Ohio State Season Preview – Betting Odds – Predictions
Scott Morris | August 24, 2025
This year’s edition of the Ohio State Buckeyes will feature many established players and transfers. But the defending national champions will have to attempt to repeat without some very instrumental players QB Will Howard, WRs Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming, RB TreVeyon Henderson, and DB Denzel Burke.
In all, Ohio State has lost 14 players to the NFL draft. There will be 7 players from last year’s starting lineup returning this season. Ohio State’s starting quarterback for the 2025 season is Julian Sayin, a redshirt freshman and former five-star recruit.
It’s a little surprising that the AP and sportsbooks have the Buckeyes as the #3 overall best team in the country. You can’t lose 2/3 of your starters, including the QB, and expect to be championship caliber right away. The Buckeyes will be good, beating up on most Big Ten teams they will play, but against the best teams in the nation they will struggle.
Sportsbooks have the Buckeyes at 10.5 wins Over/Under. Let’s take a look at their schedule and see how they will make out.
Aug 30, 2025: vs Texas (home)
Sep 6, 2025: vs Grambling (home)
Sep 13, 2025: vs Ohio (home)
Sep 27, 2025: @ Washington (away)
Oct 4, 2025: vs Minnesota (home)
Oct 11, 2025: @ Illinois (away)
Oct 18, 2025: @ Wisconsin (away)
Nov 1, 2025: vs Penn State (home)
Nov 8, 2025: @ Purdue (away)
Nov 15, 2025: vs UCLA (home)
Nov 22, 2025: vs Rutgers (home)
Nov 29, 2025: @ Michigan (away)
Ohio State’s toughest games (Texas and Penn State) will be played at the horseshoe. This definitely works in their favor. However, it is possible they will drop both those games. We currently have Texas and Penn State each with a 55%-60% chance of defeating Ohio State. One of the other teams on the schedule will get an upset win as well. It could be Washington, Michigan or even a longshot upset to a Rutgers or UCLA. But I really like Illinois this year. OSU will be on the road n Champagne playing against a very talented and seasoned squad.
Under 10.5 wins is the way to bet their season total wins prop. in Regard to a national championship, Ohio State is +650. I just don’t see that happening this year. It’s a mild rebuilding year for Ryan Day and crew. They will be back in the national championship hunt in a year or two.
