The NCAAF season continues this weekend with a big clash between the number one-ranked team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes, taking on the Penn State Nittany Lions in game week 10.
The Buckeyes have a perfect record so far this season and come into this game 7-0, but haven’t played since October 18th which could bring some rustiness. Penn State, on the other hand, have a 3-4 record so far this season, losing each of their last four games.
We’ll take a look at the game and break it down while providing you with our best free NCAAF betting picks, as we try to earn you some extra cash while you enjoy the action on the field.
Check out our best free NCAAF betting sites here.
Ohio State had a near-perfect season last season to claim a 14-2 record, before being crowned Rose Bowl champions and consensus national champions.
They’ve built on that this season, and have had the perfect campaign so far, which started with a big 14-7 win over the number-one-ranked side, the Texas Longhorns, on the opening day. Their second game of the season came against the Grambling State Tigers, and they earned a dominant, blowout victory at home, winning 70-0 – their biggest win to date.
The Buckeyes then took on local rivals the Ohio Bobcats in game 3, and once again earned a dominant victory with a 37-9 scoreline, before a road trip to face off against the Washington Huskies ended in a comfortable 24-6 win to maintain their 100% record.
The team returned home to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in game 5 and earned a 42-3 win, before heading back out on the road again to take on the number 17-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, where they racked up a 34-16 win.
Last time out, the Buckeyes travelled to take on the Wisconsin Badgers and earned a shutdown 34-0 win to move to 7-0 before a two-week break.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
Penn State had an excellent 2024 season as they earned a 13-3 regular season record, and also were crowned Fiesta Bowl champions, but suffered defeat i the Big Ten Championship game against the Oregon Ducks.
This season, they looked to build on the momentum of a strong campaign last time out and started in very strong fashion as they took on the Nevada Wolf Pack, earning a 46-11 victory at home. They followed that up with a blowout victory against the FIU Panthers, winning 34-0, before a clash against the number 11-ranked Villanova Wildcats saw a dominant 52-6 win.
But their good form would end there, as they took on Oregon in a rematch from the 2024 championship game next, and fell to a 30-24 defeat at home in double-overtime, with the game tied at 17-7 at the end of the fourth quarter.
A road trip to face the UCLA Bruins came next, and once again fell to a disappointing 37-42 defeat at the Rose Bowl to make it consecutive defeats. The Northwestern Wildcats then came to Pennsylvania next with many expecting Penn State to get back to winning ways, but their poor form continued and they suffered a 22-21 defeat.
Last time out, the Buckeyes travelled to face the Iowa Hawkeyes, and a fourth-quarter collapse saw them lose a fourth consecutive game, and another by a single point, as they fell 25-24.
Historically, these teams tend to have relatively low-scoring matchups against each other, with eight of the last ten meetings hitting the Under. Stylistically, that’s usually a pretty safe bet too, but something feels different this time around.
So far this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes have scored 255 points across their seven games, averaging 36.42 points per game. Penn State, alternatively, have scored 238 points in their seven games, averaging 34 points per game. Those averages immediately make the Over look attractive.
Defensively, the numbers look promising too, when you consider the Buckeyes are major favorites. So far this season, they have only conceded double digits in one game. But Penn State have lost their last four in a row, and they have conceded 119 points in those games, an average of 29.75 points per game.
Add to that, the Nittany Lions will be extra aggressive trying to snap their losing streak, which could leave opportunities for more points too.
At -110 there is solid value in the Over landing, despite what history says, so take it while you can.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
Read Daniel's ProfileAsk Daniel about this guide:
