Ohio State vs Nebraska Picks & Odds – Buckeyes Laying 17 Points at Memorial Stadium
- Ohio State (4-0) takes on Nebraska (3-1) Saturday night at Memorial Stadium (Sep. 28, 7:30 PM ET)
- The Buckeyes are the only team in college football to rank in the top 5 in both scoring offense & defense
- Justin Fields has emerged as a Heisman candidate with 19 total touchdowns through four games
The Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1) are about to get their stiffest test of the season on Saturday night (Sep. 28). ESPN College Gameday is in town and so are the #5 Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0).
The Ohio State vs Nebraska odds show the Huskers are a 17-point home ‘dog.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| #5 Ohio State | -17 (-110) | -750 | O 66.5 (-110) |
| Nebraska | +17 (-110) | +575 | U 66.5 (-110) |
Odds taken 9/26.
The Buckeyes beat the Cornhuskers 36-31 at Ohio Stadium last year, so 17 points may seem like a high spread but it isn’t. I’m confident Ohio State will cover the number thanks to three key players and one note on the coaching end.
Justin Fields & JK Dobbins Dynamic Duo on Offense
Justin Fields has picked up right where Dwayne Haskins left off. The first -year QB at Ohio State has 19 total touchdowns, including 13 through the air, and has still yet to throw an interception.
In the backfield, he has JK Dobbins who ranks fifth in the nation with 477 rushing yards. When you pair an elite running back with a quarterback who can both run and complete passes at a 69.5% clip, you cause opponents big problems.
Jalen Hurts edges out Justin Fields as the top transfer QB this season, according to @ESPN_BillC. https://t.co/MZ15z6noOB pic.twitter.com/uJznU4r0pc
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 23, 2019
The offense is averaging 53.5 points per game, which is a scary number for a Nebraska team that isn’t likely to score in bunches against the OSU defense. In fact, Ohio State is the only team in the country to rank in the top five in both scoring offense and scoring defense. If Fields and Dobbins can put up another monster performance, as has become part of the OSU routine, things could come easy for the Buckeyes.
Chase Young Is a Potential #1 Pick in 2020 NFL Draft
Ohio State’s pass rush has been incredible this year, led by Chase Young who leads college football with seven sacks. Young is an absolute beast who has to be double-teamed on almost every play, which frees up other rushers on the d-line to get to the quarterback.
Chase Young is a beast 😤
(via @OhioStateOnBTN) pic.twitter.com/paIC3LyFA3
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) September 21, 2019
After giving up an uncharacteristic 21 points to Florida Atlantic, Ohio State has given up a combined 15 points to Cincinnati, Indiana and Miami (Ohio). The opponents haven’t been great but there is still something to be said for keeping teams out of the end zone with such ease.
Expect Young to be in the backfield often on Saturday night and, if Nebraska tries to avoid the d-line with quick passes, cornerbacks Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette should have a fun night ball hawking.
Scott Frost Still Looking for Signature Win
Scott Frost’s return to Nebraska has been relatively unsuccessful. He was 4-8 in his first year last season and, though the record is better this season, the Cornhuskers are currently unranked. They lost to Colorado for the second year in a row and wins over South Alabama, Northern Illinois, and Illinois have done nothing to impress the voters.
"There's no question, in my mind, that Ohio State's a better team right now than they were a year ago."
– Scott Frost, on No. 5 @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/ElNVAFjWTf
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 23, 2019
While I loved the hire for a program trying to recapture its glory days, I don’t think it will be nearly enough to keep this game competitive. Frost will need a roster full of players he recruited to even think of keeping up with the likes Ohio State. Last year’s game was close, more a credit to a bad night from OSU than a positive performance from Nebraska.
Despite this game being at Memorial Stadium, expect this to be another notch in the loss column for Frost and company.
PICK: Ohio State -17 (-110)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
