Oddsmakers hold off on creating an opening line for Buckeyes game against Youngstown State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State will take any game reps it can get right now.
After an uninspiring and lackluster 23-3 win over Indiana to start the season Saturday, the Buckeyes have a lot of work to do in order to live up to their billing as the No. 3 team in the country.
Next on the slate after another week of practice following that road win over Indiana: the home opener against Youngstown State. But oddsmakers in the desert did not release a spread or total for the Buckeyes matchup with the Penguins. Spreads and totals are typically released on Sunday afternoon. Nearly every other FBS game for next weekend has a public spread and total.
It was likely to be the largest spread for the Buckeyes since they were favored over Arkansas State by 44.5 last year in the second week of the season. And there’s still a chance for oddsmakers to give the public a chance to bet on the Buckeyes ahead of next weekend.
Ohio State has been favored by 40 points or more six times under head coach Ryan Day. The Buckeyes are 3-3 against the spread in those 40-point spread games, failing to cover in two of the three occasions last season.
Day’s squad failed to cover the 29.5-point spread in Week 1 against Indiana, only winning by 20. But the Buckeyes feel like they could have been more aggressive to open the season, and they’re expecting to become more aggressive as the season goes on, especially against better competition.
Youngstown State doesn’t figure to be among the better competition the Buckeyes will face this season.
“What you can’t do is take a bunch of chances and be reckless and all of a sudden put yourself at risk of losing the game,” he said. “Probably could have been a little bit more aggressive at times today, but the No. 1 goal is to get the win and move forward. There’s going to have to be times we’re going to have to be more aggressive for sure. But I’m talking offense. I mean, I love the defense. I’m allowed to talk about the defense, so I want to smile. If we play defense like this, we’re going to have a chance.
“Certainly bigger challenges ahead.”
This matchup with an FCS opponent, albeit a good FCS team, shouldn’t be much more of a challenge for the top-five Buckeyes team.
Ohio State may not be playing well to open the season, but a date with Youngstown State isn’t going to give the Buckeyes a good look at how teams will try defending — and attacking — this team.
Still, Ohio State needs reps against other teams rather than just going up against its own offense and defense. And that’s what the Penguins provide: a chance to face a different team, no matter the level of play.
And with a spread so large that oddsmakers aren’t releasing it for the home opener, Ohio State should be able to iron out some of the issues that slowed it down Saturday at Indiana.
