Will Buckeyes go unbeaten?
LAS VEGAS, NV (TheSpread) – Ohio State won the national championship last season, but didn’t manage to go undefeated. Can the Buckeyes run the table in the 2015 season?
According to oddsmakers at GTBets, Ohio State is currently listed with +350 odds to go 15-0 and win the national championship this season, while the Buckeyes have a money line of -475 to lose at least one game this year.
Ohio State has had a total of 10 unbeaten seasons in its history, though four of those included a tie. The last unbeaten season for the Buckeyes was 2012, when they went 12-0 in Urban Meyer’s first year with the team. However, the team was ineligible for postseason play and couldn’t contend for the national title. Ohio State’s last perfect season with a national title game in 2002 under Jim Tressel.
Last season, Ohio State went 14-1 on its way to the first-ever College Football Playoffs championship. The Buckeyes slipped up in the second week of the season, losing to Virginia Tech at home as the team was still dealing with the transition of replacing Braxton Miller at quarterback. Following that loss, Ohio State won 13 straight and dominated the postseason, beating Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon with third-string quarterback Cardale Jones.
The big reason many feel Ohio State can win the title again and perhaps even go unbeaten is because of all the talent the team returns, most notably Miller, Jones and J.T. Barrett. Miller is making the transition from QB to H-back while Barrett and Jones are battling for the starting QB position, but it isn’t out of the question that both could be used. Another key piece back is Ezekiel Elliott, who rushed for 1,878 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, including rushing for over 200 yards in all three postseason games.
When breaking down the schedule, one of Ohio State’s toughest games could be the opener. The Buckeyes start the year on Monday, Sept. 7 at Virginia Tech. Ohio State has suspended three players for that game, most notably Joey Bosa, the team’s stud defensive end. Aside from Virginia Tech, Ohio State should be able to handle Hawaii, NIU and Western Michigan at home before Big Ten play. The conference schedule doesn’t feature too many challenges. The Buckeyes will host Penn State, Minnesota and Michigan State, while its toughest road game is probably the finale at Michigan.
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