The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies this weekend in a battle between undefeated Big Ten foes. This will be the first meeting between these two programs as conference opponents, and hopefully, it will be an exciting one.
As the game draws closer, hype builds, and oddsmakers are ready to capitalize. There are already numerous betting markets available across Ohio’s top sportsbooks, accessible to those looking to wager on the game.
The oddsmakers favor Ohio State ahead of kickoff as the Buckeyes are eight to 8.5-point favorites across all of the top sportsbooks. The over/under for the game is available between 51.5 and 52.5.
Ohio State vs. Washington predictions and best bets
Ohio State -8: -110 at Fanatics
Washington Under 21.5 Total Points: -125 at DraftKings
Carnell Tate Over 60.5 Receiving Yards: -114 at FanDuel
These teams have not faced any conference opponents through the first three games of the season. However, Ohio State does have a notable victory over Texas. While the Longhorns struggled after that game, the Buckeyes deserve their respect and should cover in this matchup.
The Washington Huskies are a very talented team, but college football is won in the trenches. That’s where Ohio State holds the advantage in this matchup. Washington has a young quarterback who I expect to struggle to find a rhythm against such a talented Buckeyes defense, leading to a low-scoring affair.
Jeremiah Smith is the star of the Buckeyes’ passing attack, which results in plenty of defensive attention from the opposition. That benefits Carnell Tate on the other side, who has proven himself as an asset this year. He’s gone over this mark in each of the last two weeks and should continue to here against Washington.
Ohio State vs. Washington moneyline analysis
Why Ohio State could win as the favorite
Best odds: -320 at FanDuel
The Buckeyes are the projected favorite across the board in this matchup for all major sportsbooks. BetMGM gives Ohio State the best chance of victory, offering a moneyline of -333, with FanDuel offering the best value to bettors at -320.
Few teams in college football had a season-opening test like Ohio State in Week 1, where the Buckeyes knocked off the Texas Longhorns. The squad has proven it can handle one of the top teams in college football and should enter this matchup with confidence.
The Buckeyes have a balanced offensive attack, but Julian Sayin has been thriving in recent weeks. The sophomore quarterback has thrown for over 300 yards in each of his past two games and has started to find his rhythm heading into conference play.
Ohio State is the clear favorite in this game and has been in all three prior matchups. However, it’s worth praising the defense’s ability to limit the opposition. The 5.3 points they allow per game is tied for first in the country with BYU.
Why Washington could win as the underdog
Best odds: +260 at DraftKings
Oddsmakers across all the top sportsbooks view the Huskies as underdogs, but the lines offered vary by platform. Caesars Sportsbook gives Washington the best chance to win with a moneyline of +250, while DraftKings provides the best value at +260.
Washington has been very impressive through the first three weeks of the season with victories of 17, 60, and 25 points. The team has only played non-’Power 4’ opponents, but they’ve been able to establish themselves as the clear better team through most of it.
The Huskies’ offense is well-balanced, but the star of the show is running back Jonah Coleman. The senior ball carrier averages over 165 yards per game and has scored 10 touchdowns all season. His reliability helps the team stay efficient, while quarterback Demond Williams is more than capable of producing through the air to keep the opposition guessing.
The well-roundedness extends to the rest of their roster as well. The team ranks well in each department for PFF grades, with their lowest grade being 66.9 in run defense. The only other Big Ten team without a lower grade is the Indiana Hoosiers.