It’s business as usual for Ohio State, even with a new coach and new quarterback. The post-Urban Meyer era could not be off to a better start.
With Ryan Day calling the shots and Justin Fields executing nearly flawlessly, the Buckeyes have blasted four far-inferior opponents — Florida Atlantic, Cincinnati, Indiana and Miami (Ohio) — by a combined score of 214-36. Fields, a Georgia transfer, has passed for 880 yards and rushed for 150 while accounting for 19 total touchdowns. He has completed 69.5 percent of his passes without an interception.
Michigan and Nebraska attracted most of the preseason hype in the Big Ten, but Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh remains a flop and it does not appear the Cornhuskers are quite ready for prime time, which is when they kick off against Ohio State on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.
Nebraska, 3-1 straight up and 1-3 against the spread, took a humbling loss at Colorado on Sept. 7 and barely escaped Illinois, 42-38, on the road a week ago. The Cornhuskers dominated the Illini in total yards (673 to 299) but were hurt by four lost fumbles, so there are positive signs for coach Scott Frost’s team.
Over the summer, the Buckeyes opened as 6-point favorites at Nebraska. The line adjustment to 17 seems to be another early-season overreaction. The Cornhuskers’ Adrian Martinez, a dual-threat quarterback similar to Fields, can keep it competitive. Ohio State should face adversity in a hostile environment for the first time this season.
The pick: Nebraska, +17.
Virginia (+11) over NOTRE DAME: The Fighting Irish just won some national respect in a hard-fought, 23-17 loss at Georgia. It was a game that had to take an emotional and physical toll on Notre Dame, leaving coach Brian Kelly facing a potential letdown this week. A well-coached Cavaliers defense and dual-threat quarterback Bryce Perkins will test the Irish’s ability to run the ball and stop the run. Virginia survived an upset bid and beat Old Dominion 28-17 as a 27-point favorite last week, but that was a look-ahead spot.
NEVADA (-2½) over Hawaii: In their past five trips to Reno, Nev., Hawaii is 0-5 straight up and 0-4-1 ATS with losses by 14, 10, 22, 14 and 10 points. The Warriors are 3-0 in Honolulu, with victories over a pair of Pac-12 opponents, yet does this team have what it takes to win on the road? Wolf Pack quarterback Carson Strong is returning after missing a 37-21 win at Texas-El Paso last week.
Last week: 1-1-1.
Season: 4-6-2.
