Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Preview
Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
When: Saturday, October 22, 8:00pm ET
Line: Ohio State Buckeyes (-19.5) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (+19.5); total: 57.5 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
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Betting on the Ohio State Buckeyes (-19.5)
The Ohio State Buckeyes will head to their Big Ten showdown with Penn State with momentum on their side after beating the Wisconsin Badgers, 30-23, on Saturday. It was another impressive victory for the Buckeyes, who improved their season-record to 6-0. They have won their first six assignments by an average of 36.5 points.
Key to Ohio State’s incredible start has been their excellent offense. The Buckeyes are averaging a whopping 49.3 points per game this season, fourth-best in the entire FBS. Just like in their previous five victories, it was J.T. Barrett who stole the show for Ohio State in this game. He accounted for 338 total yards and three touchdowns in the come-from-behind win against Wisconsin.
For the Buckeyes to extend their road winning streak to 21 games against Penn State, they will need to establish their running game right from the get-go. Ohio State rushed for just 185 yards in the win against Wisconsin. That’s way below their 300.5 YPG average (fourth-best in the FBS) on the ground this season. The onus then is on Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel to step up their play against Penn State. They combined for just 92 rushing yards (23 carries) against the Badgers on Saturday. The Buckeyes will be licking their chops at the prospect of dissecting a Penn State defensive line that’s allowing a whopping 208.8 rushing yards per game this season, 103rd in the entire nation.
Ohio State is 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games against Penn State. The Buckeyes are pegged at +270 to win the national championship this season.
Betting on the Penn State Nittany Lions (+19.5)
Penn State extended its winning streak to two games with a resounding 38-14 victory over Maryland on Saturday. It was another convincing performance by the Nittany Lions who recorded their second straight series victory over the Terrapins. Sequon Barkley starred for Penn State in this win, rushing for 202 yards and a score. He has rushed for 582 yards and eight touchdowns on 117 carries for the Nittany Lions this season.
What proved to be the difference in the contest, though, was Penn State’s exemplary defense. The Lions recorded a whopping four sacks against the Terrapins on Saturday. They limited Maryland to just 270 total yards, including 170 on the ground. Such was Penn State’s defensive pressure that Maryland converted just four of its 13 third-down attempts in this game. The Lions will need to produce that same kind of defensive effort if they are to upset mighty Ohio State this coming weekend. The Buckeyes are 12th in the FBS in total offense, averaging 516.5 yards per game this season.
Penn State is 8-2 SU and 4-5-1 ATS in its last 10 home games. The Nittany Lions are pegged at +10,000 to win the Big Ten Conference championship game this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Ohio State wins but Penn State (+19.5) covers.
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