Ohio State vs. Indiana Total Pick
Can No. 2 Ohio State put up enough offense with Indiana for the two to hit the over when they meet on Thursday night at 8PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Ohio State is favored on the road in this game, as the Buckeyes are getting odds of -20.5 points against the Hoosiers. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 58 points. Ohio State has won the last 10 meetings in this series and the Buckeyes have hit the under in their last two games. These two meet from Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana on Thursday night.
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Ohio State is coming off a playoff appearance in 2016. The Buckeyes were 11-2 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten. Ohio State was 7-6 with the under last year as well. The Buckeyes averaged 39.4 points per game last season while giving up just 15.5 per game. Ohio State returns its quarterback J.T. Barrett this season. He threw for 2,555 yards and 24 touchdowns while also rushing for 845 yards and nine scores. Mike Weber is also back after leading Ohio State in rushing with 1,096 yards and nine touchdowns. However, the team does lose a big weapon in Curtis Samuel, who rushed for 771 yards and had 865 receiving yards.
Indiana was just 6-7 last season and 4-5 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers were 9-4 with the under, posting just 25.7 points per game while giving up 27.2 per contest. Indiana parted ways with Kevin Wilson and hired Tom Allen. He was the defensive coordinator for the team last season. Richard Lagow returns for his senior season at QB. He struggled with turnovers last season, throwing 17 interceptions with 19 TD’s and 3,362 yards. The team will have to replace its top player, Devine Redding. He rushed for 1,122 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016. Nick Westbrook does return at receiver, which helps Lagow. He caught 54 passes for 995 yards and six touchdowns in 2016.
Indiana had been a football team known for an explosive offense in years past, but the 2016 squad didn’t show that. However, they have a veteran QB returning and an playmaker at receiver in Westbrook. That should help the Hoosier be competitive against this Ohio State defense. I have no doubt that Ohio State will be able to score against the Indiana defense. Barrett is a playmaker and Weber is a back that should take a big step this season. I like the over to hit as I see somewhat of a shootout on Thursday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: OHIO STATE/INDIANA OVER 58