(OddsShark.com) — It remains unclear who will be at the helm of the Ohio State offense on Saturday, when the Buckeyes play host to the Western Michigan Broncos as early 28.5-point favorites in college football betting at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Ohio State maintains their No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25, and rides a best-in-the-nation 16-game straight up winning streak into Saturday afternoon’s Broncos vs. Buckeyes betting matchup at Ohio Stadium.
However, their perch atop the rankings may be a little less secure following last weekend’s slim 20-13 win over the Northern Illinois Huskies, failing to cover as heavy 34-point chalk to tally their second straight defeat against the spread.
Combining for three interceptions and just 133 passing yards against the Huskies, neither Cardale Jones nor JT Barrett have distinguished themselves at pivot for OSU, leading to the squad’s current quarterback controversy.
Western Michigan travels to Columbus following a SU and ATS win over FCS Murray State in Week 3, topping the Racers 52-20 as a 28.5-point favorite, and ending a four-game SU losing streak. The Broncos are a solid 3-2 ATS in their past five against Big Ten schools, but are winless SU in their last 14.
No. 12 Alabama takes on the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Saturday as 38-point favorites.
The Crimson Tide’s national ranking and postseason aspirations took a direct hit in Week 3 with their 43-37 loss to No. 15 Ole Miss, losing outright as 9-point chalk, and tumbling them from their prior No. 2 ranking.
Alabama is now a dismal 3-6-1 ATS in their past 10, and faces a Warhawks squad that is just 2-8 SU in their last 10 but that shocked the Tide with a 21-14 win as 24.5-point underdogs in their last meeting in 2007 according to the OddsShark College Football Database.
Ole Miss rockets to No. 3 with their win over Alabama, their third straight, SU and ATS, and starts the week as 26.5-point favorites in their Week 4 matchup with the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The Michigan State Spartans replace Alabama at No. 2, despite an uninspired 35-21 win over the Air Force Falcons, improving them to 12-1 SU in their last 13, but winless ATS in their last three.
The Spartans play host to the Central Michigan Chippewas as 27-point favorites on Saturday, while No. 9 UCLA visits No. 16 Arizona as 3-point favorites, and No. 19 USC looks to bounce back from a 41-31 upset loss to Stanford when they take on the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday night as 6-point road favorites.