Ohio State vs Purdue Opening Odds – Buckeyes 19-Point Home Favorites Over Boilermakers

• Ohio State (8-1) hosts Purdue (6-3) at Ohio Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 Eastern on ABC
• The Buckeyes are the only remaining team without a loss in Big Ten conference play
• Below are the opening odds and team breakdowns to help predict potential line movement prior to kickoff

Just like that there’s only one undefeated team in Big Ten conference play.

Ohio State fended off a pesky Nebraska squad to remain perfect inside the conference, while Purdue upset Michigan State 40-29. That leaves the Buckeyes as the lone team with a completely clear path to the conference championship game.

They still have three games remaining though, including a tough test against the Boilermakers at home on Saturday. Despite Purdue’s impressive upset last weekend, they have opened as 19-point underdogs to Ohio State.

Purdue vs Ohio State Opening Odds

Odds as of November 7th at DraftKings.

Let’s take a deep dive into both programs to help identify potential line movement that could come prior to kickoff.

Can Purdue Beat Three Top-Five Teams in One Season?

Michigan State was the second top-five win for Purdue this season; they also knocked off the then-#2 Iowa Hawkeyes. Can they add Ohio State to their hit list?

Purdue has a history of big upsets over the Buckeyes. Their last meeting was in 2018, which the Boilermakers won 49-20. Despite it being the only Ohio State loss of the year, it was ugly enough the committee ranked the Buckeyes sixth in the final rankings.

All of this goes to say, bettors of this game will surely know the history and know what Purdue is capable of.

"Everybody in this room knew you could."

🗣️ @JeffBrohm pic.twitter.com/VJXXN6DI6O

— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) November 7, 2021

If the specifics of this match-up don’t sway bettors, perhaps the Boilermakers most-recent performance will do the trick. They beat Michigan State with relative ease and will surely find themselves ranked when the new poll is released.

Quarterback Aidan O’Connell put the college football world on notice with his performance, racking up 536 passing yards and three touchdowns. There is mounting evidence Purdue can be more competitive in this match up than any other Big Ten opponent Ohio State has faced this season.

Buckeyes Head Home After Messy Victory Versus Nebraska

Ohio State is favored by 19 over Purdue but they have plenty of work to do leading in to the game. They beat Nebraska despite committing eight penalties and failing to reach 100 yards on the ground.

The lone bright spot was wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba who set the school record for single-game receptions, reeling in 15 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown. He became a top target in the absence of fellow wideout Garrett Wilson. The junior is likely going to be the top receiver selected in the next NFL draft but did not make the trip to Nebraska due to an undisclosed injury.

For those asking, I am all good! I appreciate the prayers. Can’t wait to watch them boys ball here soon against Nebraska. Go Bucks!

— Garrett Wilson (@GarrettWilson_V) November 6, 2021

Wilson claimed on Twitter he’s okay but it remains unclear if he’ll play against Purdue. Should he miss a second straight game, it’s entirely possible the line moves. The line against Nebraska shifted a half point shortly after news broke that Wilson wouldn’t play. His availability is a factor in the eyes of the oddsmakers.

One positive for Ohio State will be their newest CFP ranking. With Michigan State set to slide after their loss to Purdue, the Buckeyes are likely to find themselves in one of the coveted top-four spots.

Purdue Momentum Could Result in Pre-Game Line Movement

Purdue has knocked off two top-five teams and will find themselves ranked entering a game against an opponent they most recently beat by 29 points. That opponent also happens to have failed to cover the spread in its last two games.

The narratives in favor of the Boilermakers could gain steam as the week progresses. If your plan is to bet on the underdog, take them early. If you’re riding with Ohio State, consider waiting until closer to kickoff.