Ohio State vs Indiana Pick & Odds – 95% of Money on Buckeyes as 17.5-Point Favorite
- Sportsbooks list Ohio State as 17.5-point favorites to open the Big Ten season with a road win at Indiana
- They show that 95% of the handle and 91% of all bets are backing the Buckeyes
- Ohio State has won 24 games in a row against the Hoosiers
There’s probably no better lock in the Big Ten than Ohio State beating Indiana. The Buckeyes have won 24 in a row straight-up versus the Hoosiers and are 25-0-1 SU in the last 26 meetings.
Indiana’s last win over Ohio State was a 41-7 home-field decision on October 8th, 1988.
Bettors are not anticipating any change in this trend with the Buckeyes visit the Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium this Saturday (12:00 PM ET). Oddsmakers established the Buckeyes as the 17.5-point chalk in this game but that’s made little impact on the way the wagers on falling on the Ohio State vs Indiana odds.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Indiana Hoosiers Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | -1050 | -17.5 (-110) | Over 59.5 (-110) |
| Indiana | +688 | +17.5 (-110) | Under 59.5 (-110) |
*Odds taken 09/13/19
Our sources tell us that 95% of the handle and 91% of all bets laid are being placed on the Buckeyes.
Ohio State’s Fields Of Dreams
As good as Dwayne Haskins was at quarterback for the Buckeyes last season, Justin Fields might be better. With six touchdown passes and three rushing TDs already, the run/pass option that the Georgia transfer is running certainly presents a much different look than the more traditional drop-back style of Haskins.
Not a bad start for @justnfields at Ohio State ???
Watch all 9 of his touchdowns so far this season ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QzRiIYlSwD
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 13, 2019
The most significant improvement for the Buckeyes, though, is when the other team has the football. Last season, Ohio State was 10th in the Big Ten and 72nd in the nation in total defense.
This season, with new defensive coaches Jeff Hafley and Greg Mattison running the show and nine returning starters, Ohio State is 20th in the NCAA in total defense (250.5 yards per game) and 16th in scoring defense (10.5 points per game) through two games.
FAU and Cincinnati are not the strongest of opponents, but they are not FCS cupcakes either, especially the Bearcats.
Penix Uncertain For Indiana
Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen revealed late this week that #1 QB Michael Penix was a doubtful starter for Saturday’s game.
Allen would only say that Penix was working through some things and refused to disclose the type or extent of the injury that was afflicting the redshirt freshman.
QB Michael Penix Jr. is in jeopardy of missing Saturday's game vs. Ohio State with an undisclosed injury. #IUFB @WISH_TV Courtesy: IU Athletics pic.twitter.com/t7hrb2gAot
— Charlie Clifford (@cliffWISH8) September 12, 2019
Penix is third among Big Ten QBs in total offense at 301 yards per game, just ahead of Fields. He’s completed 63.3% of his passes for 523 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Penix has also rushed for 79 yards on only nine carries, an 8.8 yards per carry average.
Hoosiers Off To Good Start
The 2-0 Hoosiers throttled FCS school Eastern Illinois 52-0 last week to cover as 35.5-point favorites. But let’s be real here – facing Ohio State is quite a step up.
It’s a step on which Indiana has frequently stumbled.
The Buckeyes own a 75-12-5 edge in the all-time series. The Hoosiers have posted one home-field win against the Buckeyes since 1905.
Preparing to face the #6 Buckeyes, Indiana has also lost 39 consecutive games to teams ranked in the top 10.
On a positive note, the Hoosiers’ last victory over a top-10 was a 31-10 triumph over #9 Ohio State in 1987.
Ohio State-Indiana Trends
The Hoosiers are 5-13-1 against the spread in their last 19 games against Big Ten opponents. The Buckeyes are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games at Indiana.
Q: Do you think #IUFB can upset Ohio State?
Me: pic.twitter.com/brrTk4WX7Y
— Martha the Mop Lady (@TheMopLady) September 11, 2019
The line on Ohio State has continued to rise since it opened at Buckeyes -15. The uncertain status of Penix will only serve to make Ohio State a bigger favorite.
The Buckeyes have won their last three from Indiana by an average of 24 points per game. They’ve scored at least 30 points in the last 15 games against Indiana.
Pick: Ohio State -17.5 (-110).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
