Ohio State’s trip to USC on Halloween night is already sitting in a tight betting window, even with the Buckeyes expected to start a first-time quarterback.
The Buckeyes opened as 7.5-point favorites in August, and that number has settled at 6.5 points on DraftKings and FanDuel ahead of next weekend’s top-16 matchup in Los Angeles. Julian Sayin’s injury didn’t shift the line much in USC’s direction.
Both teams enter the game at 6-1, but the records against the spread tell a different story. Ohio State is 5-2 ATS overall, though the Buckeyes are 0-3 ATS on the road and just 2-2 ATS as favorites. Since Big Ten play began, they’ve covered twice in four games.
USC has been far less reliable for bettors at 2-5 ATS. The Trojans are 1-4 ATS at home and 1-3 ATS in conference play, even after covering in their Oct. 10 win at Penn State. Before that, USC had failed to cover in four straight games.
The total is also hovering in a narrow range, with DraftKings listing 53.5 and FanDuel at 54.5.
On the over-under side, Ohio State has gone over in four of seven games this season, but all three of its road games have gone under. The Buckeyes have stayed under in two of their last three and are 2-2 in Big Ten games on the total.
USC has matched that four-over mark in seven games, including 3-2 at home. The Trojans are also 2-2 on the total in conference play, and their last two games have both finished under.
The schedule gives each team a different path into the game. Ohio State has an off week before heading west, while USC plays at Wisconsin this weekend as a three-point favorite over the Badgers.
History in Los Angeles has leaned toward USC. Ohio State is 2-5-1 all-time at USC, with its only wins in Southern California coming in 1941 and 1946. The Buckeyes have lost their last four trips to Los Angeles and are chasing their first win at USC in 80 years.
The game is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 31, with NBC carrying the broadcast.
In Other News...
Ohio State's 2027 QB Battle Suddenly Looks More Complicated
Julian Sayins elbow injury adds an unexpected layer to Ohio States quarterback picture, and not just for the immediate season. The Buckeyes starter is expected to be out indefinitely, which naturally shifts attention to how the program will sort out the position beyond this year, when a new competition could already be taking shape.
Luke Fahey, five-star prospect Tavien St. Clair and possible transfer quarterbacks all sit in the mix for 2027, but Sayins injury also makes his own future harder to read. A path that once seemed pointed toward the 2027 NFL draft now looks far less certain, and Ohio State suddenly has a quarterback situation that feels more crowded, and more unsettled, than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Running Back Board Is Nearing A Huge Recruiting Test
Ohio States work on the 2027 class is already starting to take shape, and the running back board is one of the most interesting parts of it. Jordan Hall and Tranard Roberts both remain key targets, with commitment decision dates approaching, while the staff has also gotten involved with Kingston Allen, a current Wisconsin commit, as it looks to keep building depth at the position for the future.
The Buckeyes are not limiting their attention to one cycle, either. Ohio State has also continued pursuing offensive lineman Ty Winn from the 2028 class, a sign that the staff is staying aggressive on multiple fronts while several recruiting choices loom. With a handful of decisions expected soon, this stretch could go a long way toward showing how the Buckeyes want to shape the offensive board going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Risky Quarterback Choice In Its Title Push
Ohio State is suddenly in a delicate spot at the most important time of the season, with Julian Sayin sidelined and the Buckeyes putting the next week into a quarterback competition to sort out who should guide the offense. Freshman Luke Fahey, who has been the primary backup, got the call in the recent game, and the staff is now weighing whether he is the best fit to keep the unit steady as the title push continues.
Tavien St. Clair remains in the mix as well, which gives the Buckeyes options but also adds another layer of pressure to a decision they cannot afford to get wrong. For a team with championship hopes, this is not just about filling a vacancy for one game - it is about finding the right answer at quarterback before the season demands it. [Read more 🡒]