College Football Week 10: Early Prediction, Picks & Odds for Ohio State vs Penn State

• #4 Ohio State is a 4-point road favorite over #3 Penn State in Week 10 college football action on Saturday, November 2
• Penn State star QB Drew Allar’s status is unknown due to a knee injury
• Check out the Ohio State vs Penn State early prediction, pick and odds below

It’s been eight long years since #3 Penn State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) defeated #4 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1). This season, it looked like the stars might finally align for the Nittany Lions to snap their losing streak, but then their star quarterback got hurt. With Drew Allar’s status for Saturday’s showdown with the Buckeyes up in the air, online sportsbooks had no choice but to give peg Ohio State the favorite in the Week 10 college football odds. The problem is, they didn’t make the line high enough.

Ohio State vs Penn State Odds

The Buckeyes opened as 3-point favorites, but that number didn’t last long. Early Ohio State money immediately moved the line up a point and a half higher, before it settled at -4. Total-wise, the over/under has held firm at its 47.5-point opener, but that number will likely fall if Allar is ruled out during the week. Kickoff for this Big Ten mega-tilt is set for Noon ET at Beaver Stadium, in University Park, PA, with Fox providing the coverage. 

Odds as of October 27 (10 pm ET) at Caesars Sportsbooks. Be sure to check out the best Caesars Sportsbook promos before placing a bet on any Week 10 College Football matchup.

Allar Leaves Early in Week 9

Nittany Lions fans held their breath last Saturday when Allar didn’t take the field for the second half versus Wisconsin. The Heisman Trophy odds longshot suffered an apparent knee injury late in the first half, and head coach James Franklin said Allar wasn’t mobile enough to continue.

Allar threw for 148 yards and a touchdown before exiting, bringing his season-long totals to 1,640 passing yards and 12 TD. He’s a huge reason for Penn State’s high position on the College Football Playoff odds board, but credit the Nittany Lions for persevering without him.

With Allar sidelined, sophomore Beau Pribula led an impressive comeback against the Badgers. He engineered back-to-back touchdown drives to erase a halftime deficit, helping Penn State outscore Wisconsin 21-3 over the final two quarters.

His performance was impressive, but it’s important to note he has zero collegiate starts on his resume. It’s also worth mentioning the Badgers defense is not on the same level as Ohio State’s. The Buckeyes are the top rated defense per SP+, allowing only 11.9 points per game.

Buckeyes Survive Let Down Spot

Ohio State meanwhile, narrowly avoided an upset at the hands of Nebraska. The Buckeyes needed a game-sealing interception in the final minute to prevent their first home loss to an unranked team in 10 years.

Ryan Day’s team was just a week removed from a heartbreaking one point defeat to #1 Oregon, and weren’t particularly sharp against inferior competition. The ground game produced only 64 yards, while Will Howard managed just 221 yards through the air.

Jeremiah Smith is continuing to put up numbers this season 🔥

Freshman phenom 😤 pic.twitter.com/RURuEFYHZG

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 27, 2024

Howard did throw for three touchdowns however, including a 60-yard strike to Jeremiah Smith. It was the freshman’s eighth touchdown reception already, tying Chris Carter for the most ever by a Buckeye in their first year.

Ohio State vs Penn State Early Prediction

The victory over the Cornhuskers kept Ohio State’s Big Ten title hopes alive, but they’re still looking for a signature win. All three schools ranked above them have played a tougher schedule, and a win over Penn-State without their starting quarterback would carry an asterix.

Penn State on the other hand, has a victory over a top-20 Illinois team, and a road win at USC. They have one of the best defenses in the nation, but can Pribula lead them to enough points if Allar sits?

For what it’s worth, Ohio State grades out higher than the Nittany Lions with or without Allar. The Buckeyes have better offensive metrics in nearly every category, and stronger defensive numbers as well. They allow fewer points and yards per play, and are one of the only defenses to rank top-nine against the run and the pass.

Ohio State vs Penn State – Last 5 Matchups

History is also on Ohio State’s side. They’ve won seven straight meetings dating back to 2017, and 11 of the last 12 matchups overall. A Franklin coached team has beaten the Buckeyes only once in 10 tries, and only one of the nine losses was by fewer than eight points.

If you like Ohio State act now. If Allar’s ruled out this line will move further in the Buckeyes favor. If he plays, he’ll likely be operating at less than 100%, which is not a recipe for success against a desperate, more talented Buckeyes squad.

• Pick: Ohio State -4 (-110)

In what is sure to be one of the most highly anticipated matchups of college football Week 10, the Ohio State Buckeyes will face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Both teams are powerhouse programs in the Big Ten conference, and this game is expected to have major implications for the conference standings and potentially the College Football Playoff picture.

Ohio State comes into this game with a perfect 8-0 record, ranked as the number four team in the country. Led by star quarterback Justin Fields, the Buckeyes have been dominant on both sides of the ball this season. Their high-powered offense is averaging over 45 points per game, while their defense has been stingy, allowing just over 10 points per game. Ohio State has looked like a legitimate national championship contender and will be looking to keep their undefeated season alive against Penn State.

On the other side, Penn State is also having a strong season, sitting at 7-1 and ranked as the number 5 team in the nation. The Nittany Lions suffered their first loss of the season last week against Minnesota, but they still have plenty to play for. Quarterback Sean Clifford leads a potent offense that is averaging over 36 points per game, and their defense has been solid as well, allowing just under 14 points per game. Penn State will be looking to bounce back from their loss and make a statement against Ohio State.

In terms of early predictions, this game is shaping up to be a close and competitive matchup. Ohio State is currently favored by around 6.5 points, but Penn State has shown that they are capable of hanging with the top teams in the country. The key for both teams will be controlling the line of scrimmage and making plays on both offense and defense.

Ultimately, this game could come down to which team can make the most big plays and avoid costly mistakes. With so much on the line, expect both teams to come out firing on all cylinders and leave everything on the field. This game has all the makings of a classic Big Ten showdown, and fans can expect an intense and exciting game from start to finish.

As kickoff approaches, college football fans everywhere will be eagerly anticipating this marquee matchup between Ohio State and Penn State. With playoff implications on the line, this game is sure to be one of the highlights of Week 10 in college football. Stay tuned for what promises to be an epic battle between two of the top teams in the country.