Buckeyes’ offense gets help
Ohio State's 31-13 victory over Big Ten rival Wisconsin last week was a classic example of a misleading final score.
The Buckeyes were outgained by a substantial margin -- 368 total yards to 184 -- and had just eight first downs to the Badgers' 22.
Ohio State's offense accounted for only one of its four touchdowns; the other three came on two interception returns and a kickoff return.
Wisconsin deserved a better fate, but the Buckeyes got the victory, and bettors who backed them got the money as Ohio State covered the 141/2-point spread.
One can be certain the Buckeyes' offense, on the heels of such a lackluster performance, will be seeking redemption at Purdue today.
The Boilermakers, ranked 76th in the NCAA in total defense, are just the tonic for an ailing offensive unit.
Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, whose sophomore season has yet to take flight, should put up solid numbers both rushing and passing against a Purdue defense that has allowed an average of 30.5 points through six games, including two against Mid-American Conference foes.
From a technical standpoint, the Buckeyes are in one of their most preferred point-spread roles: They are 14-3 against the spread as double-digit favorites in conference play.
Look for Pryor to find the end zone, and lay the 131/2 points with Ohio State, which usually beats up on weak opponents.
Four more plays for today (home team in CAPS):
• Oklahoma-Texas (Under 521/2) -- Last year's total in the Red River Rivalry was in the same neighborhood at 561/2. But quite frankly, neither team is in the same stratosphere offensively now.
The Sooners are without All-America tight end Jermaine Gresham. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford and wide receiver Ryan Broyles each will play at less than 100 percent.
Defensively, Texas allows only 3.5 yards per play, with Oklahoma yielding opposing offenses 4 yards per play.
• WISCONSIN (-21/2) over Iowa -- Despite being undefeated, the Hawkeyes are one of the country's most overrated teams at the season's midpoint, with narrow escapes against the likes of Northern Iowa, Arkansas State and Michigan.
Iowa will not be so fortunate against a Wisconsin team that statistically dominated Ohio State and returns home to Camp Randall Stadium.
• IOWA STATE (-11/2) over Baylor -- The Cyclones are emerging offensively behind the guidance of quarterback Austen Arnaud.
The Bears, meanwhile, are not the same without do-everything quarterback Robert Griffin.
Baylor has won two Big 12 Conference road games in 53 tries. After coming close against Kansas State and Kansas, Iowa State should break through with a home conference victory over a Bears team starting to point to 2010.
• Southern California (-10) over NOTRE DAME -- Many would like nothing more than for Notre Dame to return to the upper echelon of college football, but the truth is the Fighting Irish simply do not have the same level of speed at all positions as the game's elite teams.
In the past seven meetings in the series, USC has won by an average score of 41-14, with only one of those games decided by fewer than 20 points.
Last week: 2-3 against the spread
Season: 10-19-1
Texas-based handicapper Paul Stone of Vegassportsauthority.com is providing college football analysis for the Las Vegas Review-Journal this season.
