2018 Week 5 College Football Picks & Predictions – #4 Ohio State @ #9 Penn State Odds & Free Pick 9/29/18

2018 Week 5 College Football Picks & Predictions – #4 Ohio State @ #9 Penn State Odds & Free Pick 9/29/18: The 4th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes go on the road to Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA for a week 5 Big Ten College Football showdown against the 9th ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM EST on Saturday, September 29th in what could determine who wins the Big Ten East Division this season. The odds makers at Bovada Sportsbook have installed Ohio State as a -3.5 point favorite with the game betting total listed at over/under 66.5 points. Let’s take a closer look at this premier week 5 College Football betting matchup and release one of our free college football picks to place a bet on.

2018 Week 5 College Football Picks & Predictions – #4 Ohio State @ #9 Penn State Odds & Free Pick 9/29/18

Game: #4 Ohio State @ #9 Penn State
Line: Ohio State -3.5 at Bovada Sportsbook
Total: Over/Under 66.5
Where: Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Date: Saturday, September 29th, 2018

The 4th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes enter this week with a 4-0 overall record and 3-1 against the spread. The Buckeyes thoroughly dismantled an overmatched Tulane team last Saturday to the tune of 49-6 to cover the -37.5 spread. The win marked the return of head coach Urban Meyer who sat out the first three games after getting a bogus suspension for something his former assistant coach allegedly did.

The Buckeyes have been clicking on all cylinders offensively so far this season big time. The unit comes in averaging 599.5 yards per game and 7.6 yards per play thru it’s first four games. The offense put up 42 points in the first half last week before Meyer called off the dogs in the 2nd half and let the reserves finish out the game. The unit has simply been unstoppable so far this season and the odds makers know it which is why the total for this game is set so high at 66.5 points.

The defense for Ohio State has been solid but not great so far. The unit did allow 28 points to TCU and 31 points to Oregon State this season and can play much better. However, they will have to do so without arguably the most talented defensive player in the nation in junior defensive end Nick Bosa who should be a top 5 NFL draft pick in the upcoming draft. Bosa is out several weeks after getting stomach surgery after the TCU game.

The 9th ranked Penn State Nittany Lions also come into this week’s showdown with a 4-0 overall record and 3-1 against the spread. The Nittany Lions flexed their muscle last Friday in a 63-24 win at Illinois that saw them run off 42 unanswered points to close out the game after trailing 24-21 in the 3rd quarter.

Head coach James Franklin is flat out getting things done in rebuilding this Penn State football program. Franklin is now 40-17 overall in his 5th season in Happy Valley and he has one of his most explosive teams yet this season. The offense is averaging 514.5 yards per game and 7.2 yards per play this season. The unit has scored 45, 51, 63 and 63 points in it’s four games so far.

The Penn State defense is playing good but far from the dominant unit it was last season. The unit is allowing 345.8 yards per game and did give up 38 points to Appalachian State at home in it’s season opener. They will have to create some turnovers and get some sacks to get Ohio State off the field this week.

Look for this game to be hotly contested and close throughout. These two teams split the last two seasons with Penn State winning 24-21 at home 2 years ago and Ohio State winning 39-38 in Columbus last year. Look for another barn burner. Take the points.

#4 Ohio State @ #9 Penn State Free Pick and Score Prediction: Penn St to cover as a +3.5 point underdog.

Bet on week 3 College Football action at Bovada Sportsbook