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.
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) |
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’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
When: Saturday, Nov. 2 @ 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Watch: FOX
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.
Josh Simmons (OL) - Out (knee)
Lathan Ransom (S) - Questionable
Aaron Scott (CB) - Questionable
Drew Allar (QB) - Questionable (knee)
Dani Dennis-Sutton (DE) - Questionable
Kevin Winston Jr. (S) - Questionable
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.
South Carolina vs. Clemson Picks, Predictions and Odds: Can the Winner Make the CFP
4 days ago | Grant MitchellNotre Dame vs. USC Picks, Predictions and Odds: Win and You’re in for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
4 days ago | Kody Malstrom
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