Ohio State vs. Penn State Prediction
After thoroughly beating Nebraska in its home opener, No. 3 Ohio State hits the road for the first time this season when it visits No. 18 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. ET. Despite losing last week to Indiana, are the Nittany Lions still a sound play as a 10.5-point dog or is there a better bet on the board?
Game Snapshot
135 Ohio State Buckeyes (-10.5) at 136 Penn State Nittany Lions (+10.5); o/u 64
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, October 31, 2020
TV: ABC
Ohio State Buckeyes Game Notes
Ohio State moved up from fifth to third in the Amway Coaches Poll following their season-opening win over Nebraska. Let’s be honest. Ohio State being anything other than third place to begin with was related only to their season being delayed. Clemson and Alabama make up a fair one and two, but no team deserves to be in that pantheon like Ohio State does. Now with a thundering 52-17 debut win over Nebraska under their belts, it seems everyone is now comfortable moving Ohio State up to their rightful spot in the polls. Most importantly for the Buckeyes’ success, QB Justin Fields looked every bit as good as he was expected to be. Fields looked like a first-overall pick caliber QB, even if that probably will not be the case since he is sharing a draft class with Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence.
Penn State Nittany Lions Game Notes
Penn State redshirt junior QB Sean Clifford completed 24-of-35 passes for 238 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in Saturday’s 36-35 overtime loss to Indiana. He also ran for 119 yards and a score, inflicting most of that damage late. Penn State doesn’t trust Clifford enough to open up its offense more, instead leaning heavily on the run and short-to-intermediate passing game. Indiana had an answer for everything Penn State tried to do until the last play of the third quarter, when Clifford weaved through traffic for a 35-yard touchdown run to cut Indiana’s lead to 17-14. Penn State then took a 21-20 lead when Clifford hit Jahan Dotson for a 60-yard scoring strike with 2:30 left in the fourth quarter. Craziness ensued, which included a 9-yard TD pass from Clifford to Parker Washington in the first OT possession before IU one-upped PSU with a two-point conversion upon the Hoosiers’ subsequent touchdown. Penn State can’t afford to spend time licking its wounds: Next week is Ohio State week.
Ohio State vs. Penn State Betting Prediction
The Buckeyes are 0-4 against the spread in their last four meetings with the Nittany Lions while the home team has cashed in five of the last seven meetings between these two teams. Ohio State has also failed to cover in four of its last five games coming off a win while Penn State has cashed in eight of its last nine opportunities following an ATS loss. The Nittany Lions are also 7-1 against the spread in their last eight games as an underdog, including 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a home dog. Don’t overreact to the loss last week to Indiana. Penn State will hang tonight.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 9 BETTING PREDICTION: PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS +10.5
