The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers this weekend. Check out our college football odds series, which includes our Ohio State-Nebraska prediction, odds, and pick.

The Ohio State Buckeyes had been roaring past their opponents in the month of October, but the point which always needed to be made was that the Buckeyes were crushing weak foes. Rutgers, Indiana, and Maryland are part of the weak underclass of the Big Ten, the softies OSU should hammer in any season. Penn State offered a true test this past weekend.

The Buckeyes won, but were not especially convincing. Penn State moved the ball consistently on Ohio State's vulnerable defense. The Buckeyes have had problems on defense for most of the season, especially in their loss to Oregon in Week 2. Those problems resurfaced after a few weeks in which the caliber of opposition did not provide a meaningful test. Ohio State should hardly be viewed as a lock to thrash Michigan State and Michigan, precisely because its defense has not answered certain questions as firmly or as positively as head coach Ryan Day had hoped.

Nebraska is wondering when the Scott Frost experience will end. Whether Frost stays on as coach in 2022 is anyone's guess, but if Frost is retained by new athletic director Trev Alberts, Husker fans will need to see something different. They will need to see a program which can finally win close games.

Once again, in 2021, Nebraska under Frost has let winnable games slip away. This has been by far the biggest problem of Frost's tenure. It's really rather remarkable that all six of Nebraska's losses this season have been by one score (eight points or fewer). The Huskers have competed and battled, but they always make losing plays in the fourth quarter of a close game. Their three wins have been blowouts. Every pressure situation has been flunked by Frost. It makes one wonder about this Ohio State Nebraska pick.

Here’s how the bookmakers have set the Ohio State-Nebraska odds:

College Football odds: Ohio State-Nebraska Odds

Ohio State: -14.5 (-108)

Nebraska: +14.5 (-112)

Over: 65.5 (-114)

Under: 65.5 (-106)

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Why Ohio State Could Cover the Spread

The Buckeyes are playing a team which is far worse than Penn State. PSU has an elite defense and a quarterback who — while sometimes shaky — minimizes mistakes. (That's a reference to Sean Clifford, whose injury at Iowa hurt Penn State's season.) Adrian Martinez does not minimize mistakes, and that's a recipe for Nebraska disaster against Ohio State. If Nebraska's offense couldn't figure out Purdue's or Minnesota's defenses, why would it figure out Ohio State's on Saturday? That question should inform an Ohio State Nebraska prediction.

Ohio State's offense is not the problem. C.J. Stroud has steadily improved at quarterback this season, growing into the position under Ryan Day's coaching. It's the defense which needs attention, but Nebraska's offense does not appear ready to expose the Buckeyes at their weakest points.

Why Nebraska Could Cover the Spread

The Ohio State-Penn State game showed that a smart and clever offensive game plan (from Penn State and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich) can flummox the Ohio State defense. Nebraska can score in the 30s and keep this game close.

Final Ohio State-Nebraska Prediction & Pick

Ohio State will win the game, but Nebraska is desperately fighting to make a bowl game and salvage its season. The Huskers almost beat Michigan and Michigan State this season, so they figure to give Ohio State a competitive battle, much as they have competed well in every game this year. They won't do enough to win, but they regularly do enough to keep games close.

Final Ohio State-Nebraska Pick: Nebraska +14.5