Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Ohio State Buckeyes Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 09/16/2023

Game Time: 4:00 pm ET, Saturday, September 16, 2023

Venue:  Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

Where to Watch:  FOX

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  WKU +29.5, OSU -29.5; Over/Under:  65.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  WKU +29.5, OSU -29.5; Over/Under:  65.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  WKU +29.5, OSU -29.5; Over/Under:  65.5 points

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers:  2-0 (0-0) (4th place, C-USA)

Ohio State Buckeyes:  2-0 (1-0) (2nd place, Big Ten East)

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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers:  won their last game at home against the Houston Christian Huskies 52-22.

Ohio State Buckeyes:  won their last game at home against the Youngstown State Penguins 35-7.

Western Kentucky is entering this game with a 2-0 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 2-0 in their home games, 0-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against HCU 52-22. Austin Reed was the starting QB and he completed 27/33 passes for 253 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Markese Stepp led the team in rushing yards with 48. Easton Messer led the receivers with 116 receiving yards on 9 receptions and 1 TD. Kendrick Simpkins led the defense in that game with 5 solo tackles and 1 assisted tackle while Kendrick Simpkins led the defense in sacks with 1. Upton Stout came away with the only interception for them in that game.

 

 

 

Ohio State is entering this game with a 2-0 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 1-0 in their home games, 1-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against Youngstown State 35-7. Kyle McCord was the starting QB and he completed 14/20 passes for 258 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. TreVeyon Henderson led the team in rushing yards with 56 and 2 TDs. Marvin Harrison Jr. led the receivers with 160 receiving yards on 7 receptions and 2 TDs. Davison Igbinosun led the defense in that game with 5 solo tackles and 0 assisted tackles while Tommy Eichenberg and Michael Hall Jr. each led the defense in sacks with 1. Denzel Burke came away with the only interception for them in that game.

The current betting odds have Western Kentucky listed as a 29.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Western Kentucky is 2-0 this season and they are a team that likes to score a lot of points in their games. They have a really strong air raid offense and they aren't going to get shut down the way these other teams have against Ohio State in their first 2 games. Ohio State is 2-0 but they haven't looked good at all in their first 2 games for a team that is supposed to be one of the best in the country. They struggled a lot in their season opener as they beat Indiana 23-3 with a great defensive effort but their offense didn't do nearly enough in that game. Then in their last game they beat Youngstown State at home 35-7 in a game where they should have put up a lot more points. This Ohio State team is not as good as they were last year with their new QB and until they start to roll, they are going to continue to struggle on offense trying to figure everything out. Western Kentucky is not the kind of team that is going to get shutout either so they are going to put up points in this game and Ohio State is going to need a ton to cover this number. The best way to place a bet here is on Western Kentucky to cover the spread in this game. 

Western Kentucky Ohio State Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, September 16, 2023 (4:00 pm ET start time) is OSU 38 WKU 20.

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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: 20-10 ATS in all games. 13-7 ATS when the total is greater than or equal to 63. 7-1 OVER as an underdog. 11-3 OVER off 1 or more straight overs. 

Ohio State Buckeyes: 18-24 ATS when the total is greater than or equal to 63. 3-6 ATS in non-conference games. 18-10 OVER in all games. 9-2 OVER off a home win by 17 points or more. 

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers:  M. Corley (WR) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. A. Smith (DB) Ques Sat - Foot. M. Mathison (WR) Out indefinitely - Hip.

Ohio State Buckeyes:  T. Caffey (RB) Ques Sat - Knee. J. Mitchell (WR) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. K. Grayes (WR) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. Z. Herbstreit (TE) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. J. Bonsu (S) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. J. Proctor (S) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. R. Stocksdale (WR) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. B. Christian (TE) out for season - Suspension.

"They’ll make their fair share of their plays but again, we just want to be in the game in the last five minutes. If we can be in the game in the last five minutes with an opportunity to go win it, that’s what these games are all about, is going there, playing hard, game has ups and downs throughout the whole game. But try to be in the game in the last five minutes and then go win it." - Tyson Helton on his team’s upcoming game against Ohio State this week. 

“Well, I think that everyone can always get pushed to do better in all the areas that the game of football is played. So, that’s a reiteration of my message all week is to keep pushing. We’re all going to play fast, violent and with high-intensity.” - Ryan Day on his message to the team coming into this game against WKU this week.

WR Burt Jr., Craig  

WR Smith, Blue

WR Corley, Malachi 

WR Smith, Dalvin 

TE Helms, River 

QB Reed, Austin 

RB Ervin-Poindexter, Davion 

WR Harrison Jr., Marvin 

WR Fleming, Julian 

WR Egbuka, Emeka 

TE Stover, Cade 

QB McCord, Kyle 

RB Henderson, TreVeyon  

Passing: A. Reed (589)

Rushing: D. Ervin-Poindexter (78)

Receiving: E. Messer (134)

Touchdowns: A. Reed (2)

Passing: K. McCord (497)

Rushing: T. Henderson (103)

Receiving: M. Harrison Jr. (178)

Touchdowns: M. Williams (2)

Coaches:

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: Tyson Helton (5th season)

Ohio State Buckeyes: Ryan Day (6th season)