The Ohio State Buckeyes quietly own one of the more impressive winning streaks in college football, with 18 straight victories on the road, going 12-6 against the spread in the process. They'll try to make it 19 in a row when they visit Norman, Oklahoma, for just the second time in program history to take on the Sooners on Saturday night.
Point spread: The Buckeyes opened as 2.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).
College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 41.9-39.8 Buckeyes (college football picks on every game)
Why the Ohio State Buckeyes can cover the spread
Ohio State is 2-0 both straight up and ATS on the season after topping Tulsa last week 48-3, covering as a 28-point favorite. The Buckeyes struggled offensively early and only led the Golden Hurricane 6-3 well into the second quarter, but the Ohio State defense broke the game open with a pair of pick-sixes in the final few minutes of the first half.
The Ohio State offense then awoke for four scores in the second half to secure the victory and the cash. Ohio State outgained Tulsa 417-188 in the contest, winning the ground battle 268-61.
The Buckeyes opened their season with a 77-10 bombing of Bowling Green two weeks ago, also covering 28 points.
Why the Oklahoma Sooners can cover the spread
OU bounced back from its season-opening loss to Houston by beating Louisiana-Monroe last week 59-17. The Sooners scored touchdowns on each of their first four possessions, led 42-0 at the half, then took their foot off the gas, declining to shoot for the spread as 46-point favorites.
On the day, Oklahoma outgained the Warhawks 640-350, and the vast majority of ULM's yardage came in garbage time.
Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield threw three first-half touchdown passes, without a pick, then sat out the second half as backup freshman Austin Kendall got some reps and tossed a pair of touchdown passes. Oklahoma also ran the ball for 288 yards.
The Sooners opened this season with that 33-23 loss to Houston, but they only got outgained by 17 yards; it was the 109-yard touchdown return of a missed field goal that killed them.
Smart pick
Ohio State is a great big-game team as of late, going 11-3 both SU and ATS in its last 14 games against ranked opponents. Oklahoma, on the other hand, is only 5-5 SU and 4-6 ATS in its last 10 meetings with ranked foes. Regardless of the venue, the Buckeyes are the smart bet here.
Betting trends
The total has gone over in seven of Oklahoma's last 10 games.
Oklahoma is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games in September.
Ohio State is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 games in September.
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