Ohio State Betting Preview – Seriously Tough Schedule for the Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes have won or shared the past four Big Ten Titles, and this year could bring a fifth as Ohio State again returns one of the most talented teams in the conference.

Terrelle Pryor is back at QB as a sophomore after doing well for a freshman starter last year. There is even some people predicting to be the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year despite still being unpolished as a passer.

Pryor showed some serious Vince Young-type potential in his freshman year and he was pretty much the only guy who seemed capable of making plays last season against USC in the Buckeyes’ blowout loss.

Pryor and company are +150 to win the Big Ten this year in the Sportsbook and are the team of choice for bettors looking to wager on the Big Ten winner in 2009.

The Buckeyes will definitely be in the mix for a Big Ten title as long as Pryor and Jim Tressel are calling the shots, and Pryor has a young-but-talent receiving corps to throw the ball to as well.

Running back is a little more of a question although Daniel “Boom” Herron has shown flashes and freshman Jamaal Berry could take over and have a fairly big year as well.

Michigan transfer Justin Boren will aid the running game in a big way at guard and also add some nastiness to the OSU offensive line in need of such help.

The defensive line is stacked and goes two-deep at every position but the linebackers are a bit of a question mark by OSU standards.

Then there’s the secondary, which should be a strength in 2009.

Add it all up and OSU has a great chance to win the Big Ten. But while the Buckeyes will be in the race until the end, a tough game at Happy Valley on November 7 will probably decide it, and Penn State is the likely favorite in that contest.

The Buckeyes’ schedule also seems a bit tougher than in past years with a tough opener from a style standpoint at Navy to start and then a much tougher game against a totally different opponent in USC the following week.

The end-of-season run of @PSU, Iowa, and @Michigan is going to be grueling, and OSU nemeses Wisconsin and Illinois are both on the schedule in the middle of the year.

OSU has +1000 odds to win the BCS Title this year, but that seems like a tall order. Expect OSU to make it to a New Year’s Day bowl game for sure in 2009, maybe a BCS game, but with USC and Penn State looming as large threats, the Buckeyes most likely won’t win it all this year. A Big Ten Title is realistic possibility, but the pick here is that Penn State will win it this year due to their superior experience.

Regardless, it should be another fun year in Columbus for one of college football’s most consistent programs as they should notch another 10-win season.