NCAAF Week 8: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Ohio State Buckeyes betting picks, preview

Here we go with Game 1 of the round-robin among the elites in the Big Ten East. Both of these teams are undefeated thus far and this game is a chance to take an important first step toward a spot in the playoffs. Ohio State is definitely more tested than Penn State this season, they are at home too. Is that enough this season? 

Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends and Odds

Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 — 12 p.m., ET

Odds: Ohio State -4.5, Over/under 46.5, Penn State +155 | Ohio State -185

It is definitely not a shock that the Buckeyes are favored at home. Penn State might be the better team this season, but as the road team and the one with less recent success, they are going to have to prove it on the field. That number is saying the gap is not all that much in terms of power rating though. Lots of room for it to move up or down from the dead number too. 

Pick for Penn State vs. Ohio State

Penn State +4.5

I was higher on Penn State than Ohio State entering the season and thought they would win in this spot, disrupting the pecking order in the Big Ten a little in the process. Now that is not the reason to back them this weekend, but I see no reason to move off of that line of thinking. Quarterback Drew Allar has been very good and the running game still has room to grow. They just haven't been explosive in that area yet. However, the real reason to like PSU on Saturday is a defense that is tops in the nation in yards allowed and second in points. Sure the competition has been light but we saw what happened to the Buckeyes when they played a strong defense against Notre Dame, a game they barely escaped. Penn State can win this one outright, but with that more than a field goal cushion they are an easy side to back. 

It is still early in the week, but the numbers are clear, Penn State is the more popular side in terms of tickets and money. If that keeps up this one will be bet down to +3 but I don't think it will go any further.