Early odds set for six Ohio State games in 2023
Ohio State's 2023 schedule won't be easy sledding. The Buckeyes face one of their more difficult regular season slates in some time as they look to get back to the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time in three years and reclaim their crown as the best team in the conference over rivals Michigan, not to mention a potential College Football Playoff return.
In order to do this, however, the Scarlet and Gray will have to navigate the waters of the 12-game schedule. This week, we began to see odds for some of those matchups released by various sportsbooks. As this is the first year that sports betting is legal in Ohio for the college football season, Bucknuts thought our readers might be interested in what the early odds are for some of these games.
Below are the odds that have been released in the order in which they appear on the schedule.
AT INDIANA: OHIO STATE -28
The Buckeyes open the 2023 regular season on the road in Bloomington, taking on the Hoosiers. This marks the second time in three years that the Scarlet and Gray have started the season with a Big Ten opponent on the road. The last time, a road trip to Minneosta, resulted in a 14-point win but one that saw the visitors losing at halftime.
Like in that trip to Minneapolis two seasons ago, Ohio State will have a first-time starting quarterback in this game in either Kyle McCord or Devin Brown. Despite this, the oddsmakers at DraftKings see the Buckeyes as 28-point favorites on the road.
The Scarlet and Gray haven't lost to Indiana since 1988 and, with the exception of the 2015 and 2020 games, have won big nearly every time. If DraftKings is correct, the opening weekend should be a good start to the year for Ohio State.
AT NOTRE DAME: OHIO STATE -8.5
Last season, the Fighting Irish came to Ohio Stadium in Week 1 and left with a 21-10 loss. Notre Dame will look for revenge against the Buckeyes in the second leg of this home-and-home series in South Bend in late September.
Both teams are going to look different than they did a year ago after the departures of key players, including either team's starting quarterback. Yet there is confidence on either side of the fanbases that their team will get the job done in one of the marquee matchups of the season.
The oddsmakers at FanDuel are on the side of the Scarlet and Gray, naming Ohio State as an 8.5-point favorite on the road. There is a belief in what Ryan Day and his team have built in this program to overcome losses, while Marcus Freeman is still proving himself as he enters his second season as a head coach.
PENN STATE: OHIO STATE -10.5
Last season at Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions had the undefeated Buckeyes on the ropes with a five-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Scarlet and Gray rallied, however, to leave State College with a 44-31 win, a sixth straight victory in this division rivalry.
Penn State could be the biggest challenger of the year to come into the Horseshoe. In addition to two talented sophomore running backs, there is a belief that James Franklin has finally found his quarterback in Ohio native Drew Allar.
The Nittany Lions haven't won in Columbus since 2011 and the oddsmakers at both FanDuel and DraftKings don't believe that will change this season as Ohio State is a 10.5-point favorite over Penn State for the Oct. 21 meeting.
AT WISCONSIN: OHIO STATE -10
Ohio State and Wisconsin met for just the second time in the regular season since 2016 last year when the Badgers came to Ohio Stadium. The game wasn't much of a contest as the Buckeyes got out to a 28-point lead in the second quarter and never looked back, leading to a comfortable 52-21 win.
This offseason, Wisconsin hired former Scarlet and Gray player, assistant and head coach Luke Fickell to take over the program after six successful seasons at Cincinnati. This game provides a chance for Fickell to get a statement win in his first year in charge in Madison and do it in front of the home fans.
However, the oddsmakers at DraftKings don't believe there will be too much jumping around at Camp Randall Stadium, naming Ohio State a 10-point favorite in this late-October cross-division battle.
AT MICHIGAN: OHIO STATE +1/+2.5
The annual rivalry game between Ohio State and Michigan will once again take place on the final weekend of the regular season, this time in Ann Arbor. After dominating this series for 10 years, the Buckeyes have lost the last two games to the Wolverines. Both of these games, it could be argued, were closer than the final score reflects but the Maize and Blue have two consecutive blowout victories.
While the oddsmakers believe this year's game will be closer than either of the last two, both FanDuel and DraftKings like Michigan to win in 2023. FanDuel has the Wolverines favored by one point, while DraftKings believes the Scarlet and Gray are 2.5-point underdogs on the road in a game that could once again decides who wins the Big Ten East and heads to Indianapolis the next weekend for the conference championship game.
A very talented group of players that included multiple Ohio State offers as well as a number of others on the Buckeyes’ radar screen were at Fairfield High School working out on Monday at the greater Cincinnati area 7-on-7 and Big Man Challenge. Bucknuts was on hand covering the event
Three Ohio State offers were working out, cornerback Terhyon Nichols, 2025 linebacker Justin Hill and 2026 wide receiver Chris Henry. Also working out was 2025 defensive back Jai'mier Scott who is very much on the Buckeyes’ radar screen.
Be sure to enjoy VIP access to Bucknuts.com withour 7-day Free trial offer.
Here are some video clips of Nichols, Hill, Henry and Scott in action on Monday.
