Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) is pushed out of bounds by Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Elliot Washington II (9) during an NCAA football game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The Penn State Nittany Lions (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten) and the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0) meet Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET (FOX). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NCAA football odds around the Penn State vs. Ohio State odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.

Things haven't gone according to plan for Penn State this season. It started out with playoff aspirations, a star in QB Drew Allar and a high-profile coach in James Franklin. Well, Allar suffered a lower-leg injury against Northwestern Oct. 11, and Franklin was dismissed after the home loss to the Wildcats. Interim coach Terry Smith is guiding the team now.

Penn State has lost 4 in a row, recently falling 25-24 at Iowa last week as a 3-point underdog with the Over (41.5) cashing. QB Ethan Grunkemeyer (15-of-28) was terrible, throwing for just 93 yards and getting picked off twice, but RB Kaytron Allen was superb, rolling up 145 rushing yards and 2 scores.

It was the first cover of the season in 7 tries for the Nittany Lions. Penn State has been involved in 4 consecutive 1-score games, all losses, including 2 outright setbacks as a favorite of 21 or more points --against Northwestern and at UCLA (Oct. 4).

Ohio State is coming off a bye after rolling Wisconsin 34-0 Oct. 18, covering as a 25-point road favorite with the Under (41.5) cashing. QB Julian Sayin (36-of-42) threw for 393 yards and 4 TDs, while WR Carnell Tate posted 6 grabs for 111 yards and 2 scores. The Buckeyes are 6-0-1 against the spread (ATS), with the Under 5-1 in 6 meetings vs. FBS opponents. The defense has allowed just 41 points in 7 games for a nation's-best 5.8 points per game allowed.

Ohio State has won the last 8 in the series, but Penn State covered the spread in 5 of those.

– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports

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Penn State at Ohio State odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:13 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Penn State +750 (bet $100 to win $750) | Ohio State -1200 (bet $1,200 to win $100)
  • Against the spread: Penn State +18.5 (-115) | Ohio State -18.5 (-105)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 44.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Penn State at Ohio State picks and predictions

Prediction

Ohio State 34, Penn State 10

Moneyline

Ohio State (-1200) is way too expensive, costing 12 times the potential return. In other words, you must risk $100 for every $8.33 won. That's an insane amount of risk, even for the No. 1 team in the country.

PASS and look to the spread instead.

Against the spread

OHIO STATE -18.5 (-105) is worth a look. It is home after 2 weeks of preparation, and its defense isn't going to give up much to Penn State. Grunkemeyer has been abysmal in the passing game. If the Nittany Lions do anything, it will be thanks to the rushing exploits of Allen.

But facing OSU's suffocating defense is much different than facing the likes of Northwestern and UCLA. Allen isn't going to hit his 6.2 yards per carry season average, and he represents Penn State's only hope.

Over/Under

UNDER 44.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

The Penn State offense should struggle against Ohio State's stingy defense, especially in the Horseshoe. The Buckeyes have allowed 9 or fewer points in 6 of 7 games, and just 19 total points in 4 home games, including a season-opening 14-7 victory over then No. 1 Texas.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio State Buckeyes odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Daniel Dobish, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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