It’s the marquee game of the college football schedule as No.2 Ohio State travels to take on No. 3 Oregon in a new Big Ten rivalry. Both teams are a perfect 5-0 and whichever team wins this showdown likely has the inside track to the playoffs.
Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0)
After struggling in the first half against Iowa last week, OSU was able to pull away and win comfortably. Currently the Buckeyes are sitting fourth in FBS in scoring offense and 1st nationally in scoring defense, allowing under 7 points per game. The 5-0 Buckeyes have outscored opponents 230-34 so far in 2024. But now they face a Ducks side that has scored 31 or more points in each of the last four games and averaged 35 per game this season.
Oregon Ducks (5-0)
The Ducks are coming off a 31-10 win over Michigan and this squad has been cruising along since their 49-14 win over their in-state rival, Oregon State, in Week 3. The Ducks do have one of the better secondaries having the 3rd best coverage grade by PFF and rank 10th in EPA/Pass Allowed. But quarterback Dillion Gabriel now faces his toughest challenge. He didn’t play great against the Spartans throwing two red zone picks. Consistency continues to be his issue despite a 5-0 start. OSU has one of the best defenses in the nation and leads in sack percentage and sits second in PFF pass-rushing grade. All of this doesn’t bode well for Gabriel or the Ducks.
Best Bet: Under 53
While both teams can score, this feels like a playoff game and both sides would rather try to control the game instead of a shootout. OSU has one of the best backfields and will look to run the ball and control the clock. The Buckeyes average almost 28 seconds per play, ranking 86th in pace, meaning they will try to slow the game down barring a big lead. And Oregon faces one of the best defenses in the country. Ohio State has gone under in 12 of its last 18 games and this one reeks of a lower scoring contest so the Under is the strong play.
Game Betting Odds
Ohio State -3.5 (-105)
Oregon +3.5 (-115)
Total: 53.5
Series History
The Buckeyes have owned the Ducks winning 9 of the last 10 meetings but Oregon did win the last game in 2021, in Columbus with an upset road win 35-28. This will be the first meeting as members of the Big Ten.
Ohio State vs. Oregon trends
OSU is 3-2 ATS this season
OSU games have gone UNDER in 12 of last 18
Ducks are 5-0 SU in last 5 vs Big Ten opponents
OSU is 10-1 in last 11 road games
Oregon is 2-4 ATS in last 6
