Ohio State Buckeyes vs San Diego State Betting Odds Preview, Prediction

The Ohio State Buckeyes won their season opener Saturday against Buffalo, but couldn't cover the spread as big favorites.

This week, they are big chalk again, this time against a San Diego State team coming off a loss to an FCS squad.

Can the Buckeyes, who are on a 1-6 ATS run as double-digit favorites, cover the big number? Or can the Aztecs put on a little better showing than they did last Saturday against Eastern Illinois?

Most college football betting shops monitored by OddsShark.com were chalking Ohio State, ranked No. 2 in this week's USA Today poll, at -29 over San Diego State, with a total of 54. OddsShark's prediction computer spit out a 50-9 result for this game.

Ohio State jumped out to a 23-0 first-quarter lead Saturday against Buffalo, but allowed the Bulls to pull within 30-20 early in the third quarter. The Buckeyes then tacked on 10 points from there but couldn't cover the spread as 34-point home chalk.

The Aztecs, meanwhile, got upset last Saturday by Eastern Illinois 40-19, losing outright as 14-point home favorites. San Diego State gave up 533 yards of offense to the Panthers, 361 yards through the air.

That game was tied at 19 midway through the third quarter, but the Aztecs got out-scored 21-0 from there. San Diego State gave up three long offensive scores Saturday and had a punt returned for a touchdown.  

The Aztecs also took a hit Saturday when RB Adam Muema, who ran for 1,400 yards last year, sprained an ankle in the second quarter and missed the rest of the game. Fortunately, Muema is expected to play Saturday.  

The Buckeyes have 13 starters back from last year's 12-0 team, most importantly QB Braxton Miller—one of the favorites on the odds to win the Heisman Trophy this season. OSU is in its second season under Urban Meyer.

In his second season in charge at Bowling Green the Falcons went 9-3; in his second season at Utah the Utes went 12-0 and won the Fiesta Bowl; and in his second season at Florida the Gators went 13-1 and beat his current employer, Ohio State, in the national championship game.

The Aztecs are in their third season under head coach Rocky Long, who, as head coach at New Mexico back in 2003, beat Meyer's Utes.

San Diego State went 2-0 ATS last year as double-digit dogs. Ohio State is 1-6 ATS in its past seven as a double-digit favorite, according to one college football odds database.

These teams met three times between 2001 and 2005; Ohio State won all three games, each played in Columbus, by scores of 27-12, 16-13, and 27-6.

Saturday's game from the Horseshoe will be televised by ABC/ESPN2 starting at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Pick: Ohio State -29 | Computer Prediction from OddsShark.com, 50-9