Army vs. Ohio State Prediction
Is No. 8 Ohio State giving up too many points to Army when the two meet up this afternoon at 4:30PM ET? Here’s our prediction for the contest.
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Ohio State is the heavy favorite in this contest, as the Buckeyes are getting odds of -30 points against the Golden Knights. The over/under total for the game is listed at 53 points. Today’s game is set to take place from Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio and will air live on FOX.
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Army is off to a 2-0 start with wins over Fordham and Buffalo. The Golden Knights are 1-1 against the spread, failing to cover a 15-point spread in a 21-17 win over Buffalo last weekend. Army is putting up 42.5 points per game and 426 yards per contest thus far, but almost all of it comes on the ground from their triple option offense. Ahmad Bradshaw has run for 324 yards and thrown for all 17 of the team’s passing yards this season. Darnell Woolfolk has added 186 rushing yards as well. Defensively, Army is giving up just 11.5 points and 309 yards per game in 2017.
Ohio State is coming off the surprising 31-16 loss at home to Oklahoma last week to fall to 1-1 on the season and 1-1 against the spread. In the loss to the Sooners, Ohio State gave up 490 yards of offense, including 386 passing yards. The Ohio State offense managed just 350 total yards. On the season, J.T. Barrett has 487 passing yards with three touchdowns while rushing for 127 yards. J.K. Dobbins has run for 253 yards and a touchdown to lead the ground attack. Mike Weber continues to deal with a hamstring injury, but he is probable to play today.
It seems natural to expect Ohio State to come back in a big way today. The Buckeyes were embarrassed at home last week. Historically, trends back that up as well. Ohio State is 6-2 against the spread after its last 8 double-digit losses at home. The Buckeyes are also 25-10-1 ATS in their last 36 after a loss of any kind. Army’s option offense shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for Ohio State, who is big and fast up front. Ohio State’s speed on the ground should be able to pile up the points on the Knights.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: OHIO STATE -30