The Buckeyes are slight favorites over Penn State ahead of next week's Big Ten showdown in Happy Valley.
After Ohio State opened anywhere between a 2- and 3.5-point favorite over Penn State during the summer, the line fluctuated anywhere between two and 5.5 points in favor of the Buckeyes. With the top-five showdown looming, OSU is listed as a 3.5-point favorite over the Nittany Lions on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
The Buckeyes are 6-1 this season but just 3-4 against the spread, including 1-1 ATS on the road and 3-4 ATS as the favorite. Ohio State hasn't covered the spread in each of its last two games.
Penn State is 7-0 but also 3-4 against the spread, with a 2-3 ATS record at home and 3-4 ATS as the favorite. The Nittany Lions haven't covered the spread in three of their last four games.
If the spread remains 3.5 or lower, it would be the lowest spread in the matchup since at least 2016. The Buckeyes have been favored over Penn State by four or more points in each of the last eight matchups, including four games as double-digit favorites.
The over/under is currently listed at 47.5 points, a total that has decreased by four points in the last two weeks. Ohio State has hit the over in four of its seven games, including one of two games on the road. That said, three of the Buckeyes' last four games hit the under. Penn State has hit the over in just three of its seven games, including just one of its four games in Happy Valley. Only two of the Nittany Lions' last five games have hit the over.
The Buckeyes hold a 24-14 advantage in the all-time series. Ohio State has won seven straight matchups since 2016, when it suffered a 24-21 loss at Beaver Stadium.
Ohio State and Penn State are set to kickoff at noon on FOX next Saturday as part of the network's Big Noon Saturday slate and its Big Noon Kickoff pregame show will also air live from Penn State’s campus on Saturday morning. College GameDay will also be in Happy Valley.
