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NCAA Football

Ohio St. vs. Michigan St. Preview/Pick

The Ohio St. Buckeyes go at it against the Michigan St. Spartans this week in a Saturday Football matchup. We preview and pick this week 8 clash.

NCAAF Week 8 Betting – Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan State Spartans

There is a true crossroads game to be played in the Big Ten this Saturday, as the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1 SU, 1-5 ATS), who are not completely out of the national title chase, visit East Lansing to play the surprising Michigan State Spartans (6-1 SU, 4-3 ATS) in NCAA college football action that is set to begin at 3:30 PM ET at Spartan Stadium (natural turf).

Saturday, October 18

BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: OHIO STATE -3

Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* OSU has covered one of its last six games
* OSU has won six of its last seven games SU
* OSU has played five of its last six games UNDER the total
* OSU has covered 12 of its last 16 road games
* OSU has won 14 of its last 16 road games SU
* OSU has played five of its last seven road games UNDER the total
* MSU has covered seven of its last ten games
* MSU has won its last five games SU
* MSU has played four of its last six games UNDER the total
* MSU is 7-15-1 ATS in its last 23 home games
* MSU has won its last five home games SU
* MSU has played four of its last five home games UNDER the total

Also…

* OSU has covered four of the last five meetings
* OSU has won the last six meetings SU

After its embarrassing loss to USC in the season’s third game, Ohio State has recovered to win four straight games, as the Buckeyes have been working freshman Terelle Pryor into the lineup at quarterback. Todd Boeckman, Pryor’s predecessor, is a better passer, and in fact Ohio State is ranked 108th in the country in passing offense. Pryor has struggled some in making this offensive unit explosive, and hasn’t thrown the ball more than 19 times, or for more than 144 yards, in any of his four starts.

Chris Wells has not been bad at all since returning full-time to the lineup, rushing for 106, 168 and 94 yards in his three starts. Is that enough to really stretch this Michigan State defense? We’re a little skeptical from that standpoint, since MSU has allowed 189, 151 and 176 yards the last three games against Indiana, Iowa and Northwestern, respectively.

Javon Ringer went through a three-game period where he gained 681 yards on the ground. And with 1112 yards, he is second in the country – a player deserving of Heisman consideration, although he probably won’t get enough of it. But whatever Ohio State’s shortcomings on offense, they can still play some stout defense, and if they want to concentrate on stopping Ringer, they have the quickness to do it. That will put some pressure on Brian Hoyer, who’s completed only 50% of his passes thus far.

The Spartans don;t have a very big home field advantage to play with, having covered only seven of their last 23 games as the host. Technical numbers don’t work too badly for Ohio State, which is 12-4 ATS in its last 16 road games. So if the Buckeyes aren’t completely looking ahead to the showdown with Penn State next week, we’re comfortable with OSU laying three points in the BetUS NCAA college football betting odds.

Our PLAY: OHIO STATE -3 **

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"