Ohio State vs Illinois College Football Picks: On Saturday (Oct. 2) we should get a pretty good idea of how good No. 2 ranked Ohio State really is when they take to the road for the first time this season to play a football game with the Fighting Illini of Illinois at Champaign, Ill., in the BIG TEN opener for both schools. The Buckeyes are 4-0 SU this season and have covered the usually large betting spreads by steamrolling their opposition. However, it will be interesting to see how they fare as road favorites versus the Illini who are 2-1 this season SU and 1-1 against the betting spread. This game is set for a Noon ET kickoff and will be televised on BTN. Ohio State leads the series with Illinois by 62-30-4. Last year in Columbus the Buckeyes skunked the Illini by the score of 30-0.
College football oddsmakers at BetUS.com list the Buckeyes as 16 1/2-chalk road favorites in this game with a 50-point OVER/UNDER totalThe Buckeyes are led offensively by junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Terrelle Pryor. Pryor is a versatile and athletic runner-thrower type who will make it difficult for Illinois to contain. He has rushed 43 times this season for 269 yards and has scored three rushing touchdowns. Pryor is also very good at throwing the ball and has shown it in four games completing 71 of 107 passes for 939 yards and four touchdowns. Ohio States leading receiver is Dane Sanzenbacher who has hauled in 20 receptions for 316 yards and five touchdowns.
Illinois has gone to great lengths to improve its offense that struggled greatly in 2009. Coach Ron Zook brought in offensive guru Paul Petrino to coordinate the offense. Petrino is brother to Bobby Petrino, head coach at Arkansas. Previously Petrino served as offensive coordinator for the Razorbacks.
Leading the Illinois offense on the field is quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase who has completed 31 of 57 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns. The Illini have been better at running the ball with Mikel Leshoure leading the way with 58 rushes for 398 yards and three touchdowns.
Ohio State has looked almost unstoppable in 2010 and I don't see where Illinois has the manpower to stop them either. I expect the Buckeyes to be big winners today regardless of the venue. I like OSU by -16 1/2.
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