Ohio State (2-0) vs TCU (2-0)
When: Saturday, September 15th 2018
Where: AT&T Stadium,
Arlington, Texas
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Ohio State -8.5/56
The Texas Christian Horned Frogs, under the leadership of Gary Patterson, have been a solid football program this decade, but are still trying to elevate to the elite level. They have a chance to make a big statement against a team already at the highest level on Saturday night when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in Arlington, Texas. The Horned Frogs have allowed just 19 points in their two ‘warm-up’ games, beating Southern and SMU handily, but will be tested by a potent Ohio State offense. Interim coach Ryan Day will again lead the Buckeyes Saturday as head coach Urban Meyer completes a three-game suspension related to his handling of domestic abuse allegations against recently fired assistant Zach Smith. Ohio State’s offense has been clicking on all cylinders by averaging 64.5 points in two wins against Oregon State and Rutgers. Ohio State leads the all-time series 4-1-1, but the last meeting was in 1973.
Sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins has looked good against the overmatched Beavers and Scarlet Knights, completing 79.2 percent of his passes in his first two college starts, while recording 546 yards and nine touchdowns against one interception. The Buckeyes can also move the ball on the ground behind junior Mike Weber (217 yards, three touchdowns) and sophomore J.K. Dobbins (147 yards, one score), giving the team the nation’s 12th-best rushing attack (301.0). Ohio State has found a big-play receiver in Terry McLaurin, who is averaging 34.4 yards per catch and has scored on three of his five receptions. Junior defensive end Nick Bosa leads the defensive unit with five tackles for loss (including three sacks) while junior defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones and sophomore defensive end Chase Young have two sacks apiece.
TCU has some playmakers of their own including senior receiver KaVontae Turpin, who set school records for career punt return touchdowns (four) and total return scores (five) when he brought one back 78 yards against SMU in last week’s 42-12 triumph. He’s also contributing at his natural position with eight receptions, 111 yards, and one touchdown this season. Sophomore quarterback Shawn Robinson has thrown for 336 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, while also being the team’s leading rusher with 112 yards and three scores. The defense is led by sophomore defensive tackle Corey Bethley, who boasts three sacks and senior linebacker Ty Summers. Senior linebacker Alec Dunham returned a fumble 25 yards for a score against SMU.
The Buckeyes are more talented top to bottom, but this is a very well coached TCU team, who seems to play up to their competition. TCU has been a double-digit dog four times since Patterson arrived, and have covered each one including an outright win. TCU’s defense is just good enough to slow down Ohio State enough to keep this close.
Pick: TCU +12.5
Betting Trends:
- Buckeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Buckeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
- Buckeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games on fieldturf.
- Buckeyes are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games.
- Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Buckeyes are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. Big 12.
- Buckeyes are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Horned Frogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on fieldturf.
- Horned Frogs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
- Horned Frogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Horned Frogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Horned Frogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten.
- Horned Frogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
- Horned Frogs are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 neutral site games.
- Horned Frogs are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Horned Frogs are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.
- Horned Frogs are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 7-0 in Buckeyes last 7 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Buckeyes last 5 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 7-1 in Buckeyes last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
- Over is 6-1 in Buckeyes last 7 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Buckeyes last 7 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Buckeyes last 7 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 13-3 in Buckeyes last 16 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Buckeyes last 5 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Buckeyes last 5 neutral site games.
- Under is 4-1 in Buckeyes last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 8-3 in Buckeyes last 11 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 7-3 in Buckeyes last 10 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 9-4 in Buckeyes last 13 games overall.
- Over is 9-4 in Buckeyes last 13 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 4-0 in Horned Frogs last 4 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 4-0 in Horned Frogs last 4 vs. Big Ten.
- Under is 4-0 in Horned Frogs last 4 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Horned Frogs last 5 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 7-1 in Horned Frogs last 8 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 5-1 in Horned Frogs last 6 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Horned Frogs last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Horned Frogs last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 9-3 in Horned Frogs last 12 games overall.
- Under is 6-2 in Horned Frogs last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
- Under is 6-2 in Horned Frogs last 8 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Horned Frogs last 7 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 9-4 in Horned Frogs last 13 non-conference games.
- Over is 9-4 in Horned Frogs last 13 games in September.
