Close
Help
Settings
College Football Week 1: How to Bet Ohio State vs Indiana

College Football Week 1: How to Bet Ohio State vs Indiana

Written by on July 4, 2017

NCAAF News and Betting Previews| Xbet.ag
Ohio State and Indiana open up the conference portion of their schedule in the 2017 campaign much earlier than usual, as they square off on Thursday, August 31, on ESPN’s national broadcast, as the Buckeyes are College Football Week 1 betting favorites against the Hoosiers. Ohio State has to shake off a disappointing finish to their 2016 season and avoid overlooking Indiana as they square off with Oklahoma at home the next week. Take a look at some tips for this matchup as you consider your college football betting strategy for the coming fall.

College Football Week 1: How to Bet Ohio State vs Indiana

Can the Buckeyes throw the ball down the field?

One reason why Clemson was able to deliver that 31-0 shutout in the national semifinal was that they could stack the box and have no fear that Ohio State could complete longer passes. Alabama was able to do that, which is why the national championship came down to the wire (and why Pitt was able to knock off Clemson at home). J.T. Barrett relied on shorter passes last season — and his three best receivers (Dontre Wilson, Noah Brown and Curtis Samuel) all entered the draft. Binjimen Victor is likely to be one of Barrett’s favorite targets this year, but will it be enough?

Can Ohio State protect the passer and open holes in the line for the running attack?

Billy Price moves over from right guard to start at center, but now the Buckeyes have to fill that gap on the right side. Isaiah Prince had a rough 2016 at right tackle, so we could be looking at three new starters on the Ohio State O-line.

Can Ohio State defend against the pass?

For the second straight year, the Buckeyes will have three new starters in their secondary. Jeffrey Okudah is the top prospect so far, and he could appear at both cornerback or secondary. With Gareon Conley, Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore all having left, the Buckeyes need to get talent in place and in sync so that they’re ready for Indiana — and for Baker Mayfield in Week 2. The Hoosier head into College Football Week 1 as underdogs.

How well will Kevin Wilson know the Indiana defense?

The Hoosiers’ head coach from last year is now Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator in Columbus. Tom Allen, the former Indiana defensive coordinator, now the head coach, and he has earned kudos for building a unit that was hard to score on. Wilson, of course, was fired by Indiana for allegations of player mistreatment, so those headlines will be blaring as the matchup gets closer, but the concern that Indiana (and new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord) will have is building an attack that Wilson will simply not be able to pick apart because of his familiarity with it.

Can Indiana Run the Ball?

Devine Redding is now in the National Football League, which means that Camion Patrick will have to shoulder the load. He tore an ACL last spring but has rehabbed and recovered. Mike Hart joins the staff as the new running backs coach, so hopefully this new offense will give Patrick some time and space to show his speed.

What about the Indiana offensive line?

Dan Feeney has left for the pros, along with center Wes Rogers. There is some depth in the roster, but no one really emerged in the spring games with the intensity to leap into a starting spot. Stay tuned on this front.

And what about their defensive line?

This is the big gap when it comes to experience on the defensive side of the ball. Every spot will have competition for that starting position, which can be a good thing in terms of building chemistry, but it also means that there could be a lack of talent when it comes to pressuring the quarterback and filling the holes in the running game. It will be interesting to see what the Hoosiers bring to bear against Ohio State.

Latest College Football Betting Trends

Ohio State Buckeyes

  • Odds to Win the 2018 Championship: +450
  • Odds to Win Big Ten Conference: +140
  • 2017-18 Regular Season Wins: O 10½ -160 / U 10½ +130

Indiana Hoosiers

  • Odds to Win the 2018 Championship: 40000
  • Odds to Win Big Ten Conference: +5000
  • 2017-18 Regular Season Wins: O 6 -110 / U 6 -120

Ohio State vs Indiana Brief History

  • Games Played: 89
  • Current Streak: Ohio State with 21 wins (1991-2016)
  • Largest Margin of Victory: Ohio State 56-0 (1957)
  • Longest Winning Streak: Ohio State 23 (1960-1986)

Latest Results from This Series

  • October 8th, 2016. Columbus, OH. Ohio State 38 Indiana 17
  • October 3rd, 2015. Bloomington, IN. Ohio State 34 Indiana 27
  • November 22nd, 2014. Columbus, OH. Ohio State 42 Indiana 27
  • November 23rd, 2013. Columbus, OH. Ohio State 42 Indiana 14
  • October 13th, 2012. Bloomington, IN. Ohio State 52 Indiana 49
  • November 5th, 2011. Columbus, OH. Ohio State 34 Indiana 20
  • October 9th, 2012. Columbus, OH. Ohio State 38 Indiana 10

Final College Football Week 1 Predictions

It’s clear that the Ohio State Buckeyes
Help Center