The Las Vegas oddsmakers tell a contradictory story with the two lines they put out for Ohio State's 2026-27 season.
Vegas is predicting two different stories with the odds that they put out for the Buckeyes heading into the 2026-27 season.
The first is that Ohio State's win total is set at an over/under of 9.5, indicating that the Buckeyes are looking at one of the toughest schedules in the entire country. On the flip side of that coin, Ohio State has the shortest odds to win that National Championship at +600, better than Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon, and Indiana, who all have +700 odds. Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook.
So, the question then becomes, which is?
That over/under line indicates that Vegas is predicting at least a couple of losses for the Buckeyes next year. They have six teams that are within the Top-25 on their schedule, which is the most in the country.
The National Championship odds then tell the story that Ohio State should win the title. It's an interesting outlook for the Buckeyes because if those two things were tied together, I would have predicted the Buckeyes to have about the fourth or fifth longest odds in the country.
Regardless, the truth of the matter is that Ohio State is going to have a very tough time in the regular season for the first time in several years. After the Ball State game in week one, the Buckeyes are going to have to approach every single game with the utmost urgency.
It is one tough game after another, and they cannot afford to slip up and take an upset because there are just going to be at least a couple of losses on that calendar next year.
This year will be one of the toughest for Ryan Day in his tenure as the Buckeyes' head man. Ohio State has gotten the luck of the draw the past couple of years in the Big Ten, but this year it is different.
Not only that, this roster that they have is one of the least talented that they have had in several years. Jeremiah Smith is a bonafied star on offense, and Kenyatta Jackson is your only guarantee on defense.
Pretty much everyone else and every other position can be questioned and will have to prove themselves. It won't be easy to do, but if anyone is up to the task, it is Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.
Something is fishy about what Vegas is throwing out there for Ohio State, but if you believe in the Buckeyes, there is some money to be made.
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All lines subject to change.
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