The Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are a consensus 3.5-point favorite over the Oregon Ducks (5-0, 2-0) on the spread (Ohio State -3.5), with the over/under set at 54.5 points scored.
The Buckeyes are -160 favorites on the moneyline to win outright, with the Ducks +135 to pull off the upset at home.
Ohio State handled the now-4-2 Iowa Hawkeyes, 35-7, last week, easily covering the 17.5-point spread, although the game went under the total of 45.5.
Oregon took down a 3-3 Michigan State team last Friday night, 31-10, but the Ducks did not cover as 21.5-point favorites.
Saturday's game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Oregon vs. Ohio State Odds
| Oregon Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 +100 | 55 -115o / -105u | +143 |
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -120 | 55 -115o / -105u | -170 |
By Dan Keegan
The prime-time lights of college football shine down on Autzen Stadium for the biggest game in the stadium’s history.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes are short favorites of -3 over the No. 3 Oregon Ducks in a newly-minted conference matchup.
In some ways, this is a clash of styles.
Ohio State serves as the dominant and definitive archetype of physical, imposing, Midwestern football. This is the old-money program; excellent in every decade, the Buckeyes can seemingly roll out of bed each year and land in the top five.
They visit the nouveau-riche Ducks, splashing the pot to elevate to a title team, riding the cutting edge of branding, NIL and offensive innovation for their own bites at the championship apple.
But in many ways, they are alike.
Both are excellent and complete football teams, together in the top three of the AP Poll and top seven of SP+. Both are physical and rugged across the lines of scrimmage but also have dynamic playmakers on the perimeter.
Both have veteran transfer quarterbacks who will provide an extra edge in the run game. Both have built loaded rosters with high-level recruiting and then augmented them with savvy portal pickups.
And both have Chip Kelly’s offensive genius as part of their program. For Oregon, his innovative legacy is part and parcel of the program's DNA. For Ohio State, he currently serves as offensive coordinator.
A game like this is a treat for college football fans and a rich opportunity to place some bets. We polled 18 college football experts on our staff to find a spread and total consensus among our analysts, and we will also deliver some other creative ways to bet on the game.
Let’s get into our Oregon vs. Ohio State picks and predictions.
Oregon vs. Ohio State Spread
Spread Pick: Oregon +3
Facing off for the first time as Big Ten foes, our staff of college football experts head into this game with a slight preference for taking the points for the home team.
As we're not highly convicted collectively for the Ducks, we also see certain merits for laying the chalk for the Buckeyes making the cross-country trek.
Generally speaking, anytime you can grab the points on a short home underdog, that's a solid betting rationale.
Now, there's certainly more to this bet, but that's a solid starting point for those who are backing the Ducks.
Couple the points with the fact that Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel leads one of the most high-powered offenses in the nation, and getting three points seems like an efficient use of capital.
The inverse of the previous argument is that the Ohio State machine has looked unstoppable this season, and three points might not be enough chalk after the Buckeyes rolled through Michigan State and Iowa in successive weeks.
The Ohio State defense had previously been a thorn in the side of the Columbus faithful, but now the defensive unit ranks first nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 6.8 points per game
Betting is always a combination of art and science, and at this juncture, it’s important to use judgment and calculus to analyze the quality of opponents that both teams have faced.
The common denominator among both teams is a victory over Michigan State, and the transitive law of college football suggests that this game is handicapped accordingly.
I would caution that Oregon had a slow start to the season against FCS Idaho and a scare against a good Boise State team; however, the mitigating point is that the Ducks have played the tougher schedule.
Our Action Network PRO Projections make the spread for this game Ohio State -2.7 points, which further supports the opinion of our experts. Although, like the split we have internally, it’s nothing to rest your cap on.
If you're uncomfortable taking the points in a game that has our staff torn, another way to bet on this game is through a live betting strategy. I think getting a buffer for either team makes a lot of sense and would recommend live-betting Oregon at +7 or better and Ohio State on the moneyline at +100 or longer.
Oregon vs. Ohio State Over/Under
Over 54 | 9 Picks |
Pass | 3 Picks |
Under 54 | 6 Picks |
Over/Under Pick: Over 54
In what should be a physical game on both sides of the ball, our staff leans toward the over from a total perspective.
When you consider the fact that both offenses have explosive skill players on the perimeter, there are plenty of paths for this game to go beyond the total, which currently sits at 53.
Both teams have transfer quarterbacks who have spent over four years in college and have plenty of experience playing in big games. That level of experience matters and should eliminate any concerns of early rust between the two offenses.
Ohio State has been extremely balanced offensively, and freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith continues to turn heads with a highlight reel of catches seemingly each week.
Meanwhile, the running back duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins will put added pressure on the Oregon defense to stop the run, and Will Howard is also a load to bring down when he decides to use his legs.
The Buckeye offense hasn’t really been stopped by anybody thus far in the year, and while Oregon will be its stiffest test to date, it’s fair to expect Ohio State to put plenty of points on the board.
Meanwhile, when Dillon Gabriel and the Ducks are at work, expect Oregon to use tempo and try to get Ohio State out of sorts with different formations and wrinkles.
Like Howard, Gabriel can also use his legs to create, and he's a very accurate passer on the run.
Jim Knowles’ defense is known for bringing plenty of pressure, which can cause Havoc. However, it could also give Oregon some chances to hit some explosives downfield.
I think we’ll see a competitive back-and-forth game all night in Eugene, and both offenses should perform at a high level.
It might take all the way until late in the fourth quarter, but we believe this game will ultimately go over.
More Ways to Bet Oregon vs. Ohio State
Dillon Gabriel Over 254 Passing Yards
(-120 · Play to 255 Yards)
If Oregon is going to have success offensively in this matchup, I believe it's largely going to have to come through the air.
Ohio State has been stout against the run to start the year, and Jim Knowles is notorious for stacking the box in big games and forcing opposing quarterbacks to throw on his defense.
Last week against an above-average Iowa rushing attack, the Buckeyes held the Hawkeyes to just 114 yards on the ground on 27 carries.
Fortunately for the Ducks, they have a dynamic quarterback who has played in tons of big games throughout his long college career.
Dillon Gabriel is completing over 77% of his passes for the year while averaging just under 290 yards per game.
I expect Gabriel to have to drop back to pass more than usual in this one, which will give him plenty of opportunities to find chunk plays down the field to his receivers.
Additionally, with the explosiveness of the Ohio State offense, there should be plenty of possessions for both teams on Saturday night, which will create even more chances for Gabriel to pad on the yards.
I think the OU transfer has a good chance to eclipse 300 yards of passing in this matchup, so I will gladly back him to go over 254 in this prop.
