Today was a tough day to have a Rutgers +18.5 ticket.
The Ohio State Buckeyes jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, but that was the only touchdown Ohio State would score in the first half. In fact, the Scarlet Knights came roaring back and took a 9-7 lead into halftime.
If you had Rutgers +18.5, you were likely feeling pretty good. According to our Action Network cover probability tracker, Rutgers had a 95% of covering the spread at the start of the 3rd quarter.
However, Rutgers struggled to get anything going offensively in the third quarter and Ohio State started to find its groove. Ohio State took a 21-9 lead.
But a Rutgers touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter made the score 21-16. Rutgers was back to a 96% cover probability.
WHAT A CATCH@RFootball strikes back on a crazy contested grab. pic.twitter.com/9BigD90Kpo
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 4, 2023
With all of the other good games going on during the noon slate, Rutgers bettors likely switched the channel to focus on something else.
But Ohio State did not stop. Ohio State scored a touchdown with 2:10 left on the clock to make the score 34-16 — an 18-point lead. As 18.5-point favorites, the Buckeyes only needed the extra point to cover the number.
The extra point sailed through the uprights and the hearts of Rutgers' bettors were destroyed.
