No. 5 Ohio State hasn't been bested since falling to No. 7 Oregon earlier this year, but the Buckeyes could be in for a test this weekend. On Saturday, they'll host a No. 20 Penn State team that dropped to 5-2 after losing to Illinois in a nine-overtime thriller last week. The Nittany Lions, however, already have some quality wins and they've been tough to blow out, so Ohio State will have its work cut out to cover this three-score spread.
Kickoff at Ohio Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes are 19.5-point favorites in the latest Ohio State vs. Penn State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, up three points from the opening line. The over-under for total points is set at 60.5. Before locking in any Penn State vs. Ohio State picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,900 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 9 of the 2021 season on a 26-11 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has dialed in on Penn State vs. Ohio State and just revealed its CFB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see the model's picks. Here are several CFB odds and betting lines for Ohio State vs. Penn State:
- Penn State vs. Ohio State: Ohio State -19.5
- Penn State vs. Ohio State over-under: 60.5 points
- Penn State vs. Ohio State money line: Ohio State -1100, Penn State +700
- PSU: The Nittany Lions have lost four of their last five games against the Buckeyes
- OSU: The Buckeyes are 5-0 straight up in their previous five home games
Why Penn State can cover
Few teams have been as good as Penn State at keeping games close this year. The Nittany Lions have two losses on their record, but their average margin of defeat is 2.5 points. That's impressive considering that Penn State's first defeat was in a road game against No. 9 Iowa. The visitors fell short by three points. Penn State's state's defense had a lot to do with that, and its run-stopping prowess could prevent Saturday's game from becoming a rout.
Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson has run through opposing defenses all year, but the Nittany Lions have been exceptional against the run. They've allowed just five rushing touchdowns this season. Only nine FBS teams have allowed fewer. Limiting half of Ohio State's dynamic offense could help the visitors stay within the spread as significant underdogs.
Why Ohio State can cover
Ohio State has made a habit of blowing teams out this year. The Buckeyes have dominated every team but the Ducks in 2021. They've won by an average of 31.7 points, and that figure jumps above 40 if you only include home victories. Ohio State doesn't lose at home often, and history is on its side in this matchup.
Ohio State is 4-0 straight up in its previous four games against Penn State. The last two meetings between these teams resulted in double-digit wins for the Buckeyes. They're powered by C.J. Stroud, Henderson, and a dynamic receiving corps and they average more than 49 points per game. The Nittany Lions have been held to 20 points or fewer in half their games this year.
How to make Penn State vs. Ohio State picks
SportsLine's model says the game goes under on the point total and projects the teams to combine for 54 points. It also has an against the spread pick that cashes in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's Penn State vs. Ohio State pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Penn State vs. Ohio State? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Ohio State vs. Penn State spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is on a 26-11 run on top-rated picks, and find out.
