Schedule Analysis: Ohio State

Games in which Ohio State will be heavily favored:

Miami (OH)

Central Florida

Cal

@UAB

@Indiana

Purdue

@Penn State

Illinois

Games in which Ohio State will be a heavy underdog:

None

Favorable matchup games:

Nebraska

Michigan

Unfavorable matchup games:

@Michigan State

@Wisconsin

Summary:

Vegas has set the over/under win total for the Buckeyes at 9.  If I were a gambler I would stuff a Brinks truck full of cash and drive it to Sin City to bet the over on the Buckeyes.  Urban Meyer seems extra motivated to reclaim his status as one of the nation’s elite coaches.  Ohio State isn’t going to hover around .500 like they did last year.  This team still has the best athletes in the conference, a rejuvenated coach, and a talented quarterback playing in the perfect system to suit his talents.   Outside of trips to Madison and East Lansing the schedule is relatively easy, at least by Big Ten standards.  The Leaders division looks like the MAC East.  Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, and now Penn State are below average teams and don’t think for a second that Meyer (aka The Pontiff) is going to take it easy on them.  I also don’t see Meyer taking an aw shucks approach to the Michigan game.  I anticipate him wanting to completely embarrass Brady Hoke and the maize and blue in The Shoe.  I definitely give the edge to Ohio State this year in that rivalry.   

Prediction: 10-2