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Ohio State Opens as 18.5-Point Home Favorites vs Penn State in Week 13

Ryan Bolta

by Ryan Bolta in College Football

Updated Jan 6, 2023 · 3:01 AM PST

Chase Young missed two games for suspension but still leads college football with 13.5 sacks
Chase Young returns from suspension as the Ohio State Buckeyes look to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship game Saturday against Penn State. Photo by James Black / Icon Sportswire
  • Ohio State (10-0) hosts Penn State (9-1) Saturday at 12:00 ET in Columbus
  • The Buckeyes clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship game with a win
  • With the return of Chase Young from suspension, find out if the line could shift leading up to the Saturday tilt

ESPN College GameDay will be in Columbus for the Ohio State (10-0) vs Penn State (9-1) match up Saturday afternoon. The NCAAF Week 13 odds are out and we explore your best options when wagering on this heavyweight Big Ten clash.

Penn State vs Ohio State Odds

Team Spread
#9 Penn State +18.5 (-115)
#2 Ohio State -18.5 (-105)

Odds taken Nov. 17th

Ohio State opened as sizable favorites and for good reason. One of the favorites atop the National Championship odds, the Buckeyes are ranked the most efficient offense in the country and second most efficient defense. Playing at an elite level on both sides of the ball not only makes it tough for teams to beat you, it makes it difficult for them to keep up.

My advice is if you want to bet on Ohio State, do it now before the line moves and the public money comes in on the Buckeyes. If you want to bet Penn State, you can stay patient and get your money in closer to kickoff and here’s why.

Buckeyes Have Been an ATS Machine

Over their last nine games the Buckeyes have failed to cover the spread only once, this past week against Rutgers. They were giving up 52.5 points by kickoff and well, they can be forgiven for sleep walking through that game with Penn State and their rivals Michigan up the week after.

Ohio State has won all 10 games this season by 24 points or more, which is tied for the longest single-season streak in the last 100 years.

While the Buckeyes keep lining bettors pockets, Penn State hasn’t been nearly as charitable. Since the beginning of October they have covered only twice, while failing to cover four times including their loss at Minnesota.

Chase Young Set to Return From Suspension

Chase Young was banned two games for accepting a loan last season and missed games against Maryland and Rutgers. He’s back for this game and still sits first in college football with 13.5 sacks – pretty impressive when you consider that suspension accounts for 20% of the Buckeyes season so far.

Ohio State won both games comfortably without Young but there is no doubting it’s a different unit with him on the field. They allowed more than their season average without him, giving up 14 points to the Terrapins and 21 to the Scarlet Knights.

Ohio State Hype Will Cause Line to Move

With ESPN College GameDay in Columbus the hype train will be chugging along all week. The offense that averages almost four more points than the second highest scoring team in the country, Young and Jeffrey Okudah who are both projected to be top 10 picks in the 2020 draft and let’s not forget Heisman hopeful Justin Fields.

All of this positive attention will cause money to roll in on the Buckeyes, so beat those bettors to the punch if that’s the side you want to wager on. If you’re betting Ohio State, do it now. If you want to bet Penn State, sit patiently and pounce closer to kickoff.

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