Indiana Hoosers at Ohio State Buckeyes Odds & Game Pick (2020)
While a semi-final of sorts in the Big Ten West will get underway later in the afternoon when #10 Wisconsin visits #19 Northwestern, the East could very well be up for grabs in the noon slot.
Coming into Saturday on their first 4-0 start since 1987 and with their highest ranking (#9) since 1967, the Indiana Hoosiers get by far and away their toughest test to date in this one. Does Hoosier’s head coach Tom Allen have this team peaking at the right time to take out the giant that is Ohio State?
Let’s take a closer look.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
FanDuel Sportsbook: View our review and access special sports betting offers >>
Details
- Opening Lines: Ohio State -19.5; O/U 64
- Current Line: Ohio State -20.5
- O/U: 66.5
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
- Start Time: 12:00 pm ET
- Television: FOX
- Last Meeting: September 14, 2019 – Ohio State 51, Indiana 10
Overview
Having had the good fortune of not missing a single game to COVID-19 to this point, Indiana has seemingly improved each week since their Week 1, 1-point victory over then top 10 Penn State. After starting off the season scoring 36 or more points in their first three, the Hoosiers offense came slightly back down to earth last week in their 24-0 blanking of Michigan State in East Lansing.
Led by sophomore quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the Hoosiers have rallied behind the second-year starter who is 9-1 over his last 10 starts and comes into this one with 1,070 yards and nine touchdowns in his first four games to start the season.
Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, the Buckeye’s have a stud of a quarterback of their own at in their arsenal. Through three games, junior Justin Fields has as many incompletions as he does touchdowns (11), and leads the nation in QBR (96.4), all while throwing zero interceptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes find themselves in an unfamiliar position; average. Through three games, the Buckeyes are allowing 23 points and 224.3 yards per game, both of which put them in the middle part of the rankings nationally.
- The Underdog (Indiana) is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings between these two
- The Over is on a 6-1 run in Indiana’s last 10 Big 10 games
- Ohio State is 10-3 ATS in their last 13 against teams with winning records
Bottom Line
The work that Allen has done with this Indiana team, improving each year he’s been there, has been nothing short of remarkable. There are a few angles that are getting bettor’s attention in this one, most notably the Buckeyes potentially coming out flat after a week off, as well as a revenge spot for Indiana who lost 10-51 last year against the Buckeyes, without Penix.
While I would love to side with the underdog Hoosiers, the step-up in talent and coaching, specifically at the skill positions, should be too much when the cylinders start clicking for Ryan Day and company. In a game I could see being at least close early, make no mistake about it, the Buckeyes are still the Buckeyes.
FanDuel Sportsbook: View our review and access special sports betting offers >>
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our Sports Betting Strategy and Advice page is for you. You can get started with our 101 section — including Common Sports Betting Terms — or head to more advanced strategy — like 10 Tips to Become a Sharper Sports Bettor — to learn more.
TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.