We return with our first prop bets of the 2024 season.
Patrick Murphy
Ohio State's 2024 college football season is here. The second-ranked Buckeyes are set to take the field on Saturday for the first time since late December, welcoming in-state opponent Akron to Ohio Stadium.
For the Scarlet and Gray, the season opener is just the next step in a long journey that began after the disappointing loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. The Ohio State players and coaches have not shied away from high expectations, both internally and externally, this year, as the Buckeyes have one of the country's most talented teams and are right to think this could be their season to win it all.
However, we're far from the Scarlet and Gray winning a championship (or two). This week, Bucknuts is focused on the Zips coming to town and what to expect from Ohio State on Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium. We've already given our predictions, but how about some prop bets?
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As we did last season, members of the Bucknuts staff will tackle some prop bets for that week's game. We'll keep track of winners and losers in each bet as part of a friendly competition. Last season, Dave Biddle won with a 52-31-1 record. Steve Helwagen came in second, going 49-34-1. Patrick Murphy brought up the rear with a 42-40-1 record.
Let's see how things go this season.
FIRST HALF SPREAD: OHIO STATE -30.5
Biddle: Over. Barely over, but over.
Helwagen:Cover. Ohio State will be up by five touchdowns -- give or take -- by halftime. I don't have much doubt about that.
Murphy:I would say the Buckeyes narrowly cover this first half spread. If they don't, Ryan Day will keep the starters in well into the third quarter and that's not how this game should go.
LARGEST LEAD OF THE GAME: OVER/UNDER 49.5
Biddle:Over. I have Ohio Statecovering thespread, so I will take the over.
Helwagen:Over. I have the Buckeyes winning 62-7
Murphy:Over. As I've said a few times this week, I feel bad for whoever is Ohio State's Week 1 opponent. It doesn't matter who the Buckeyes play.
AKRON TOTAL POINTS: OVER/UNDER 3.5
Biddle:Over. I, for some reason, have the Zips scoring 7 points on what couldbe thebest defense in the land.
Helwagen:Over. I have the Zips somehow some way finding their way into the end zone at least one time.
Murphy:Over. I have Akron scoring six points. Maybe one of those field goals will get blocked and the Silver Bullets will be under.
JEREMIAH SMITH RECEPTIONS: OVER/UNDER 5.5
Biddle:Under. I'll say he gets four or five, but not six or more.
Helwagen:Over. There is no reason to take Jeremiah Smith off the field until he gets his feet fully wet ... and that means something like eight or 10 targets and seven catches.
Murphy:Over. It took me a while to trust a freshman would make an impact, but I'm on the hype train now. Why not feed Jeremiah Smit in his first game?
OHIO STATE FORCED TURNOVERS: OVER/UNDER 1.5
Biddle:Over. Seems a bit risky, but I'll say the Silver Bullets get two turnovers or more.
Helwagen:Over. Ohio State was not a good turnover team on defense last year. But I think they get at least two, maybe more in this one.
Murphy:Over. I've heard all offseason how this Buckeye defense wants more turnovers. I saw them do it in the practices we watched. Get out there and force at least two in this game.
QUINSHON JUDKINS CARRIES: OVER/UNDER 14.5
Biddle:Under. Quinshon Judkins will rest most of the second half, in theory.
Helwagen:Under. There is no reason to overuse Quinshon Judkins or TreVeyon Henderson in this game against this opponent. I put the sweet spot for both of them at under 15 carries. I think James Peoples, Sam Williams-Dixon and Rashid Sesay should buckle up their chin straps and get ready to go.
Murphy:Under, but just barely. Quinshon Judkins has had fewer than 15 carries in his career just six times. I think the Buckeyes plan to use both Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, but he'll probably be on the bench before he reaches 15 rushes.
JACK SAWYER SACKS: OVER/UNDER 15.
Biddle:Under. A multiple sack day in the opener would be great, but I'll take "just" one.
Helwagen:Oh boy. I think they get four or five of them for the game. But to say Jack Sawyer will get two, that's a hard one to predict. I'll say Under and he gets one of those four or five.
Murphy:Over. Jack Sawyer ended last season with one sack in each of the final two games of the regular season and then had three in the Cotton Bowl. I'll say the newly-named captain picks up where he left off and gets to the quarterback twice.
OHIO STATE TOTAL POINTS: OVER/UNDER 48.5
Biddle:Over. By a decent amount. They're definitely getting in the 50s in my opinion. The question is how many points above that.
Helwagen:Over, well over. I have the Buckeyes going for a cool 62 as the Will Howard era gets underway in a big way.
Murphy:I've got the Buckeyes scoring 62, so I think they will hit the over pretty easily. Fans will not want this offense to have issues against Akron.
