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Buckeyes open as narrow favorite for road matchup at Penn State

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•10/27/24•

SpencerHolbrook

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Ohio State DE J.T. Tuimoloau (Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is coming off its worst performance of the year in a narrow win over Nebraska. Penn State, meanwhile, just beat Wisconsin on the road at night but now has an injured quarterback and star edge rusher.

The two teams will meet, both with major question marks, this weekend in State College. The folks in the desert like Ohio State in the meeting of top five teams.

The Buckeyes opened Sunday morning as a 4.5-point favorite for the upcoming road trip to Penn State, according to Fanduel Sportsbook. The total has been set at 47.5.

Penn State has Drew Allar, an Ohioan and former five-star prospect, starting at quarterback. He was courted by the Buckeyes but chose the Nittany Lions. Ohio State, on the other side of this matchup, has Pennsylvania native Will Howard as its starting quarterback.

Howard, the former three-star prospect who was not recruited by Penn State, enters this week with a personal chip on his shoulder. He wants this game.

“Stoked. Stoked. I cannot wait,” Howard said. “It’s going to be a homecoming for me. I grew up a Penn State fan. I wanted to go there my whole life. They didn’t think I was good enough — but I guess we’ll see next week if I was.”

Howard has been a star for the Buckeyes this season. He has 1,795 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes compared to just four interceptions. He also has 41 carries for 91 yards and five rushing scores for the offense this fall.

Now he has a chance to help Ohio State earn a marquee win on the road against a top-five team, keep pace in the Big Ten title race and springboard itself toward the College Football Playoff.

He and the Buckeyes enter this week as favorites over Penn State.

+ Ohio State is 3-4 against the spread this season
+ Penn State is also 3-4 against the number
+ The Buckeyes have won 11 of the last 12 games against Penn State
+ Ohio State has won each of the last seven games straight up
+ The total has gone over in four of the seven Ohio State games so far
+ The total has gone under in five of Penn State’s seven games this year
+ Ohio State has lost its last three road games against top-five teams
+ The total has gone under in six of the last nine meetings between these two teams

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