Penn State football: Ohio State odds, injury report, & predictions

Penn State football will look to snap a seven-game losing streak against Ohio State on Saturday in Happy Valley when the Buckeyes roll into town for the first top-five matchup in Beaver Stadium since 1999. Significant injury concerns surround both programs this week, adding another layer to a dramatic storyline in the race for the Big Ten title and College Football Playoff.

Who does Vegas believe has the edge coming into the week, and what ultimately do we think will be the outcome of Saturday’s monumental clash in State College?

Injury report

Penn State:

Penn State football players out indefinitely with “significant” or “long-term” injuries:

• KJ Winston, S
• Andrew Rappleyea, TE
• Keon Wylie, LB
• Zuriah Fisher, DE
• Cam Wallace, RB

Penn State football players listed on the program’s Week 9 injury report. Please note that the Big Ten requires updated availability reports to be released two hours before kickoff:

• Kaden Saunders, WR
• Quinton Martin Jr., RB
• Mehki Flowers, WR
• Jake Spencer, WR

Of course, the Nittany Lions suffered several notable injuries in last Saturday’s win over Wisconsin. Starting quarterback Drew Allar was a full participant at practice during Wednesday’s media viewing session but remains a “game-time” decision, according to James Franklin. Similarly, starting right tackle Anthony Donkoh, who has been battling injury for the better part of the last month, was also seen at practice.

On the defensive side of the ball, edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton was absent from the mid-week media viewing window. Like Allar, Dennis-Sutton suffered an injury near the end of the first half last Saturday night in Madison.

Ohio State:

The following players were listed on the Ohio State injury report for Week 9:

• Aaron Scott Jr.
• Lathan Ransom
• TC Caffey
• Josh Simmons
• Reis Stocksdale
• Will Kacmarek

In Columbus, Ryan Day expressed optimism about starting safety Lathan Ransom’s status on Saturday. Across the line of scrimmage, left tackle Zen Michalski, hurt last week while replacing injured starter Josh Simmons, is trending towards not playing, the Buckeyes head coach said Wednesday.

Betting Odds (all via DraftKings Sportsbook):

Spread: Penn State (+3) vs. Ohio State

As of Friday morning, Penn State is a three-point underdog against Ohio State. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are both 3-4 against the spread this season.

Moneyline: Penn State football +136

Placing a $100 bet on Penn State to beat Ohio State would pay $136. Ohio State leads the all-time series 25-14. The Buckeyes have won seven in a row and 11 of the past 12 matchups.

The last Penn State victory came in 2016 when the Nittany Lions won 24-21 in Beaver Stadium. Ohio State leads the series 10-6 in games played in State College.

Game total: over/under 46.5

The total has gone under in five of Penn State’s seven games this season. The total has gone under in four of Ohio State’s seven games this season.

Penn State vs. Ohio State game predictions: (9-5)

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

It seems that Penn State football fans circle and dread this game every season. Ohio State has dominated the series since 2012, winning 11 of the past 12 games. It is hard to believe that this series was once split or even a Nittany Lions advantage over 25 years ago, as it has been all Buckeyes in recent memory.

James Franklin has often been criticized for getting Penn State to a competitive level but has been unable to elevate the Nittany Lions to the top by beating National Championship contenders like Ohio State and Michigan. Undefeated and ranked No. 3, Franklin gets the opportunity yet again on Saturday.

This game is a little bit tricky, but once again winnable. The Buckeyes have only one loss this season, and it came by a single point to Oregon, now the No. 1 team in the country. Some seem to smell blood in the water, given this is supposedly a $20 million roster that has been put together with NIL funds. Add in the injury issues plaguing the Buckeyes this week, and now feels like as good of a year as any for James Franklin to deliver on his promise of becoming elite.

That being said, every year Penn State seems to get close without being able to get the job done. Last season, the Ohio State offense was anemic outside Marvin Harrison Jr., who took over the game. Whether it be Drew Allar or Beau Pribula, the Nittany Lions offense will once again have to face an elite defense, an obstacle it could not overcome in 2023.

While I don’t feel great about it, I’m going to take Penn State +3.5 in this one. I think the Nittany Lions can get the outright win, but I could also see it coming down to a field-goal loss. I think the under hits and Penn State wins in a grind-it-out, low-scoring affair like last season, where both defenses prove why they are two of the best in the country.

Prediction: Penn State 21 – Ohio State 17

Big Ten bet of the week (3-4)

Minnesota vs. No. 24 Illinois (U45.5), 12:00 p.m., FS1

We got back in the win column last weekend thanks to Indiana remaining undefeated and easily taking care of Washington.

This week, we will turn to the total of the Minnesota-Illinois game. Against totals this season, Minnesota is 2-5, and Illinois is 3-4. Neither offense is particularly explosive, and this seems like your typical Big Ten grind-it-out matchup. This will be a crucial game for both teams as they look to finish in the top half of the conference.

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