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You’ve got to feel bad for the Army Black Knights. They know they are about to face a buzzsaw in the Ohio State Buckeyes. Army is off to a 2-0 start, but is more than a four-touchdown underdog to Ohio State in this one. The Buckeyes are bound to be angry heading into this one. They were totally outplayed by Oklahoma last week with both the passing game and the defense sharing the blame. Ohio State should right the ship against Army, but can it cover that spread?
This matchup in Week 3 of the regular season will take place on Saturday, September 16, 2017,
at 4:30 p.m. ET at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. This game will be broadcast on FOX.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Army +30
Ohio State -30
Over/Under 53
Odds Analysis
Army almost choked at home as a 15-point favorite to Buffalo last week and didn’t come close to covering the spread after dominating Fordham in its opener. This game against Ohio State is the first time the Black Knights will have gone on the road this season and they have been abysmal there over the last few seasons. Army has a road mark of 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 road games.
Ohio State has now been blown out in two of its last three games and you know that Urban Meyer will make sure this team puts on a much better show in this one. The Buckeyes were down at half to Indiana too, meaning that they have only played one good half of football since the end of the 2016 regular season.
This will be the first meeting between these two teams.
Matchup to Watch
Army doesn’t throw the ball. They just don’t. Through two games, the Black Knights have completed two passes for 17 yards and they are going to run it as much as they possibly can against the Buckeyes here.
The Black Knights have been very successful on the ground, but haven’t faced a defense nearly as good as this. They averaged 7.4 yards per carry against the likes of Fordham and Buffalo, but neither team is great on defense.
Ohio State will be a much tougher nut to crack. The Buckeyes have an extremely talented front seven and they won’t have to worry about play action or stopping the pass. That will lead to a long day for Army’s running game.
Player to Watch
Mike Weber has only carried the ball three times this season because of a hamstring injury that has really limited him. Weber was supposed to be one of the best running backs in the nation this year, but has been unable to shake the injury so far.
J.K. Dobbins has been the primary running back in his stead and the freshman phenom is putting in work. Dobbins is averaging six yards per carry and is leading many Ohio State fans to wonder whether or not Weber has just been replaced at this point.
The running game will need to have a good day because J.T. Barrett’s confidence is shaken right now. The senior has seemingly regressed and is not the passing threat he was in prior seasons. Ohio State doomed itself last week against Oklahoma by relying on the passing game too much, but won’t this week against Army.
Free ATS Pick
This one is all about the Buckeyes. If Ohio State wants to come out and cover the number, it can with ease. Army isn’t the type of team that will get a backdoor cover because it runs the triple option, while Ohio State can get in front of the number all in one half.
Ohio State’s offense is going to want to prove it can move the ball and Dobbins should have a big day. It’s a lot of points to lay, but the Buckeyes are the right side.
College Football Odds: Buckeyes 44, Black Knights 7
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