Taking A Look At Ohio State Odds For The 2020 Season
The Buckeyes made it to the College Football Playoffs in three of the last six seasons and won the 2014 National Championship. With Quarterback Justin Fields the front runner for this year’s Heisman Trophy, the oddsmakers have big expectations for the Buckeyes in 2020. They are the favorite to win the Big Ten Championship and trail the Clemson Tigers as the second favorites to win the National Championship.
Sports Illustrated gambling analyst Frank Taddeo and Buckeye Maven Bruce Hooley previewed the Buckeye’s upcoming season and shared their thoughts on the best bets surrounding the Ohio State football team for 2020.
Read the full video transcript below:
Bill Enright: The Ohio State Buckeyes made it to the college football playoffs in 3 of the last 6 seasons but what are they going to do in 2020 and what are the sportsbooks saying about their win total, odds to make it to the national championship and come down as the Big Ten title winner? Let's go to Frank Taddeo and Bruce Hooley, who is our Buckeyes maven. Frank, I'll start with you first. Give me the rundown of what the sportsbooks are kind of offering up when it comes to Ohio State.
Frank Taddeo: Yeah, Bill, in their Vegas oddsmakers power rankings, Ohio State slots in just behind Clemson and almost nearly all their markets. Yet if we look at them individually, if we just look at Ohio State this season, win total is set at 11 wins, juiced right now to the over at $-1.34, which means that bettors will need an undefeated season in order to cash in on a 12 game regular season. If they're going to have twelve wins, you're going to need one more season, you're going to be looking to push. But if you're looking at their overall odds to win the Big Ten conference, they're heavy favorites at minus $-2.30. For their overall national championship odd, they slot in at 3 to 1. But for me right now, I think there's better value on looking at Justin Fields and his Heisman Trophy market at slightly better odds where you see those +350 or 3.5/1 return on your money as opposed to only getting 3/1 on your money in a college football championship. If you believe in Ohio State's chances this year, to have a solid season, means you believe in Justin Fields being the guy to lead them there.
Bill Enright: First, let's break it down when it comes to Buckeyes football, you are the most dialed-in person we have. So tell me, what should we be expecting from Ohio State this year?
Bruce Hooley: Well, I think, Bill, they have some issues that we're not positive about with the secondary losing three starters and then Chase Young; while they have good defensive linemen, they don't have have a “Chase Young.” He creates a lot of issues that when he's there that allows your defense to play better. I like the 'Justin Field's Heisman' situation. That made a lot of sense to me what Frankie said. I think I'd be comfortable on Ohio State not having two regular-season losses because we don't know now if the Oregon game is going to happen. We also know that Ohio State has four of its first five at home, so they'll be able to get through some of those new guys in new starting spots. The key for them is going to be October. They get Michigan at home in November, but in October, they're playing Iowa and they're on the road at Michigan State, at Penn State and Nebraska. That's a very tough month. I think they can weather it. I think they're going to win the Big Ten again.
Bill Enright: Excellent analysis. Bruce, Frank, thank you guys so much. Plenty more gambling info when it comes to college football, head on over to SI.com/gambling.
