn State (#13) | +15.5 (-110) | +500 | U61.5 (-115) |
Betting on Ohio State to Cover
Penn State has started strong this season, but facing the team with the shortest odds in the entire country to win the National Championship (+180) and is led by CJ Stroud who is the leading candidate to win the Heisman Trophy (+100) and to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft (+150), means it is unlikely that the Nittany Lions will cover the spread against the Buckeyes.
Outside of just the overall talent on Ohio State’s roster, betting trends make the Buckeyes a strong bet to cover the spread at college football sportsbooks:
- In Ohio State’s last seven games against Big Ten opponents, they have failed to cover the spread as many times as the spread has resulted in a push. Their ATS record over that span is 5-1-1, with an average margin of victory of 26 points. That margin of victory is made even more impressive considering that their 42-27 loss to Michigan last year is included.
- Penn State is just 4-6 against the spread in their past 10 games as an underdog and only 1-4 ATS in their last five.
- Ohio State is 4-2-1 this season against the spread and 1-0 on the road. Penn State is 4-3 ATS this season but is 2-2 against the spread at home.
Betting on Ohio State’s Team Total
If Ohio State is likely to win big, then they need to put up a lot of points against Penn State. As such, it may be surprising to see that online gambling sites set the Buckeye’s team total at 37.5 points. Ohio State has scored less than 45 points once, and that was in their season opener against Notre Dame when they scored 21 points.
Ohio State Buckeyes Team Total
- Over 37.5 Points -130
- Under 37.5 Points +100
Getting -130 odds on CJ Stroud and company to score 37.5 points is an elite betting option, and that is not just because Ohio State may have boosted their statistics at the start of the season when they put up 77 points on an outmatch Toledo team earlier this season.
Ohio State has scored 49 points or more in every Big Ten game this season and did so in six of nine games last season as well.
For players not looking to bet on strictly Ohio State success, betting the over for the 61.5-point total may be a wise pivot.
Ohio State and Penn State have the over go 7-1 in Big Ten play this season, and it seems very likely that Ohio State will do its part to help push that total over on Saturday.