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

• 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.

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.

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Ohio State vs. Penn State Pick

• My Pick: Penn State to cover the spread at +3.5 (-112) at FanDuel

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.

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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.

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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