As the college football season unfolds into its second week, the Western Michigan Broncos travel to face the Ohio State Buckeyes in a challenging non-conference matchup. Ohio Stadium will serve as the battleground this Saturday, September 7, with a kickoff at 7:30 PM ET, broadcast live on BTN. Both teams seek to reinforce or rectify their season’s debut, with the Broncos aiming to bounce back from an opening loss and the Buckeyes looking to maintain their victorious momentum. We dive into today’s free college football tips to provide a comprehensive analysis and prediction for this thrilling encounter.
Western Michigan Broncos vs. Ohio State Buckeyes 9/7/24 Game Info |
|
| When: | Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 07:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Ohio Stadium |
| TV: | BTN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Western Michigan Broncos (0-1) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)
The Western Michigan Broncos come into this game aiming to improve their offense, particularly in the rushing and throwing sections. Rushing the ball is usually done efficiently by Jalen Buckley, who really is a cog in the Broncos’ offensive machine with the ball in his hands after having gone 16 carries for 64 yards and 2 touchdowns, offering a good value of 4 yards per carry. In this context, the highlights of the game meet the fact that Buckley has this knack for snaking around the opponent’s defenders to create more plays, just as today’s Oregon State vs San Diego State game showcases effective rushing rhymes surrender. Very often, such an advance was made possible by Malique Dieudonne, who was topped with the receiving corps with two catches for 45 yards. Still, the offense could stretch this attack through key vertical threats, though more well-rounded participation from the receiving players will probably be critically crucial for offense as a whole.
One look at the Ohio State Buckeyes’ squad, and you feel a formidable blend of running and receiving approaches. TreVeyon Henderson is central in their rushing game, and he had 65 yards on 8 rushes, with an average of 8.125 yards per rush. He looks like he can deploy some strategies used in the Utah State vs USC game, which is being played today, where a well-blended offense is crucial. On the other hand, Jeremiah Smith takes center stage with the pass, catching the ball six times for 92 yards and two of these receptions for touchdowns. His ability to make big plays also offers Ohio State other scoring chances, which are hard to achieve today, given how long the ball is away from the line of scrimmage or bringing within range the defensive adjustments.
Hayden Wolff (Western Michigan) QB vs. Will Howard (Ohio State) QB
Hayden Wolff from Western Michigan, who played as a quarterback in the game, experienced a game of uneven results in the season opener. Wolff threw for 141 yards, completing 12 passes out of the 18 attempts, but will only remember the one interception, where he did not get any touchdowns, as an area where he could improve his vertical and red-zone threats. He has a passer rating of 121.4, and with such a rating, he should work on his decision-making so as to commit fewer turnovers, which will, in turn, enhance offensive efficiency. A game against a top-ranked side like Ohio State is likely to be difficult in every aspect, and thus, Wolff will need to make very few mistakes and find a rhythm in order to improve his play and help the efforts of his teammates.
On the other side, Will Howard is not afraid to take charge of the Ohio State offense. After completing 17 passes out of 28 attempts for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns the other game, Will Howard controls his rightful place at the heart of the Buckeye’s fast and effective offense. His 164 passer rating of Howard confirms passing accuracy and efficiency, considering no interceptions and no sacks were incurred, indicating a high level of protection and decision-making. Howard, coupled with his fast-paced offense is a weapon that every team would not want to come across having the ability to create separation and vectors of attack leads to constant offensive success.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Ohio State -37, Total Odds: 60.5
Ohio State enters as heavy favorites with a 37-point spread, reflecting expectations of a dominant performance on their home turf. The total odds are 60.5, hinting at poise for a higher-scoring contest primarily steered by Ohio State’s offensive potential. These odds suggest strategic plays focusing on Ohio State’s capability to cover spreads or exploring the over on total points, given their offensive firepower against Western Michigan’s defense.
Western Michigan Broncos Betting Trends
Western Michigan showcases mixed betting narratives, holding a 7-3 ATS despite a humble 3-9 SU record in their last 12 games. Notably, their struggles appear more pronounced on the road (1-7 SU) and against Big Ten opponents (0-8 SU), indicating enduring challenges in handling higher-tier competition. However, their ability to cover at critical points can hold potential for opportunistic betting.
Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends
Ohio State’s betting trends highlight both success and anticipated dominance. The Buckeyes maintain a vigorous competitive edge with a 12-2 SU mark in recent outings, including a perfect 7-0 SU record at home. Their pristine 20-0 SU record against Mid-American conference opponents is a testament to their organized assault, emphasizing lucrative possibilities for backing spreads and potential UNDER plays, given patterns observed in recent games.
Western Michigan Broncos vs. Ohio State Buckeyes 9/7/24 Betting Picks
Delving into these game dynamics, Ohio State’s overwhelming advantages position them with superior offensive drives and defensive setups, promising success capitalizing on Western Michigan’s current vulnerabilities. Understanding reports together, Ohio State appears primed to cover the spread despite robust odds, given their ensemble of key player progressions and Stern home environment.
Strategically trading within top multi-handicapper prediction guidelines underscore prospects for varied scoreline strategic plays. Focusing on controlled spreads or point totals could secure substantial value as teams acclimate over game sets, providing bettors a rewarding hinge on high-stakes execution levels.