In the lone game this weekend between two teams ranked in the top 10 ninth ranked Notre Dame plays host to sixth ranked Ohio State.
Oddsmakers have Ohio State as the favorite in this huge non-conference clash posted at -3 with a total of 55.5. The public has bet this game pretty even, as the Buckeyes opened at -3 and that is where they are still at as of Thursday afternoon.
Ohio State stayed perfect on the season with a 63-10 home beatdown of Western Kentucky in their last game. They covered the spread as a 30-point favorite and they had failed to cover in their first two games.
In their last game Notre Dame moved to 4-0 with a 41-17 home win over Central Michigan. The Fighting Irish failed to cover the spread as a 35.5-point favorite and they had covered in their first three games.
Last season at home Ohio State beat Notre Dame 21-10.
Third Straight Dominating Defensive Performance
The 66-10 win over Western Kentucky was Penn State’s third straight dominating defensive performance, as in their three games they have only given up a total of 20 points.
In the WKU win the Buckeyes scored 35 points in the third quarter, outgained the Hilltoppers 562 yards to 284 yards, and forced four turnovers. Kyle McCord passed for 318 yards with three TD and no INT, TreVeyon Henderson led the team with 88 rushing yards, and Marvin Harrison Jr. and Cade Stover combined for 216 receiving yards.
McCord (815 6 TD 1 INT) leads the nation’s 17th ranked passing offense and has three TD and no picks in each of the last two games. He has a lot of weapons and three players for OSU have at least 100 receiving yards. Harrison Jr. (304 yards 3 TD) is regarded as the best WR ion the nation and he is averaging 21.7 yards per catch.
The Buckeyes will be facing a Notre Dame defense that ranks 13th in the nation against the pass and 43rdagainst the run. While the Irish have played good D on the season, they only have six sacks in four games and that is a major concern facing McCord and the dynamic OSU aerial attack.
Offense Does it Again
Notre Dame was solid on offense in their last game in the 41-17 win over Central Michigan and on the season, they are the sixth highest scoring team in the nation averaging 50.5 ppg.
In the CMU blowout win Notre Dame outgained the Chippewas 578 yards to 268 yards and had a balanced offensive game. Sam Hartman passed for 330 yards with three TD and no INT, Audric Estime had a big game with 176 rushing yards and a TD, and four players for the Irish had at least 60 receiving yards.
Like the last game Notre Dame has also been balanced on offense for the season ranking 21st in the nation in passing yards per game and 27th in rushing yards per game.
Estime has rushed for at least 116 yards in each of the last three games and is averaging a ridiculous 8.3 yards per carry. Hartman has 13 TD and has not been picked off and in three of the four games he has not been sacked.
The Ohio State defense has their work cut out for them and on the season they rank 10th in the nation defending the pass and 18th defending the run.
Trends
Ohio State is 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a favorite.
Ohio State is 4-6 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Notre Dame has an Over record of 3-0 in their last three home games.
Notre Dame is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Our Pick – Notre Dame +3