wsn-newsletter Subscribe to WSN.

Ohio State vs. Penn State Picks, Predictions and Odds: Big Ten Championship, CFP Spots On The Line

Contributors
Published November 1, 2024
5 min read
  • PSU coach James Franklin is 1-9 against Ohio State

  • OSU coach Ryan Day is 2-6 against opponents ranked in the top five

  • The two teams have one loss between them (Ohio State at Oregon)

The No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes will head to Happy Valley for a noon Saturday showdown with the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions.

The impending matchup between bitter Big Ten rivals will go a long way to determining the conference hierarchy, and which team is in the best position to reach the College Football Playoff. Ohio State already has one loss to No. 1 Oregon, and a second conference lineup would significantly hinder their chances to advance to the postseason.

Here, we will analyze the odds and share our favorite Ohio State vs. Penn State betting picks.

Ohio State vs. Penn State Odds

Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Place your bets on this matchup and claim the bonus at FanDuel: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets.

Team Spread Moneyline Total
No. 4 Ohio State -3.5 (-108) -170 Over 45.5 (-105)
No. 3 Penn State +3.5 (-112) +140 Under 45.5 (-115)
Best College Football Sportsbooks
How We Rate
Affiliate Disclaimer
21+
Ohio State vs. Penn State Predictions

Ohio State vs. Penn State Predictions

OSU coach Rayn Day is 2-6 against top-five opponents and hasn’t won one of these matchups since September 3, 2022. Meanwhile, PSU coach James Franklin is 1-9 against Ohio State and hasn’t beaten a top-five opponent since October 22, 2016.

To say that this matchup is season- and program-defining for both schools would be just by all counts.

Ohio State looked like the most balanced team in America, but it failed to generate a sack against Oregon and only ran for 64 yards on 31 carries against Nebraska last week. Transfer QB Will Howard has been dealing, but the whole premise of this Buckeyes team was that they wouldn’t need to rely on the passing game like they did in years past

On a more positive note, OSU leads the country in net EPA per play and is second in overall defense, allowing 11.9 points per game.

This Penn State team won’t light up the scoreboard (26th in scoring offense, 55th in yards per point), but they will move up and down the field. The offense ranks ninth in yards per play thanks to QB Drew Allar, a strong running game, and new offensive coordinator Andrew Kotelnicki.

Their defense is also stout, particularly against the run. They hold teams to the sixth-fewest rushing yards (93.1) and seventh-fewest points per game (14.3). 

Ohio State's recent run of form really calls into question their hot start to the year. A one-point road loss to Oregon is far from devastating, but to follow that up with a four-point home win against a dwindling Nebraska squad was less than optimal.

Meanwhile, Penn State pulled out a gritty win against USC and then controlled a physical Wisconsin team, both on the road, in their last two games. Allar is also maturing and playing productive football at the right time.

Grab $150 in Bonus Bets When Betting at FanDuel

Ohio State vs. Penn State Pick

Ohio State’s inability to generate pressure on opposing QBs in priority matchups is a common theme, while Penn State allows sacks on a lowly 3.57 percent of all dropback plays. They can’t match the visitors’ offense when they are at their best, but their ability to control the clock (25th in average time of possession) means they should be able to hold their opponents’ offense off of the field.

PSU also has the defensive integrity to take it to Ohio State in the trenches, putting them in a strong position ahead of Saturday’s kick-off.

Win $5 Wager, Get $150 in Bonus Bets at FanDuel

How to Watch Ohio State vs. Penn State

  • When: Saturday, Nov. 2 @ 12:00 p.m. ET

  • Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA

  • Watch: FOX

Ohio State vs. Penn State Best Promos and Sportsbooks

All of the best college football betting sites have Ohio State favored by 3.5 points. bet365, BetMGM and Caesars have the best price for the Buckeyes at -3.5 (-105), while ESPN Bet and BetRivers have the best deal for Penn State bettors at +3.5 (-110).

Anyone who bets on Ohio State vs. Penn State at FanDuel Sportsbook can win $150 in bonus bets with a winning $5 wager.

Sportsbook Offer Promo Code Allows CFB Betting
bet365 $1,000 Safety Net Bet OR $150 in Bonus Bets WSN365 Yes
BetMGM Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets* WSNSPORTS Yes
BetRivers $500 Bonus Bet N/A Yes
Borgata Bet $20, Get $100 Instantly N/A Yes
Caesars Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Bets WSN1000 Yes
Crab Sports $500 First Bet Insurance WSNCRAB Yes
FanDuel Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins N/A Yes

*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

Ohio State vs. Penn State Injuries

Ohio State

  • Josh Simmons (OL) - Out (knee)

  • Lathan Ransom (S) - Questionable

  • Aaron Scott (CB) - Questionable

Penn State

  • Drew Allar (QB) - Questionable (knee)

  • Dani Dennis-Sutton (DE) - Questionable 

  • Kevin Winston Jr. (S) - Questionable

tip_r

Responsible Gambling

If you or someone you know needs support or wants to speak with a professional about responsible gambling, seek out the correct resources. Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER to get help, or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. WSN is an advocate for safe gambling practices. Visit our Responsible Gambling Center for more details.

Grant Mitchell

Grant Mitchell

Sports Betting Analyst & On-Air Host

Expertise:
NBA
NCAAB
NCAAF
NFL
Online Sports Betting
Grant is a sports and sports betting journalist who prides himself on delivering breaking news and insightful analyses of the industry. Grant graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 and is feverishly pursuing his ambitions in the sports betting field. In his free time, Grant can be found passionately watching sports, doing a workout, or searching for adventure with his friends.
Email: [email protected]
Nationality: American
Education: Bachelor in Sports Media and Analytics
Favourite Sportsbook: Caesars Sportsbook
Favourite Casino: FanDuel Casino
Experience: 4 years
We've been featured on:
espn logo
reuters logo
cbs-news logo
forbes logo
entrepreneur logo
entrepreneur logo
We only list licensed sportsbooks
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
Co2neutral

We support responsible gambling. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you need help, call 1-800-Gambler.

WSN.com is managed by Gentoo Media. Unless declared otherwise, all of the visible content on this site, such as texts and images, including the brand name and logo, belongs to Innovation Labs Limited (a Gentoo Media company) - Company Registration Number C44130, VAT ID: MT18874732, @GIG Beach Triq id-Dragunara, St. Julians, STJ3148, Malta.

Advertising Disclosure: WSN.com contains links to partner websites. When a visitor to our website clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase at a partner site, World Sports Network is paid a commission.

Copyright © 2024