CFB odds: The Ohio State Buckeyes had an inside track to the BCS national championship game last year before a stunning loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game in which their weaknesses on defense were fully exposed. Not only did the Spartans dominate Ohio State 41-28 as 5.5 point dogs but they did so by being the far more physical side. The Buckeyes have spent the off-season trying to retool their defensive toughness and prepare for a title run in the Big Ten East Division. Ohio State will open the 2014 season at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL Baltimore Ravens, on August 30.
September
Ohio State will open September with three consecutive home games starting with Virginia Tech on September 6, followed by Kent State on September 13, and Cincinnati on September 27.
October
Ohio State is at Maryland on October 4, will host Rutgers on October 18, and is at Penn State on October 25. Rutgers is in their first season as new members of the Big Ten while the Penn State game will be a tough one at night in a “White Out” for the 100,000+ fans.
November
The month of November will be a climactic one in Columbus as Ohio State will host Illinois on November 1, is at defending Big Ten Champion Michigan State on November 8, is at Minnesota on November 15, and will then host the final two regular season games starting on November 22 vs. Indiana and then the finale against Michigan on November 29. Should the Bucks win the Big Ten East Division they will play in the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL Indianapolis Colts, on December 6.
