With three star QBs on his roster, Ohio State’s Meyer has nice problem

In his three years at Ohio State, Urban Meyer has worked some serious magic. His next trick is similarly incredible, because the cocksure coach is convincing three star quarterbacks to return for practice in August.

As of now, Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller form the Buckeyes’ depth chart, with the starter still to be determined. Miller, as a recent graduate, has the option to transfer and play immediately this season. Meyer expects Miller to stay in Columbus — and it has been reported he will stay — but it’s surprising he’s not already gone to Alabama or another campus in the Southeastern Conference.

“I am shocked that all three guys are still there,” said Bruce Marshall, handicapper for The Gold Sheet. “It makes me wonder what’s going on to keep them there.”

There was a time when Hugh Hefner had three girlfriends. Everyone appeared to be happy in the strange arrangement, especially Hefner, but you had to suspect the whole Playboy act was phony. Eventually, it was revealed that Holly, Kendra and Bridget were at odds in the relationship.

Ohio State is the preseason No. 1 team in the nation, and its status would not change if only two of the three quarterbacks remained. It would seem impossible for Meyer to keep all three happy. Eventually, a star will get buried on the bench. It’s a good problem for Meyer to have, a lot like juggling three hot girlfriends.

When college football lines and win totals opened last week, the Buckeyes were a hot topic because of their anticipated dominance. It’s possible they could close as double-digit favorites in all 12 regular-season games.

Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller opened Ohio State as a big favorite in the four games he posted. The Buckeyes are favored by 16 points at Virginia Tech, by 18 against Penn State, by 12½ against Michigan State and by 13 at Michigan.

Marshall, who helped Miller make the numbers on 165 games, admitted to “a little fear” of overrating Ohio State because of how it crushed Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon en route to winning the national title in January.

“It’s a real danger to overrate a team that looks that good,” Marshall said. “That run at the end of last season came out of nowhere. It’s hard to keep that sort of intensity going for 12 weeks. But the Buckeyes get their biggest games at home, and I think it’s unlikely they lose a regular-season game.”

Miller is betting on the Buckeyes to roll, and he posted a proposition on them to finish the regular season undefeated, with the “Yes” side at minus-240. Sharp action dropped the line to minus-120, but that was due to bettors scalping the price.

CG Technology books in Las Vegas opened Ohio State’s win total at 11½, with the over at plus-150.

“Ohio State is loaded, and I think they run the table,” Miller said. “I think Cardale Jones should start and play every game, and I don’t see anybody beating them.”

It’s tough to repeat as champions in anything for a variety of reasons, and Florida State proved that again last season. The Seminoles, overrated by oddsmakers and the betting public last summer and throughout the fall, finished 3-11 against the spread and were lucky to get the three covers.

There were all sorts of red flags surrounding Jameis Winston heading into last season, and the decline in his performance was a significant factor in Florida State’s point-spread failures.

The Buckeyes should be a different story because they are loaded at quarterback. Jones, a physically superior athlete who can run and launch rockets, went 3-0 as the starter in the postseason. Barrett, who went 11-1 and finished second in the nation in passing efficiency, suffered a broken ankle against Michigan in November. Miller was a Heisman Trophy candidate but missed the season with a dislocated shoulder.

“I think Cardale Jones looks like the best quarterback. He reminds me of Ben Roethlisberger,” Marshall said.

Meyer will figure out the quarterback derby, and he has few concerns elsewhere. Junior running back Ezekiel Elliott, who pounded the Crimson Tide for 230 yards rushing on 20 carries, is a Heisman candidate. The defense, led by end Joey Bosa, is probably just as strong.

Michigan will get hyped because of coach Jim Harbaugh, but the biggest threat to Ohio State running the table in the Big Ten is Michigan State. Senior Connor Cook, who has 26 career starts for the Spartans, is the best quarterback in the conference.

The Buckeyes are overrated, but, unlike the Seminoles last season, I won’t be in a hurry to bet against them.

Meyer is a money coach who makes the right moves and magically keeps three star quarterbacks happy, at least for now.

■ BOTTOM LINES — Registration opened this week for two high-end handicapping contests — the Friday Football Showdown at the Golden Nugget and the SuperContest at the Westgate.

The Nugget contest requires a $2,000 entry fee. Contestants select seven plays per week, from all college and NFL sides and totals on the board, for the first eight weeks. After 56 plays, the top eight contestants advance to a head-to-head bracket format, which begins with Week 9 of the NFL schedule. Miller expects the contest, which will be aired on ESPN Radio in Las Vegas, to draw at least 50 entries with a prize pool topping $100,000.

Westgate sports book director Jay Kornegay said he’s hoping for 1,800 entries in the SuperContest, which is $1,500 to enter and will pay the top 50 spots instead of the top 30 as in past years. Contestants select five NFL sides per week.

The SuperContest has experienced a popularity explosion, going from 745 entries in 2012 to 1,034 in 2013 to 1,403 last year. If it reaches 1,905 entries, the winner will receive $1 million.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans can be reached at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts “The Las Vegas Sportsline” weekdays at 2 p.m. on ESPN Radio (1100 AM). Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.