Ohio State opened the week as 14-point favorites against Purdue. Its advantage has since dwindled to 12.5 points.
Saturday’s game isn’t sneaking up on anyone. It’s not a trap game – everyone sees it coming. Purdue lost its first three games of the season, including an upset loss to Eastern Michigan. But the Boilermakers have won three straight games and have a top-10 offense in the nation.
Though a loss to Purdue wouldn’t end Ohio State’s College Football Playoff hopes – and it might not even affect them at all, provided the Buckeyes ran the table – it would remove the safety net from a team that has not looked particularly dominant since beating Penn State.