Nebraska vs. OSU Betting Line at Ohio State -3.5
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Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Ohio State -3.5 & 57
Opening Line & Total: Buckeyes -5 & 58
Two Big Ten heavyweights slug it out on Saturday night when No. 12 Ohio State hosts 21st-ranked Nebraska.
These schools met for the first time since 1956 last year when Ohio State blew a 21-point, third-quarter lead and lost 34-27 in Lincoln. QB Taylor Martinez had three second-half touchdowns and RB Rex Burkhead scored the game-winner, finishing with 178 total yards and 2 TD. This Huskers duo had 193 rushing yards and 3 TD in a 30-27 win over Wisconsin last week. The Buckeyes have held four of five opponents (all FBS) to 16 points or less, and QB Braxton Miller has 302 total YPG this season (2nd in Big Ten). This is the kind of statement game that the Buckeyes usually make on their home field. Head coach Urban Meyer is 9-0 ATS after an upset win as an underdog and this game situation fits nicely for OSU as well: All teams where the line is +3 to -3 - after failing to cover the spread in 3 out of their previous 4 games, top-level team (.800+ win pct.) are 55-23 ATS (71%) since 1992.
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Martinez was certainly impressive against the Buckeyes last year, finishing 16-of-22 for 191 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He has been even better this year, with a 68% completion rate, 1,059 passing yards, 11 TD and just 1 INT. Kenny Bell has been his favorite target with a team-high 330 receiving yards and four touchdowns. With Burkhead missing time to injury earlier this year, sophomore RB Ameer Abdullah has given the team a speedier rushing option, gaining 486 yards and 5 TD on an impressive 6.2 YPC. Abdullah also leads the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (179 YPG). Although Nebraska’s run defense hasn’t been special (153 rush YPG allowed, 62nd in FBS), the front seven has gotten great penetration all season, recording 3.8 sacks per game (8th in FBS) and 8.6 Tackles For Loss per game (fifth in nation).
2012 Week 6 College Football Betting Lines:
Washington +24 Oregon Bet Now
LSU -2.5 Florida Bet Now
Georgia +2 South Carolina Bet Now
West Virginia +6.5 Texas Bet Now
Miami (FL) +13 Notre Dame Bet Now
Nebraska +3 Ohio State Bet Now
Georgia Tech +10 Clemson Bet Now
Oklahoma -4.5 Texas Tech Bet Now
Arizona +8.5 Stanford Bet Now
Northwestern +3 Penn State Bet Now
Miller injured his ankle in the third quarter of last year’s meeting with Nebraska, and was unable to help his team avoid the 28-0 game-ending run for the Huskers. Miller had 186 total yards and a touchdown before he exited the game. RB Carlos Hyde had missed the previous two games with a knee sprain, but he ran hard in his return last week with 49 yards on 11 carries. He also had the best game of his career against Nebraska last season, rushing for 104 yards and two touchdowns. With both Jordan Hall (knee) and Warren Ball (foot) out indefinitely, Hyde will likely have a larger workload moving forward. Miller has thrown for 8 TD and 3 INT so far, relying mostly on WRs Devin Smith and Corey Brown, who have combined for 668 receiving yards and 5 TD. On the defensive side of the ball, OSU’s pass defense has been burned by big plays all year. For the season, the Buckeyes rank 94th in the nation with 276 passing YPG allowed. The team has been pretty tough against the run though, allowing just 101 YPG (19th in nation).
Carrie Stroup, Senior Reporter
