The sportsbook odds for Saturday’s Big Ten showdown between No.10 Iowa and No.11 Ohio State are giving the Buckeyes a huge advantage at home, and the winner will effectively grasp control of the conference race.

Iowa vs Ohio State odds – Saturday, November 14, 3:30 PM ET

The Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1) fell 17-10 at home to Northwestern for their first loss of the year, and it came at a big price as quarterback Ricky Stanzi was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury. Stanzi was the key behind an offense that was 47^th through the air, and losing him was a massive blow to their online betting chances this weekend. They’ll have to lean on a defense which is 14^th in the nation. 

The Buckeyes (8-2, 5-1) went into Penn State and dominated the Nittany Lions 24-7, and they did with a running-game-by-committee plan which led the Buckeyes to 228 yards on the ground. Terrelle Pyror was 8-of-17 for 125 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 50 yards and a score on the ground, and the most important stat: no turnovers. The Ohio State defense showed why they’re one of best in the country, holding Penn State to 201 yards. With a defense ranked sixth in the NCAA, the Buckeyes still have some hope in your offshore sportsbook.

Sportsbook odds have the Buckeyes rated as a 14.5-point favorite at home, and they’ve dominated the Hawkeyes in recent years, winning nine of their last 10 meetings, and Iowa has dropped their last five in Columbus. The Hawkeyes made close wins a rite of passage this year and their luck finally ran out, and now they have to go to the Horseshoe and beat an Ohio State team with momentum on its side….and they have to do it with a freshman quarterback making his first start. Ohio State‘s defense usually has a couple of possible NFL picks on its roster, and that’s not the scenario that a frosh pivot needs to see as he’s making his college debut. IT could get ugly in Columbus.

NCAA football predictions: Ohio State -14.5