Ohio State Buckeyes become Vegas favorite in one key betting market as 2024 college football season nears
The Ohio State Buckeyes continue to receive hype and expectations as the 2024 college football season nears. Vegas sportsbooks like BetMGM have seen bettors flock toward the Buckeyes in recent weeks, and the betting markets have shifted. The most recent change has been significant for those who believe the team will make the first 12-team […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes continue to receive hype and expectations as the 2024 college football season nears. Vegas sportsbooks like BetMGM have seen bettors flock toward the Buckeyes in recent weeks, and the betting markets have shifted. The most recent change has been significant for those who believe the team will make the first 12-team College Football Playoff.
Already with the second-best odds to win the national championship, the Buckeyes watched their odds to make the Playoffs jump significantly. Let's take a look to see what it means and whether bettors can still glean value from the change.
Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Prop Movement
The Buckeyes watched their line to make the College Football Playoff go from -550 at open to -750 at BetMGM over the last week, per a sportsbook spokesperson I contacted. Subsequently, Oregon moved from -200 to -300, but the Buckeyes are easily the top favorite to make the postseason tournament of any team across the country.
That means it would bring only a $100 return for every $750 you bet on the Buckeyes to make the Playoff. That's one of the worst returns we see in sports futures, but it's also a relatively safe play. Sharps won't go near this, but more casual players might view this as an "easy" $100 for every $750 spent.
The volume of the handle, or the amount of money wagered, also shows the Buckeyes as the most bet-on team in the country. A whopping 12.7 percent of bets have been placed on the Buckeyes, ahead of Texas at 12 percent and Alabama at 9.3 percent.
Colorado actually has the most tickets on them despite now being a +1800 long shot to make the Playoff. But their handle is low, so a lot of people are putting a small amount on Shedeur Sanders and Deion Sanders to make magic happen this fall.
Should you bet on the Buckeyes at -750? I wouldn't advise it as someone with a decade's experience in sports betting and gaming. I also would say it's a safe bet, even if it's a terrible return on investment, so it's not the worst overall wager you could make.
