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The Nittany Lions are one of the few undefeated teams remaining in college football and if they remain that way after this matchup they will be on the short list of national championship favorites. However, the road setting is not ideal and the Buckeyes are actually a sizable favorite to take care of business despite their inferior record.
Ohio State can’t afford to let this game slip and they have found a good rhythm over the past few weeks to get back on a roll after an early-season loss at the hands of Oklahoma.
This contest in Week 9 of the regular season will go down Saturday, October 28, 2017, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Ohio Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Penn State +6.5
Ohio State -6.5
Over/Under 56.5
Odds Analysis
The Buckeyes are nearly touchdown favorites, but that number seems too high, and the bettors have reflected that as more than 64 percent of the action is on the Nittany Lions to cover.
Both teams have good offenses and good defenses. The oddsmakers split the difference with this scoring total, and the bettors are more often going to the “over.”
Penn State is listed as a +203 underdog on the moneyline, while Ohio State is the -245 favorite. Not surprisingly, the Nittany Lions are the more popular pick as they pay off much nicer.
Player To Watch
Saquon Barkley -- The Penn State running back may be the Heisman Trophy favorite after an astounding season thus far. Barkley has carried the ball 117 times for 757 yards and eight touchdowns. Barkley has also been a threat through the air, as he has 32 receptions for 448 yards and three more scores.
Barkley is a load to bring down. He surpassed 200 rushing yards to will his team to a close win over Iowa earlier this year and had 15 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns last week in a blowout win of Michigan.
It’s going to be loud at Ohio State, and Penn State’s best opportunity to pull the upset will be by controlling the game on the ground. Barkley will undoubtedly get his name called early and often in this one.
Revenge Factor
The Buckeyes are looking for a measure of revenge after Penn State shocked them in last year’s regular season. Ohio State held a 21-7 fourth-quarter lead in that game but the Nittany Lions scored the final 17 points of the game to pull out the unlikely win.
That loss dropped Ohio State from the ranks of the unbeaten and helped propel Penn State to the conference title. Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett is back and has payback on his mind.
If Barrett and the Ohio State offense plays well, the Buckeyes should be able to return the favor and hand the Nittany Lions their first loss of the year.
Free ATS Pick
Ohio State is a really good team and has been blowing out teams left and right of late. The Buckeyes will undoubtedly be amped up for this game, and a win would set them up well both in the Big Ten and for a College Football Playoff run.
Barkley is a special player but Ohio State is going to sell out to slow him down. Penn State doesn’t have enough offensive firepower to stay up with the Buckeyes. Take Ohio State to win this game and narrowly cover the spread.
College Football Odds: Ohio State 30, Penn State 23
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