A jam-packed slate of Week 9 action on the college football gridiron includes a Big Ten battle between Ohio State Buckeyes and USC Trojans on Saturday evening.
Urgency is high for both of these programs, as USC already has a dreaded two in the loss column and Ohio State is trying to avoid its second blemish.
The Trojans fell to 3-2 in conference play with last weekend's setback against Wisconsin, while the Buckeyes suffered a non-conference loss to Texas but have since reeled off five wins in a row.
With Saturday's showdown set for 7:30 pm ET on NBC, it's time to break down the odds and discuss the best bets to make.
Ohio State vs. USC betting picks and predictions
USC +6.5 (-105)
There is no denying that USC is struggling, but the good news for head coach Lincoln Riley's outfit is that Ohio State is also far from its best form these days.
Not only did the Buckeyes lose to an unspectacular Texas team, but their offense was stagnant throughout an ugly 19-15 victory over Indiana in Week 7.
Adding insult to injury, or vice versa, OSU quarterback Julian Sayin sustained a shoulder injury against the Hoosiers that will sideline him indefinitely, perhaps even for the entire season.
Sayin has thrown for more than 2000 yards and boasts a 19-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio, so his absence will be felt in a major way.
With their starter sidelined, the Buckeyes now hand the ball to freshman Luke Fahey, who has two touchdowns and two interceptions in garbage time so far this year.
Fahey played just one full drive during the win over Indiana after Sayin went down midway through the fourth quarter. The small sample size, however, was far from encouraging.
Meanwhile, USC has lost just once at home in 2026, to an Oregon squad that was ranked No. 20 at the time (September 26).
Although Ohio State is coming off a bye, the Trojans are healthier and also well rested. They have played only one game since October 10, as they enjoyed a bye week inbetween a win over Penn State and their loss to Wisconsin.
Under 51.5 (-110)
Ohio State's offense was already a work in progress even with Sayin on the field. Now head coach Ryan Day's team has to go on the road - pretty much across the country - without Sayin’s services.
Even if Fahey manages to move the chains with some consistency, the visitors probably won't play at a fast enough tempo to score quickly. Any sustained drives will more than likely chew up plenty of clock.
It should be noted that the Buckeyes are ranked 57th nationally in EPA per rush and rushing success rate. If they are unable to make progress on early downs and put Fahey in short-yardage situations in his first start at the collegiate level, things could get ugly.
Unfortunately for Ohio State, USC's defense is quite stout against the run, allowing a modest 114.9 rushing yards per game on 3.6 yards per carry.
On the other side of the ball, the Rojans should primarily look to keep things on the ground and shorten the game as much as possible.
After all, minimizing possessions is probably the best defense any team can have when it comes to Ohio State's star receiver Jeremiah Smith.
With the total set at 51.5, the market is essentially expecting the Buckeyes to maintain a similar level of offensive production, even though they are playing in a high-pressure environment, amidst huge stakes and with an inexperienced backup under center.
All things considered, the under looks like the way to go.
Jeremiah Smith over 93.5 receiving yards (-114)
Even with a backup QB, Smith should be able to put up at least 94 yards - a modest number by his lofty standards. The junior from Miami has amassed at least 151 yards four times already this year, including more than 200 on two occasions.
There is no denying that Fahey is a sizable downgrade from Sayin, but what is an inexperienced freshman going to do? He is going to sling it to his best and most reliable pass-catcher and he is going to do it over and over again.
Read more college football picks and predictions on site.
Ohio State vs. USC odds
Ohio State | -240 |
USC | +195 |
Spread | Ohio State -6.5 |
Total Points | O/U 51.5 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
