Ohio State only returns six starters from last year's 12-1 Fiesta Bowl championship team. The 2016 schedule is rigorous, and we already know Oklahoma will be favored when Ohio State rolls into Norman for a Week 3 clash.
South Point Casino, a Las Vegas oddsmaker, lists Ohio State as a 6.5-point underdog in that game. Its lines are more favorable for the Buckeyes when they enter Big Ten play.
In fact, Ohio State is favored in every big-time conference game against another historical power. Here's how South Point breaks it down:
| DATE | CONTEST |
|---|---|
| 10/15 | OHIO STATE (-4) at WISCONSIN |
| 10/22 | OHIO STATE (-9) at PENN STATE |
| 11/05 | NEBRASKA at OHIO STATE (-12. |