Ohio State 2018 Betting Preview: Will Haskins Take the Buckeyes to the Playoff?

Ohio State 2018 Betting Odds

• To win the National Title: +800
• To win the Big Ten: +150
• To win the Big Ten East: +105
• Win Total: 10.5 (over -120)

Always shop for the best line.

Ohio State 2018 Schedule, Betting Odds

The Action Network Projected Wins: 10.8

Bet To Watch

Ohio State Over 10.5 Wins

Since Urban Meyer’s arrival in Columbus, the Buckeyes have lost five regular-season games in six seasons. Two of those losses came last year to Iowa and Oklahoma. The loss to the Hawkeyes was especially painful, as the Buckeyes went on to be a two-loss Big Ten champion left out of the playoff.

This season, the East Division may be the most competitive it's been since Meyer took over in Columbus. Since 2012, Ohio State is 15-2 straight-up against Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan, which again will be the Buckeyes' three biggest hurdles. Those three games will likely have a point spread under a touchdown. Ohio State will be favored by more than a TD in its nine other contests.

The schedule sets Ohio State up nicely for an uncontested run to the Big Ten championship game. Although the Buckeyes only have one bye week (before hosting Nebraska), there is plenty of fluff in between tough games.

Additionally, a game against Penn State on Sept. 29 is the Buckeyes' first trip to an opponent's home stadium. That tango in Happy Valley is cushioned between Tulane and Indiana, and the Buckeyes play Maryland in between their tilts with Michigan State and Michigan. In short, there are no scheduling disadvantages from a lookahead or hangover standpoint.

What else you need to know about Ohio State

Lay some extra cheddar on a Dwayne Haskins Heisman bet (currently +2800).  Like Haskins, the ticket could have plenty of legs in the beginning of December.

You can certainly argue that Haskins taking over for longtime Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett is a good thing for the Buckeyes. In his limited playing time, Haskins displayed the ability to improve the Buckeyes' 81st ranking in explosiveness on passing downs. That was Ohio State's Achilles' heel on offense the past two years.

Looking for a Game of the Year wager? Ohio State -12 over TCU at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, could be all Buckeyes. Not only will Haskins be on full display against a TCU defense that ranked 119th in Passing explosiveness, the Buckeyes' defensive line should feast. TCU lost four of its best offensive linemen from 2017 and will have its hands full with Nick Bosa and Dre’Mont Jones.

Useless Trends

• Meyer is 6-0 against the spread as an underdog since 2012.
• Per BetLabs, Meyer is 8-2 ATS as a favorite of 6.5 points or less. This scenario could present itself against Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan.

Want to find your own trends and make your own systems? Sign up for BetLabs!

More College Football Betting Preview

Click here for team previews on all 130 FBS schools.