Ohio State vs Penn State Odds, Lines and Spread
- #3 Ohio State is a 12.5-point favorite for this Big Ten matchup at #18 Penn State on Saturday night
- Ohio State opened with a 52-17 win over Nebraska last weekend while Penn State lost 36-35 at Indiana in overtime
- The odds, lines, and spread for the game along with an analysis of the matchup can be found below
Two Big Ten teams that started their coronavirus-delayed seasons in opposite fashion meet when #3 Ohio State visits #18 Penn State at 7:30 PM EST Saturday at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa.
Ohio State beat Nebraska 52-17 at home last Saturday, covering as a 28-point favorite. Meanwhile, Penn State lost as a seven-point favorite at Indiana 36-35 in overtime.
Though both teams are ranked, the Buckeyes go into this game as considerable road favorites.
#3 Ohio State vs #18 Penn State Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | -590 | -12.5 (-112) | Over 62.5 (-110) |
| Penn State | +410 | +12.5 (-108) | Under 62.5 (-110) |
Odds taken Oct. 28 at FanDuel
No Rust for Fields
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is getting a late start on his Heisman Trophy candidacy after finishing third in the voting last season.
However, he made a strong first impression against Nebraska. The junior connected on 20 of his 21 pass attempts for 276 yards and two touchdowns.
Fields added 52 yards rushing, including a 17-yard touchdown that included quite the spin move.
.@justnfields hit that 🅱️ button!
This @OhioStateFB TD was too clean. 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/96i8uud3g2
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 24, 2020
Ohio State’s defense struggled early against Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez and the score was tied 14-14 early in the second quarter. However, the Buckeyes outscored the Cornhuskers 38-3 over the game’s final 34 minutes.
A Painful Loss
Penn State lost to Indiana despite holding a 488-211 advantage in total yardage and 40:25-19:35 edge in time of possession.
The Hoosiers won the game on quarterback Michael Penix’s diving two-point conversion run in overtime.
UNREAL ENDING IN BLOOMINGTON! 😲
The OT 2-point conversion came down to the closest of margins, and @IndianaFootball gets its first Top 10 win since 1987! pic.twitter.com/Zo6Mty0RpK
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 24, 2020
Indiana was helped by coach Tom Allen outsmarting Penn State counterpart James Franklin.
After Indiana failed to gain a first down following Sean Clifford’s 60-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson with 2:30 left that put the Nittany Lions ahead 21-20, Allen instructed his defense to let Penn State score.
The Nittany Lions’ Devyn Ford had a 14-yard touchdown run with 1:46 remaining that made it 28-20. Penix then drove the Hoosiers to the tying score and won it in overtime.
PSU Backfield Hurting
Only one game into the season and Penn State is already down to its third-string running back.
Starter Journey Brown missed the opener with what Penn State described as a medical condition that could force him to miss the season.
Second-teamer Noah Cain sustained a season-ending injury against Indiana. The injury was not disclosed but Cain was seen with a walking boot on his left leg at the end of the game.
PennState once had the strongest RB room in college football with four studs> Star Journey Brown is sidelined with a medical issue that may keep him out all season. Ricky Slade transferred to ODU earlier in the offseason and now Noah Cain is out for the year. Devyn Ford remains. https://t.co/PEU4VpeNR9
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) October 27, 2020
That leaves Ford as the primary rusher. The sophomore had 69 yards on 20 carries in the opener.
Quarterback Sean Clifford is also a threat to run and carried 17 times for 119 yards against the Hoosiers while also amassing 238 passing yards.
Playing Buckeyes Tough
Ohio State has won three straight games against Penn State and seven of the last eight. However, the Nittany Lions have been the winners against the spread each of the last four seasons.
Ohio State won last year’s matchup 28-17 at home but failed to cover the 20-point spread. The Buckeyes escaped with one-point wins in 2017 and 2018.
Fields was not a big factor last year. He had 188 yards through the air on 16-of-22 passing with two touchdowns and added 68 yards on the ground in 21 carries.
The Buckeyes fumbled four times and lost three with safety Lamont Wade forcing three of the loose balls.
Clifford was benched after the Nittany Lions fell behind 21-0 in the third quarter. He was 10-of-17 for 71 yards.
Even if Clifford fares better this time, it is hard to envision Penn State covering the spread. With their running back injuries, hanging with a Buckeyes squad already in midseason form will be a difficult task.
The Pick: Ohio State -12.5 (-112)
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
