Boilermakers vs Buckeyes NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
Some thought the Purdue Boilermakers might be the best team in the league a couple weeks ago. After blowout losses at home to Michigan and Wisconsin, the Boilermakers are licking their wounds.
Purdue Boilermakers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio Stadium
Saturday October 20, 12:00 PM EST on ABC/ESPN2
College Football Betting Odds from Wager Web
Moneyline: Off
College Football Spread: Ohio State -19 (-110) vs. Purdue +19 (-110)
Over/Under: 62.5
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Ohio State hasn’t necessarily been great, but they are unbeaten and in the top ten in the nation.
Purdue is a talented team capable of pulling an upset, so the Buckeyes will need to be well-prepared this Saturday afternoon.
Purdue
Purdue started the season with three quality quarterbacks, but Robert Marve was injured early in the year. Caleb TerBush has been the primary starter for the Boilermakers this season. TerBush has thrown eight touchdowns and six interceptions.
The problem for the Purdue passing game is they almost never stretch the field, and defenses often start to hone in on the short passes.
The running game has been decent, but they haven’t been able to consistently run it when playing against the best defenses in the Big Ten.
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The bigger disappointment for Purdue has been their defense.
This is a group that has a lot of veteran leaders, but they haven’t been able to come up with stops this season. The Boilermakers have given up 41 points per game in their last three games. Kawann Short is a highly-touted NFL prospect at the defensive tackle spot, but the defensive line has been getting pushed around on a weekly basis.
Purdue is 100th in the nation in rushing defense. The secondary has been slightly better, but they still haven’t performed up to expectations.
Ohio State
Braxton Miller continues to star in Urban Meyer’s system as the Buckeyes offense picks up steam each week. Miller leads the team in rushing with 912 yards on the ground. He is averaging 7.1 yards per carry. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Miller is completing 60 percent of his passes, and he has 11 touchdown passes compared to four interceptions. Carlos Hyde had 140 yards rushing two weeks ago and 156 yards on the ground last week, and he seems to be emerging as the team’s top running back. Devin Smith leads the team with six touchdown receptions.
Overall, the Buckeyes offense ranks eighth in the nation in rushing yards. Ohio State is averaging 40.4 points per game.
The Buckeyes defense has been a major disappointment this year as well. Indiana put up 49 points on this defense last weekend, and Urban Meyer wasn’t a bit happy after last week’s close win.
Ohio State gave up 38 points to Nebraska and then 49 points to Indiana in the following game. The Buckeyes are normally stacked at linebacker, but they are extremely thin their right now.
The fact that fullback Zach Boren has been switched over to linebacker tells you all you need to know about how thin the depth chart is there right now. Ohio State ranks 72nd in the nation in total defense. The Buckeyes are giving up 278 passing yards per game this year.
Purdue isn’t as bad as many think, and the Buckeyes aren’t terrific at this point.
Look for this one to be a little closer than expected.
Free College Football Pick: Purdue +19
