Can Ohio State Cover Huge NCAAF Spread Against UNLV in Week 4?

Can Ohio State Cover Huge NCAAF Spread Against UNLV in Week 4?

Written by on September 19, 2017

The eighth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes likely won’t have any trouble putting away the UNLV Rebels when they square off in their NCAAF Week 4 match-up on Saturday, but the big question that college football bettors need answered is whether or not the playoff-hopeful Big Ten title contenders can cover the spread (40-point), which is currently suggested by the College Football Week 4 lines. Let’s find out now if Heisman Trophy candidate J.T. Barrett can lead the Buckeyes to the win and ATS cover as huge home favorites.

Can Ohio State Cover Huge NCAAF Spread Against UNLV in Week 4?

When: Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 12:00 PM ET Where: Ohio Stadium NCAAF Spread: Ohio State Buckeyes -40.5 / Total: 63.5 TV: BTN Live Streaming: Big Ten Network Radio: 920 AM (UNLV)/ WBNS 97.1 FM (Ohio State)

NCAAF Spread Trends for Week 4

-The total has gone OVER in 7 of UNLV last 10 games on the road -UNLV is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games -The total has gone OVER in 17 of UNLV last 21 games -Ohio State is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games -Ohio State is 21-4 SU in its last 25 games -The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Buckeyes last 6 games

Why pick the UNLV Rebels at +40.5?

The Rebels bounced back from their season-opening shocker of a loss against Howard to beat Idaho 44-16 as running back Lexington Thomas rushed for a career-high 190 yards and three touchdowns. Dual-threat signal-caller Armani Rogers completed 10-of-16 passes for 193 yards with one touchdown and one interception while adding 86 rushing yards and one score in the commanding victory. Rogers and wide receiver Devonte Boyd connected on a 94-yard touchdown play and Boyd finished with two catches for 103 yards, giving him a school record 13, 100-yard games Defensively, UNLV limited Idaho to just 5-for-15 success on third downs. “This was a must-win game,” Thomas said. “We had to win this game. Everybody knew in the locker room. You could tell the demeanor was totally different during practice. Everybody was going hard, there was less goofing around. And we came out and we were ready to play.”

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 42
  • Total Yards: 557
  • Rush Yards: 350.5
  • Passing Yards: 206.5
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 29.5
  • Total Yards: 416.5
  • Rush Yards: 216
  • Passing Yards: 200.5

Why pick the Ohio State Buckeyes at -40.5?

Ohio State rolled all over Army in its 38-07 Week 3 win despite narrowly failing to cover the spread as a 32.5-point home favorite. J.T. Barrett completed 25 of 33 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns, but it was true freshman J.K. Dobbins that led the Buckeyes to victory with 172 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns as No. 8 Ohio State rebounded from their 31-16 home loss against Oklahoma the week before. Dobbins shined again after rushing for 181 yards in the season opener at Indiana. “He’s a perfect tailback,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. “He’s the space player we need.”   Freshman J.K. Dobbins is on fire with 353 rushing yards in two games. For the season, Barrett is completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 757 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. Defensively, Ohio State limited run-first Army to just 19 passing yards. Barrett’s two scores gave him the all-time Big Ten lead over Purdue’s Drew Brees, now a superstar with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. “The heart of a lion,” head coach Urban Meyer said of Barrett. “He’s one of the toughest players I’ve ever been around, so that’s pretty good characteristics to have for the guy touching the ball every snap.”

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 34.3
  • Total Yards: 510.6
  • Rush Yards: 243
  • Passing Yards: 267.6
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 19.6
  • Total Yards: 401.6
  • Rush Yards: 126.6
  • Passing Yards: 275

Expert NCAAF Spread Analysis and Prediction for Week 4

While Ohio State is the easy pick to win this game, I’m going to advise you to back the UNLV Rebels to cover the insane point spread behind their own dual-threat signal-caller and gifted running back. The Rebels are 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games against Big Ten teams while Ohio State has gone 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games, 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall. Ohio State is good, but they’re not great as Oklahoma exposed them two weeks ago. I’m taking the whopping 40.5 points and the rebels, and you should too! NCAAF Spread Pick: UNLV +40.5