Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Odds, Analysis, Prediction

The Ohio State Buckeyes have enjoyed success at home after their bye week in the past and will try to continue that trend on Saturday when they host the Cincinnati Bearcats.

The Buckeyes have won six straight games off a bye, including all three since head coach Urban Meyer took over the program, to go along with a 4-2 mark against the spread.

Point spread: The Buckeyes opened as 12.5-point favorites at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark, but the number climbed to 16 points by Thursday. The total was 63.5 (line updates and matchup report).

Odds Shark computer prediction: 35.1-17.5 Buckeyes

Why the Cincinnati Bearcats can cover the spread

The Bearcats have played just two games so far this season, making it difficult to tell which team is the one that will be facing Ohio State. In a 58-34 rout of the Toledo Rockets in their season opener on September 12, quarterback Gunner Kiel completed 25 of 37 passes for 418 yards and threw a school record-tying six touchdown passes in his first college start to help the Bearcats cover the spread as 9.5-point favorites.

The transfer from Notre Dame who sat out last season threw four more touchdown passes last week in a 31-24 win over Miami (Ohio), but Cincinnati failed to cover as a 30-point favorite. The Bearcats have performed well recently as road underdogs, going 3-0 ATS in their past three.

Why the Ohio State Buckeyes can cover the spread

In addition to playing well at home off a bye, Ohio State picked up some momentum following a 35-21 loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies by blanking the Kent State Golden Flashes 66-0 on September 13 as a 31-point favorite.

The Buckeyes saw redshirt freshman QB J.T. Barrett tie a school record with six TDs, including five in the first half when they built a commanding 45-0 lead. Ohio State’s Meyer will no doubt have his team prepared for Cincinnati, as he gave his players only two days off so they could practice as much as possible leading up to this game and avoid another possible letdown with Big Ten play on deck.

Smart Pick

The Buckeyes are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games and do not seem to be the same team without injured QB Braxton Miller under center. While Barrett has put up some good numbers, you could argue Kiel is the more talented signal-caller as he was highly recruited coming out of high school.

Both QBs remain inexperienced at the college level, and that showed for Barrett in the loss to Virginia Tech when he threw three interceptions. Kiel threw two picks in his last game against Miami, but they did not cost his team the game.

Ohio State still has a lot to prove to be favored by this many points against a quality opponent like the Bearcats, who should keep this within the number.

Trends:

• Cincinnati is 3-0 ATS in its last three games as road underdog
• Ohio State is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games

Note: All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury updates and line move updates, and get the free odds tracker app.