After leading Ohio State Buckeyes to a perfect 3-0 mark in the three games he coached a year ago, Ryan Day is now being handed the keys to the car. That’s right collegiate gridiron lovers, following a successful seven-year stint under former head coach Urban Meyer that saw the Buckeyes win the 2014 national championship over Oregon, there’s a new era getting underway in earnest in Columbus in 2019.
Will the widely-respected Day be able to maintain the annual excellence we’ve come to see out of the Big Ten title hopefuls or are the Buckeyes set to take a step backwards as the program adjusts to Day’s coaching style? Let’s find out right now whether the Buckeyes are going to top their 2019 win total odds or finish under the total while coming up short of their national championship hopes.
Ohio State Buckeyes 2019 Season Win / Loss Total Odds & Betting Prediction
2018 Team Leaders
- Touchdown: Parris Campbell (12)
- Rushing: J.K. Dobbins (1053)
- Passing: Dwayne Haskins (4831)
- Receiving: Parris Campbell (1063)
- Interceptions: Shaun Wade (3)
Why Ohio State Will Go Over their Win Total Odds?
The best reason to back Ohio State to top their win total figure of 10 victories in 2019 is because they’re a perennial national powerhouse that gets a boatload of elite high school talent each and every year. The Buckeyes have won 12 games or more every year since Meyer took over the program in 2012. While the Buckeyes have lost some serious talent on both sides of the ball, they will have an elite prospect under center in 2019 as Georgia transfer Justin Fields replaces former star signal-caller Dwayne Haskins.
The Buckeyes also have a talented running back in 2018 rushing leader J.K. Dobbins (1,053 yards,10 TDs) and they’ve got an elite group of wide receivers that mostly all had breakout seasons a year ago. Combine all of that with the fact that Ryan Day possesses a great offensive mind and it’s easy to see the Buckeyes putting a bunch of points on the board if Fields plays to the level of his ability.
Why Ohio State Will Go Under their Win Total Odds?
There are a bunch of good reasons to pick Ohio State to finish under their win total odds in 2019. First, the Buckeyes will have a first-time starter under center, so know one knows how that’s going to go. Then, the Buckeyes have question marks on both side of the ball.
There’s a lack of proven depth at running back, plus, Ohio State lost three starters on the offensive line, not to mention superstar defensive end Nick Bosa. Last but not least, while Day led the Buckeyes to three wins in Urban Meyer’s absence last season, taking over as the permanent head coach is completely different – and far more daunting.
Prediction
The Buckeyes have difficult home dates against Michigan State, Wisconsin and Penn State and a tough regular season finale on the road at Michigan, where I’m expecting them to fall. A home loss to any of the three aforementioned teams will leave the Buckeyes at 10 wins and that’s exactly what I’m expecting to happen this coming season.
hio State suffers one loss for sure, but it could be as many as three, although I’m expecting that figure to be two defeats. Either way, I don’t see Ohio State recording 11 regular season victories in 2019 simply because of all the newness surrounding the program heading into Year 1 of the Ryan Day era.
Pick: 10 Wins
