FOX’s Big Noon Saturday takes us to Columbus, Ohio, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) visit the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1, 2-1) in a clash of two of college football’s biggest and reddest programs.
These teams will meet after both being idle last week. Apologies, I was unclear there: Ohio State enters after being idle, on their bye; Nebraska stood idly by as they were demolished by Indiana, 56-7.
While Nebraska’s loss was more recent and more one-sided, the last time we saw the Buckeyes in action, they were losing at Oregon in a marquee game. Which team will rebound in this spot?
Ohio State is favored to do so, entering as a -25.5 favorite at home. It has advantages on paper in every facet and should be in top form off the bye and looking to put their first loss behind them.
The over/under, meanwhile, sits at 48.5.
Let’s get into my Nebraska vs. Ohio State predictions and college football picks for Saturday, Oct. 26.
Nebraska vs Ohio State Prediction, Picks
- Nebraska vs Ohio State Pick: Ohio State -25.5
My Nebraska-Ohio State best bet is on the Buckeyes to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at bet365, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Nebraska vs Ohio State Odds, Spread, Lines
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+26.5 -110 | 48.5 -110 / -110 | +1600 |
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-26.5 -110 | 48.5 -110 / -110 | -5000 |
- Nebraska vs Ohio State Spread: Ohio State -26.5
- Nebraska vs Ohio State Over/Under: 48.5 Points
- Nebraska vs Ohio State Moneyline: Ohio State -5000 · Nebraska +1600
Nebraska vs Ohio State Preview
Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Preview: Recent Struggles Hurting Huskers
The Huskers' season has been bittersweet.
At five wins already, they are assured to make a bowl for the first time since the Obama administration. True freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola has been a dynamic addition to the offense.
However, Raiola, as true freshmen tend to do, has had his poor moments. And a defense that had appeared stout has sprung some leaks, especially in the running game.
We'll start with the defense, which was so magnificent in Week 2 against Colorado but just allowed 56 points last week to Indiana. The team ranks 70th in Success Rate allowed and has fallen to the fifth percentile in Stuff Rate.
It also ranks 55th in PFF’s Tackling grade as a team and hasn’t graded at 60 or higher in its past three games. Lacking penetration and an inability to get ball carriers to the ground is not a winning combination.
Meanwhile, Raiola’s promising freshman season has taken a tumble in recent weeks.
Make no mistake, he still has a bright future despite hitting a rookie wall. He passed for nine touchdowns to only two picks in his first month on campus; that ratio has gone down to zero scores to four interceptions in October.
In addition, 13 of his 14 sacks taken have come in the last four games. Spooky season, indeed.
As a unit, the Nebraska offense ranks 81st in EPA Success Rate, falling to 104th in that metric on dropback snaps.
Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview: A Loaded Roster
The Buckeyes entered this season on a mission to hoist the sport’s biggest trophy in mid-January, and they have looked the part. Even in their only loss on the year, on the road by a sliver of a margin to a fellow top-five team in Oregon, they have impressed.
The offense, called by Chip Kelly and led by veteran quarterback Will Howard and a treasure trove of skill talent, has been otherworldly.
You know those “radar” charts that show each team’s peaks and valleys for a grouping of metrics? Ohio State’s offense is basically a full circle, according to GameOnPaper.
Everyone knows about Ohio State wideouts and how productive and talented they are, but the engine of this team is the backfield duo.
Juniors TreVeyon Henderson (424 yards, 8.2 yards per carry) and Quinshon Judkins (491, 6.9) are mean, nasty and chiseled. Together, they have combined to force 35 missed tackles.
The Buckeyes lead the country in EPA margin as a team.
The defense isn’t much farther behind the offense. A weak spot would be 34th in EPA Success Rate allowed on dropbacks, but Nebraska’s offense won’t test this, ranking outside the top 100 in the same metric.
Nebraska vs Ohio State Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Nebraska and Ohio State match up statistically:
Nebraska Offense vs. Ohio State Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 56 | 13 | |
| Line Yards | 57 | 43 | |
| Pass Success | 46 | 25 | |
| Havoc | 59 | 15 | |
| Finishing Drives | 119 | 1 | |
| Quality Drives | 56 | 2 | |
Ohio State Offense vs. Nebraska Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 10 | 74 | |
| Line Yards | 4 | 70 | |
| Pass Success | 3 | 32 | |
| Havoc | 11 | 20 | |
| Finishing Drives | 2 | 26 | |
| Quality Drives | 9 | 19 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 57 | 40 |
| PFF Coverage | 48 | 21 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 127 | 4 |
| Middle 8 | 39 | 31 |
| Seconds per Play | 28.2 (92) | 28.1 (88) |
| Rush Rate | 51% (74) | 53% (61) |
Nebraska vs Ohio State Pick & Prediction
There's a big gap in most areas of this game.
Ohio State’s loaded, veteran roster has a clear advantage over a rebuilding Nebraska team. Quarterback experience heavily favors the Buckeyes. The goals for the season are much loftier in Columbus than in Lincoln.
Perhaps no gap is more extreme than in one of the biggest measures of the little things: Ohio State ranks fourth in SP+ special teams, while Nebraska comes in at 127th.
When you consider all of the advantages Ohio State has, as well as the boost it'll get from far superior special teams — like capitalizing on a return gaffe, more made kicks or hidden field-position yards — it’s clear the Buckeyes have all the tools to cover the number.
I’ll take the Bucks and lay the points at 25.5, while I'd play to 27.
Pick: Ohio State -25.5 (Play to -27)
How to Watch Nebraska vs Ohio State Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH |
| Date: | Saturday, Oct. 26 |
| Kickoff Time: | 12 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | FOX |
Nebraska heads to Columbus on Saturday to take on Ohio State at 12 p.m. ET on FOX.
Nebraska vs Ohio State Betting Trends
- 49% of bets and 57% of the money are on Ohio State to cover the spread
- 96% of bets and 25% of the money on the moneyline are on Ohio State to win outright
- 80% of bets and 98% of the money are on the over
Betting trends via our live, updating NCAAF public betting & money percentages page.
Nebraska vs Ohio State Weather
