A great deal of attention has been focused on the implications for the undefeated Indiana team as they prepare to face Ohio State in a significant top-five matchup on Saturday. However, it’s important not to overlook the stakes involved for the Buckeyes as well.
Ohio State has not secured a Big Ten championship title nor participated in the conference’s title game since 2020, which also marks the last time they qualified for the College Football Playoff. The program has seen its recent seasons hindered by losses to Michigan in their final regular-season matchups. If Indiana were to disrupt Ohio State’s ambitions this year, it would certainly cause an uproar in Columbus.
After suffering a narrow loss to Oregon earlier this season, Ohio State has no room for mistakes in their remaining matchups against teams like Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, and Northwestern. Coach Ryan Day emphasized the significance of these games, stating, “You lose any of those games and you’re out.”
Now, the Buckeyes are set to confront Indiana, a team that has not beaten them since 1988. Nevertheless, this Indiana squad is a different entity than what it used to be. Under the leadership of first-year head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana has the potential to turn their fortunes around dramatically if they can emerge victorious against Ohio State.
Day indicated the eagerness within the team, mentioning that the players are “fired up for this one and know this is a must win for us.” Securing a victory on Saturday would make their next game against Michigan another critical showdown.
Here’s a look at predictions for various FBS matchups featuring teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, alongside betting lines from BetMGM Sportsbook:
No. 5 Indiana (+13.5) faces off against No. 2 Ohio State. This is a crucial moment for Indiana. Except for their most recent game against Michigan, the unbeaten Hoosiers have effectively dealt with a series of unranked opponents. Prediction: Ohio State to win 31-24.
Kentucky visits No. 3 Texas (-20.5). Texas must remain vigilant as they prepare for a key matchup with No. 15 Texas A&M next week. Historically, Kentucky performs strongly against top-10 teams. Prediction: Texas wins 35-10.
No. 4 Penn State (-11.5) is at Minnesota. The weather forecast suggests a cloudy and cold day in the 30s, ideal for Big Ten football in November. Minnesota has struggled to establish their running game, while Penn State excels at halting it. Prediction: Penn State takes it 28-17.
No. 18 Army faces No. 6 Notre Dame (-14.5). The Irish previously disrupted Navy’s unbeaten season, and they’re expected to do something similar against an Army team that has faced a relatively easy schedule. Prediction: Notre Dame 34, Army 19.
No. 7 Alabama (-13.5) visits Oklahoma for the first encounter since Alabama’s playoff semifinal victory in 2018. After recovering from a loss to Tennessee a month ago, the Crimson Tide seem to be back on track. Prediction: Alabama 27-10.
UMass comes to No. 8 Georgia (-42.5). Following the firing of head coach Don Brown, interim coach Shane Montgomery faces a tough initiation against the Bulldogs. Prediction: Georgia rolls to a dominant 52-7 win.
No. 9 Mississippi (-10) takes on Florida. Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart leads the SEC with an impressive 341 passing yards per game, needing just 373 more to eclipse Eli Manning’s career record for the school. Prediction: Mississippi wins 42-21.
UTEP heads to No. 10 Tennessee (-41.5). Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson, who has reached 100 rushing yards in nine games, is poised to showcase his skills once again. Prediction: Tennessee 52, UTEP 6.
Wake Forest (+24.5) is at No. 11 Miami. With a chance to secure a spot in the ACC championship, Miami cannot afford a slip-up here, especially with the Demon Deacons needing a win to keep their bowl hopes alive. Prediction: Miami 41, Wake Forest 20.
No. 12 Boise State (-22.5) visits Wyoming. Ashton Jeanty is just 107 rushing yards away from hitting the 2,000 mark for the season, which could be achievable against a Wyoming defense that has struggled recently. Prediction: Boise State 44, Wyoming 17.
No. 13 SMU (-9.5) faces Virginia. SMU can secure a place in the ACC title game with a win, while Virginia deals with a quarterback situation after benched Anthony Colandrea’s poor performance. Prediction: SMU takes it 37-24.
No. 14 BYU is up against No. 21 Arizona State (-3). Arizona State, projected to finish last in the 16-team Big 12, could take a significant step towards the championship game with a victory against BYU. Prediction: Arizona State 27, BYU 21.
No. 15 Texas A&M (-2.5) visits Auburn. Despite losing 11 of their last 13 road games, Texas A&M is focused on ensuring their path remains clear towards the SEC title game and the College Football Playoff. Prediction: Texas A&M 30, Auburn 23.
No. 16 Colorado (-2.5) hosts Kansas. Both teams are finishing the season strong, but Colorado has the advantage with key players Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Prediction: Colorado wins 36-27.
No. 22 Iowa State visits Utah (+7.5). Despite recent struggles, Utah boasts one of the Big 12’s top defenses, and they have a chance if they can muster a running game against a weak rushing defense. Prediction: Utah 21, Iowa State 17.
No. 23 UNLV (-7.5) at San Jose State. The Rebels are on a record-setting seven-game road winning streak and need to maintain momentum for their Mountain West championship aspirations. Prediction: UNLV wins 33-23.
No. 24 Illinois (-1) is at Rutgers. Illinois seems to have a knack for close games, winning eight one-score games in two seasons. Meanwhile, Rutgers is finally shaking off a midseason slump. Prediction: Illinois takes it 28-24.
No. 25 Washington State (-12.5) faces Oregon State. The two remaining members of the Pac-12 battle for bragging rights following recent losses. Prediction: Washington State wins 38-17.
Reflecting on predictions: Last week, the results were 14 wins and 4 losses straight-up, and 8 wins and 10 losses against the spread. For the season to date, the tallies are 180 wins and 47 losses straight-up, with 114 wins and 112 losses against the spread.