Once again, Ohio State came up small against an elite team. Once again, it’ll probably cost them their season. But what’s important in this neck of the woods, is this: Tucked inside the 18-15 loss to Southern Cal last night in Columbus, was another cover.
So, while the Buckeyes, most likely, won’t be playing for a national title, perhaps not even a Big Ten title, it’s worth noting that in the last two meetings against the “big boys,” they’ve made some underdog players very happy.
In the Fiesta Bowl last year vs. Texas, they easily snuck under the 10.5-point number. And last night — although things got tense on their own 10-yard line in the final seconds — they snuck under the 7-point spread. Again, it means nothing to them, but something in here.
And now, the Buckeyes can go back into betting obscurity for the next month or so. Traditionally, they struggle to cover games through Halloween. But when the season hits its stretch drive, it’ll be time to dust them off. Trust us.
Last season, for instance, they dropped six of their first eight spreads, only to cover the final four, starting in November. Keep that in mind the rest of the way. Right now, they are 1-1 against the spread.
NO ROAR IN LIONS
Things aren’t so bright for Penn State players these days. For the second straight week, the Nittany Lions (0-2 ATS) failed to cover a high-20s spread against an inferior opponent in Happy Valley.
That is a stark contrast to last year, when the Lions were money in non-conference play, beating opponents by an average of 43. This year, they beat Akron by 24, and Syracuse by 21, and really never gave you the feeling they were ready to blow anyone’s doors off.
One thing we noticed, was field position. The Lions are consistently starting drives inside the 20. And without the offensive efficiency they boasted last year, you’re not going to top many 28-point spreads, when it takes you eight minutes to mount an 80-yard scoring drive.
Food for thought the rest of the way. The Lions play Temple next week at home. So instead of high 20s, expect high 30s on that number.
SURPRISINGLY UNDEFEATED
Two other Big Ten teams have rolled out to impressive 2-0 ATS starts: Purdue and Michigan. Both the Boilers and Wolverines — rebuilding acts that they are — have shown plenty of offense, and may well be worth looks down the road, especially considering they’ll be underdogs quite a few times.
Purdue easily checked in under the 12.5-point spread at Oregon last night, losing 38-36. And Michigan’s 38-34 rally over Notre Dame helped dodge a push off the 3-point line they were working with as a dog to the Irish.
WILD WAKE
Speaking of pushes, Wake Forest stepped up yesterday and dodged one. On fourth down, from the 1, on the game’s final play, Coach Jim Grobe elected to go for it. Quarterback Riley Skinner snuck into the end zone, giving the Demon Deacons a 24-17 win over Stanford.
The safe route — with Wake as a 3-point favorite — would have been the field goal, a 20-17 win … and a push.
Deacons players rejoiced. Cardinal players — including us — didn’t.
SATURDAY’S HEROES
Speaking of rejoicing, Rico strung together another solid week, going 10-5, for a two-week total of 19-11 to lead The Post’s Saturday’s Heroes race through 30 games. Excellent start. It was one of only two winning weeks by players in The Post’s Saturday’s Heroes grid, so many of us still have plenty of work to do.
Including yours truly, who happened to be on the wrong side of many of those aforementioned clunkers: Stanford, Penn State, Notre Dame, the list goes on. Checking in at 3-12, we clearly orchestrated the worst week of our five-year career. Let’s hope it takes another five years to get that sort of number again.
OFF THE GRID
Thank goodness for the Sullivan Off The Grid plays, however.
Taking a little sting out of the 3-12 disaster, my OTG choices of UNLV (+7) over Oregon State and Nebraska (-21) over Arkansas State easily clicked, while Idaho (+21) backdoored us at Washington with nine seconds left, spoiling a perfect day. We went 2-1 Off The Grid, for a two-week total of 3-2.
THIS WEEK’S GRID
No. 1 Florida — now that their junior varsity schedule is over — will finally join the Saturday’’s Heroes grid in Thursday’s Post. The Gators will play host to Tennessee at The Swamp Saturday.
And after the Volunteers’ loss to UCLA in Knoxville yesterday, expect a mighty number on the shoulders of the mighty Gators.
For the record, including yesterday’s 50-point win over Troy — on a 36.5-point spread — Florida has covered the last 10 games that have had a spread. There are two games in that stretch — The Citadel last season and Charleston Southern last week — that didn’t have lines. But as a favorite in the last ten, the Gators are unbeaten.
Again, though, expect a big number this week.
VOICE OF THE PLAYER
Send us your highlights, lowlights, and backdoor specials from this week, and trends to watch out for in Week 3, to tsullivan@nypost.com.
I’ll post the Saturday’s Heroes grid games — as well as the Off The Grid contests — on Wednesday in here, with the actual picks in Thursday’s Post.
Better luck to all, including myself after this week.
