Ohio State Opens As Huge Betting Favorite vs. Michigan State
March Madness started Thursday, but who wouldn't be thinking about placing a bet on the Ohio State football games?
FanDuel Sportsbook set the opening lines for the Buckeyes' matchups against Notre Dame, Penn State, and Michigan in February, as the sportsbook released the Michigan State line Wednesday. Ohio State is set to be the favorites in all but one contest.
Despite the question marks at quarterback, Las Vegas thinks the Buckeyes will have those answered by week 4 when they travel to South Bend, as they are currently a 10-point favorite on the road against the Fighting Irish.
Ohio State was a 17-point favorite when the two squared off in Columbus, but Notre Dame covered with a 21-10 loss Sept. 3, 2022.
The Buckeyes open as 9.5-point home favorite Oct. 21 against the defending Rose Bowl Champion Nittany Lions. It's the first time since 2018 that the line has not been in the Buckeyes' favor by double digits.
In the last 10 matchups between Ohio State and Penn State, the Buckeyes have won nine of 10 outright, but are 2-8 against the spread. In the lone straight up loss, Ohio State was a 19.5-point road favorite.
When the Buckeyes welcome Michigan State to Columbus Nov. 11, they'll do so as 21.5-point favorites.
Las Vegas is respecting Ohio State's recent stretch of dominance against Michigan State in which it has won seven in a row and covered in each of the last six contests.
Since 2016, Ohio State has a 29.7-point average margin of victory against the Spartans, scoring at least 48 points in four of those contests.
The one game Ohio State isn't currently expected to win next season is its Nov. 25 matchup in "The Game" against Michigan.
The Buckeyes will travel to Ann Arbor, MI. as one-point underdogs. If the line holds, this would be the first time Ohio State hasn't been favored in a regular-season matchup since the 2018 rendition of "The Game" that the Buckeyes won 62-39.
In the last five games that Ohio State has been an underdog — four of which have been in College Football Playoff games — it is 3-2 against the spread, winning two games outright.
Last season, the Buckeyes were 6-6-1 against the spread last season.
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