The Ohio State Buckeyes will look to get their new era under Ryan Day off to a positive start when they host a Florida Atlantic team that will bee looking to improve on their uninspiring losing record from a year ago. With the Buckeyes huge home favorites in their 2019 regular season opener, let’s find out if Ohio State can cover the chalk of it Florida Atlantic is the best pick in this one.
Florida Atlantic vs Ohio State 2019 College Football Week 1 Lines, Game Info & Analysis
- When: Saturday August 31, 2019, 12:00 PM ET
- Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
- TV: FOX
- College Football Week 1 Odds: Ohio State -27.5 / Total: 63.5
Weather Forecast
- Chance of Thunderstorm: 27°C/81°F
- Humidity: 61%
- Precipitation: 10%
- Wind: 7 mph E
- Cloud Cover: 41%
- Type of Stadium: Open
Why Bet On Florida Atlantic at +27.5?
The Owls fell completely apart under head coach Lane Kiffin last season in going 5-7 one year after posting a stellar 11-win mark in 2017. Florida Atlantic returns seven starters from an offense that averaged 31.1 points per game last season including Oklahoma transfer quarterback Chris Robison.
Receivers, Tavaris Harrison and Willie Wright combined for 849 receiving yards on 67 catches last season while tight end Harrison Bryant turned in a first-team Conference USA performance. On defense, the Owls return six starters, but they’ll need to improve in a big way after allowing a whopping 31.8 points per game a year ago (92nd).
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 31.08
- Total Yards: 478.83
- Pass Yards: 237
- Rush Yards: 241.83
- Average Score Against: 31.75
- Total Yards: 420.08
- Pass Yards: 236.75
- Rush Yards: 183.33
Why Bet On Ohio State at -27.5?
The Buckeyes went a stellar 13-1 last season, but got left on the outside looking in when it came time to vote for the College Football Playoff. Ryan Day takes over as the new head coach for the retired Urban Meyer after coaching the Buckeyes the first three games last season.
The bad news is that Ohio State returns just four starters from an offense that averaged 42.4 points and they’ll have a new starter under center after seeing the gifted Dwayne Haskins depart for the NFL draft. Former five-star Georgia recruit Justin Fields will takeover at quarterback and the Buckeyes have an elite running back in J.K. Dobbins after he topped the1,000-yard mark last season and scored 10 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, Ohio State returns nine starters from a unit that allowed 25.5 points per contest a year ago. The Buckeyes have a ton of talent on defense, starting with super gifted defensive lineman Chase Young.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 42.36
- Total Yards: 535.57
- Pass Yards: 358.71
- Rush Yards: 176.86
- Average Score Against: 25.50
- Total Yards: 403.42
- Pass Yards: 245.21
- Rush Yards: 158.21
Florida Atlantic vs Ohio State College Football Week 1 Betting Trends
Expert Analysis and Prediction
Florida Atlantic is a winless 0-4 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games and just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games. Conversely, Ohio State has gone 4-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games.
More importantly, the Buckeyes have twice the amount of talent than Florida Atlantic, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, not to mention the fact that Ohio State is playing at home in this regular season opener.
I’m thinking Ryan Day would like nothing better than to get his team’s new era started off with a confidence-boosting blowout in this one and I believe the Buckeyes will run up the score if they get the chance. The huge, nearly, four-touchdown spread looks daunting, but I’m backing the Ohio State Buckeyes to narrowly cover it and you should too!
Pick: Ohio State 49 Florida Atlantic 21
