Ohio State-Purdue Betting Odds

It was interesting to me to see the public perception when the Ohio State-Michigan State betting odds were first released.

Ohio State is in the Top Four of the CFB Playoff rankings. Michigan State will likely be in the Top Four of the rankings if they beat Ohio State on Saturday. And yet, in a battle of top seven teams with a combined recorded of 18-2, the spread is … 19.5 points?

That’s where we’re at with the Buckeyes right now.

The path for both of these teams to the Playoff is pretty straightforward, but that doesn’t mean that it is going to be simple. Michigan State needs to win out — beat Ohio State, beat Penn State and beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, all as an underdog. That’s not easy. Ohio State will have to do the same, replacing Penn State with Michigan, but they will be a heavy favorite in all three of those games.

One could argue that the Buckeyes have the easiest path to the playoff for any team in college football this side of Georgia despite the fact that they lost to Oregon earlier in the season.

So how will this matchup of juggernauts play out on Saturday afternoon?

Longtime college sports writer Rob Dauster, the co-founder of The Field of 68 and The Field of 12 Network is here to break down the tantalizing matchup and provide the Ohio State-Michigan State betting odds for Week 12 of the college football season.

Until then, as a NCAA fan, you can check NFL betting odds and get ready to place a bet at BetRivers.

WEEK 12 BETTING ODDS: WEEKEND GUIDE

OHIO STATE-MICHIGAN STATE BETTING ODDS:

No. 7 MICHIGAN STATE (9-1) at No. 4 OHIO STATE (9-1)
GAME: 12:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
MONEYLINE: Ohio State (-1250), Michigan State (+650)
SPREAD: OHIO STATE (-19.5)
TOTAL: 68.5

OHIO STATE-MICHIGAN STATE PREDICTION:

While I’m thinking about this matchup, the thought that I cannot get out of my head is the performance of Purdue’s offense in last week’s date with the Buckeyes.

The Boilermakers were more or less able to move the ball whenever they wanted to. They were never going to be able to keep pace with the Buckeyes when they are playing their absolute best — which they were — but the fact of the matter is that Ohio State’s issue is on the defensive side of the ball. They are victim to the explosive play, and the thing about Michigan State is that their offense is about as explosive as any in college football.

They can put up points in a hurry. They can pop off for 60 and 70 yard touchdowns. They are not going to put together long, sustained, overpowering drives. When they score, it’s usually a highlight. When they struggle, it’s against teams that play a bend-don’t-break style of defense that doesn’t allow the explosive plays.

So this matchup sets up really nicely for the Spartans, and I actually think there is some value on their line against the spread.

But the play that I tend to like the most here is the over.

I just don’t think that anyone is going to be slowing Ohio State down any time soon. I think they’d put up 35 on the Texas, and I’m hopefully halfway joking, especially with Garrett Wilson coming back at receiver.

So if you’re going to force me to pick a side in this one, I’ll take Sparty as a dog.

But I will have my money on the over. Life is too short to bet the under after all.