It’s a new chapter at Ohio State. Gone are almost all the starters from the national title winning side of two seasons ago and in their place are a bunch of very young, but talented, players. Urban Meyer has garnered enough faith at this point that his Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked No. 6 to start the season. With such a young line-up though there may be some growing pains in their Week 1 College football season opener against the Bowling Green Falcons.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 1 game is set for Saturday, September 3, 2016, at 12 p.m. ET at Ohio Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Bowling Green +28
Ohio State -28
Over/Under 63.5
Odds Analysis
The spread has remained constant at 28 in this game, but the total has skyrocketed. It opened at 56 just a few weeks ago and has shot up by over a touchdown to its current total of 63.5.
Player to Watch
All eyes are going to be on JT Barrett for the Buckeyes. Barrett was a surprising success in 2014 and an outside candidate to win the Heisman Trophy before he got hurt late in the season giving way to Cardale Jones. Last season, he split time with Jones and the team never really found its chemistry as a result. This squad will be all his in 2016 though.
Barrett is the type of quarterback that thrives in Meyer’s offense. He’s not going to be a quarterback at the next level, but is a great decision maker and is extremely effective both running and throwing in college. Although he is surrounded by a bunch of young guys, he is more than capable of leading this team to success this season.
Matchup to Watch
A year after having one of the most high-flying offenses in the country, Bowling Green is a mystery offensively in 2016. Head coach Dino Babers left for the Syracuse job in the offseason and Mike Jinks comes over from Texas Tech to take the reins. Jinks will try to keep that high-octane offense running smoothly, but has to replace all the skill position talent.
If Bowling Green is going to have a shot here, it’s the offensive line that must play well. The big boys up front are the only unit mostly intact from last year’s offense and will be going against an unproven Ohio State front four. If the Falcons’ O-Line can do enough to protect the quarterback and provide a semblance of a running game, they at least have a chance.
Free ATS Pick
Having Barrett back is huge for Ohio State’s chances this season. Without him the Buckeyes would be in a world of trouble, but he gives them a measure of stability. Barrett should be able to run or pass at will against Bowling Green, but how the rest of the team comes together is the big question for 2016.
Ohio State’s defense was phenomenal last season and unlike the offense, lived up to expectations. However, a lot of last year’s talent were high draft picks and there are no seniors projected to be starters on this season’s edition. How quickly this team comes together will determine how successful it is and the first game of the season will likely have hiccups.
Four touchdowns are just too much for Ohio State to be laying with such a young team. Although Bowling Green is in a transition period as well, they don’t have near the turnover that the Buckeyes’ roster has. The Falcons won’t score too much, but the Buckeyes aren’t going to light it up either. Ohio State won’t be in danger of actually losing against a lower-level team like Bowling Green, but the spread is just too high.
College Football Odds: Buckeyes 31, Falcons 13
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