No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions: How to Watch, Betting Odds

The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes host the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in the biggest test for either team this season.

The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes host the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in the biggest test for either team this season. 

The Bucks are fresh off a 41-7 dismantling of the Boilermakers last week, which saw quarterback Kyle McCord throw three touchdown passes in the winning effort. Penn State beat UMass 63-0 last week and has outscored opponents 266-48 in six games this season, and 135-13 in the last three contests - wins over No. 24 Iowa, Northwestern, and Massachusetts.

Statistically speaking, the Nittany Lions have the best defense in the country, while the Buckeyes boast a top-10 defensive unit. And this game could come down to defense. Even with a No. 3 national ranking and a 6-0 record, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day is still finding out what his team's identity is.

TreVeyon Henderson vs. Penn State / USA TODAY Sports

“I don’t know if I have a good feel for who we are as a team. But now it’s time to go play again in a matchup game again. I think we’ve certainly learned a little bit about the quarterback. We’ve learned a little bit about some of the guys who we didn’t know early in the season.

“But we have the pen to go write the script of what the season is going to look like, and that’s really what matters,” Day said.

The Nittany Lions will try and halt a six-game losing streak to Ohio State while staying in the race for the Big Ten East and College Football Playoff. Both teams still have to face No. 2 Michigan before it's all said and done.

McCord and Penn State's Drew Allar are both first-year starters under center, and both appear to be getting more comfortable and efficient with each contest.

“It’s just that when you're in games like this, as we know, it could come down to one play, so everything is amped up,” Day said. “The consequences are higher, the stakes are higher, and that's the way you want it.”

WHAT: No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) at No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten)

WHERE: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio (102,780)

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, 12 p.m. ET

HOW TO WATCH: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)

HOW TO LISTEN: WBNS-AM 1460 / WBNS-FM 97.1 The Fan

TICKETS: SI Tickets

BETTING via SI Sportsbook

SPREAD: Buckeyes -4.5

TOTAL: 45.5

MONEYLINE: Penn State +150, Buckeyes -200