Penn State is nearly a 3-touchdown underdog at Ohio State

Penn State is set for its Big Ten East title showdown with Ohio State, and the Buckeyes are a prohibitive favorite.

Circa Sports, which is always the first Las Vegas sportsbook to post college football lines each week, has made Saturday’s home team a 19-point favorite for the contest at noon. FOX will televise the game.

The unbeaten Buckeyes have crushed their last two opponents, as they have rolled over Rutgers and Maryland. Ohio State did that without star end Chase Young, who will return to the field on Saturday after missing the team’s last two games because of a NCAA suspension related to an improper loan that paid for his girlfriend to attend last year’s Rose Bowl, according to multiple reports.

Penn State, meanwhile, has split its last two contests, as it lost at Minnesota before hanging on to beat Indiana at Beaver Stadium thanks to a dominating 75-yard drive that drained the clock and led to the game-winning touchdown.

Another ? at every TD from #PennState's 34-27 victory over Indiana.#WeAre pic.twitter.com/OEN97iDCrF

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 17, 2019

“Since the beginning of the season, we’ve been the underdogs,” PSU linebacker Micah Parsons said. “You’re always looking forward, but that’s how you get distracted. This game means a lot, but if we just focus on beating Ohio State, everything else will play its part.

A huge game with huge implications. This one should be fun. Who’ve you got Saturday?

RT - #2 Ohio State ?
LIKE - #9 Penn State ⚪️

(Poll below) pic.twitter.com/LyrzFB3jVU

— CFB Home (@CFBHome) November 17, 2019

“That’s how you look at it, just one game at a time, and finishing strong.”

Circa Sports set the total at 59, which roughly implies a 39-21 Buckeyes victory.

As for the polls, Penn State is No. 9 in the Associated Press top-25, just like last week, but it did move up two spots to No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches poll. Ohio State, meanwhile, is No. 2 in both, but neither has much relevance as the College Football Playoff selection committee will release its latest rankings on Tuesday.