The biggest game that isn't "The Game" is finally here for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes roll into Eugene, Oregon for the featured college football showdown of Week 7 as they prepare to take on the Ducks in the 11th meeting ever between the schools. Ohio State will look to avenge its home loss to Oregon from the 2021 season as Brutus Buckeye welcomes Puddles and company to the Big Ten.
It’s GAMEDAY pic.twitter.com/FTIW73fAZb
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 12, 2024
Nike has gone to great lengths to ensure both schools fashionably represent themselves in prime-time, as the Buckeyes teased yesterday before confirming this morning that they will wear white-out uniforms tonight opposite the Ducks' all-black kits.
Its feeling in Eugene pic.twitter.com/lCpq6gkB6Y
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 12, 2024
Oregon hosted ESPN College GameDay this morning as Kirk Herbstreit and Nick Saban predicted Ohio State to win while an absent Lee Corso also took the Buckeyes. Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and special guest Kaitlin Olson of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia went with the Ducks.
As the autumn sun prepares to set on the opposite side of the country while the Buckeyes gear up for their toughest test of the regular season, find out below what the experts at Eleven Warriors reckon will take place at the Autzen Zoo tonight.
Score Predictions
Andy Anders — Ohio State 34, Oregon 27: Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton force Oregon to become one-dimensional on offense by plugging up running lanes, and while the Ducks have the weapons to move the ball through the air, Ohio State proves the more complete team – most notably in the trenches. Some early hiccups might be in order after a long road trip, keeping things close.
Chase Brown — Ohio State 28, Oregon 24: This game will be an instant classic with Ohio State coming out on top. The Buckeyes are talented across the board, and when that talent combines with a well-crafted gameplan from Ryan Day, Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles, the Buckeyes will prove they are one of the best teams in college football with a statement win in Eugene.
George Eisner — Ohio State 28, Oregon 24: While many analysts have placed emphasis on the results of this game coming down to the quarterbacks, I believe the deciding matchup will actually reflect itself in Oregon's rushing offense against Ohio State's run defense. Both units rank among the best in the country in terms of their consistent effectiveness, which means something's got to give for one team to emerge victorious. If the Buckeyes can shut off the Ducks on the ground, over-reliance on Dillon Gabriel will lead to mistakes that deliver OSU a close win.
Jack Emerson — Ohio State 28, Oregon 24: Ohio State's first true test is finally here, and I anticipate the Buckeyes will ultimately pass this test. The Buckeye running game continues to churn out yardage at a high level against the Ducks while the OSU defense does just enough to keep Oregon's potent offensive attack at bay.
Johnny Ginter — Ohio State 28, Oregon 24: Gabriel is exactly the kind of quarterback that can take advantage of relatively soft coverage in the middle of the field, but Judkins and Henderson are exactly the kind of running backs to attack the Oregon defensive line. Ohio State shortens the game with the run, and hits a big play late with Emeka to seal the win.
Matt Gutridge — Ohio State 31, Oregon 13: Bucks beat Ducks.
Garrick Hodge — Ohio State 31, Oregon 27: Ohio State wins the game of the year thanks to timely defensive takeaways and the Buckeyes' offense successfully spreading the Oregon defense out similarly to what Washington did to the Ducks a season ago.
Dan Hope — Ohio State 28, Oregon 27: Ohio State and Oregon have both had 21 possessions inside the red zone this season, but the Buckeyes have scored touchdowns on 20 of them while the Ducks have scored touchdowns on only 14. If those trends continue, it could make the difference in what I expect to be a very close game in which every single point will matter.
Kyle Jones — Ohio State 31, Oregon 24: Chip Kelly’s use of motion creates busts in the Oregon secondary that the OSU receivers exploit early, forcing Dillon Gabriel to play catch-up in a system not designed for that kind of game.
Chris Lauderback — Ohio State 31, Oregon 23: The Buckeyes win the line of scrimmage and the red zone on the way to a huge road victory.
Ramzy Nasrallah — Ohio State 38, Oregon 20: Time zone differences won't save Dillon Gabriel from the first top-40 defense Oregon faces this season.
Josh Poloha — Ohio State 27, Oregon 24: The Buckeyes will control the run game and the trenches with their dominant rushing attack and OSU will take care of business on the road in what has quickly become one of the biggest games of the season in college football.
Jason Priestas — Ohio State 34, Oregon 21: Ohio State gets the signature win of the 2024 college football season, pulling away with a defensive score in the fourth quarter.
Jordan Raines — Ohio State 28, Oregon 24: The Bucks dominate the trenches allowing Judkins and Henderson to run wild. Jim Knowles’ scheme, consistent pressure applied by the Rushmen, and solid secondary play combine to clip the wings of the explosive Ducks’ offense.
Will Ohio State Cover?
Ohio State proceeds into the night as three-point favorites over Oregon after flipping the line from its open during the offseason that gave the Ducks a one-point advantage. All but two folks on staff at Eleven Warriors predict the Buckeyes to win by more than a field goal, as Josh Poloha anticipates a push while Dan Hope foresees a narrow win by a single point.
Matt Gutridge and Ramzy Nasrallah each expect the largest margin of victory by an alarming 18 points. Only Jason Priestas, Gutridge and Nasrallah forecast an OSU victory by multiple scores.
What About the Over/Under?
The contest's projection for total points began with a line of 56.5 before gradually decreasing to roughly 54 points as the time to kickoff closes in. Across the Eleven Warriors staff, six members believe the over will hit, while eight prophesize the under taking shape.
Andy Anders has the loftiest tally between the teams at 61 points combined, while Gutridge calls for the shallowest sum at only 44 points. Among all 14 personnel on staff, only Gutridge believes the Ducks will fail to achieve or exceed 20 points.
Eleven Warriors Prop Bets
Curious about what the odds have to say about the likelihood of other outcomes in this showdown? Consider some of our in-house prop betting lines for this evening's game for a more specific glance at what sportsbooks expect may or may not happen. Leave your predictions for us in the comments and compete for bragging rights!
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How many passing yards will Will Howard have?
- Over 249.5 (+100)
- Under 249.5 (-125)
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How many passing touchdowns will the Ohio State defense allow to Dillon Gabriel?
- Two or more (-120)
- One or less (-110)
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Will Jeremiah Smith score at least two touchdowns?
- Yes (+500)
- No (-550)
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Will the Ohio State defense score a touchdown?
- Yes (+380)
- No (-490)
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If you believe a Buckeye running back will score the game's first touchdown, which will do so?
- Quinshon Judkins (+700)
- TreVeyon Henderson (+850)
- James Peoples (+2200)
- Sam Williams-Dixon (+2500)
- Someone Else (+5000)
