Ohio State vs. Indiana Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest CFB Odds for Saturday, October 17th
The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Bloomington for a top-five rematch of last season's Big Ten Championship Game against the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers. Can Josh Hoover and Indiana extend the nation's longest winning streak against Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and an Ohio State team seeking revenge for last December's title-game loss? Check out this Ohio State vs. Indiana prediction and best bet for Saturday, October 17.
Peter Alexis - October 17, 2026, 9:15 AM EDT
5 Minute ReadOhio State vs. Indiana Prediction: Will Buckeyes Get Revenge on Undefeated Hoosiers on Saturday Afternoon?
No. 4 Ohio State visits No. 5 Indiana for a noon ET kickoff on FOX in the first top-five matchup ever played at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. The Buckeyes are 5-1 and 3-0 in Big Ten play, while Indiana is 6-0 and 3-0.
Ohio State is favored by 3.5 points with the total at 50.5. Indiana enters riding a 22-game winning streak and already owns a recent victory over the Buckeyes, beating Ohio State 13-10 in last season's Big Ten Championship Game.
Ohio State vs. Indiana Recent Results
Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1), (3-0 Big Ten)
Ohio State won its fourth consecutive game with a 45-16 victory over Maryland. The Buckeyes have scored at least 31 points in every game since their one-point loss at Texas.
Julian Sayin enters Saturday with 1,772 passing yards and has directed one of the most efficient passing offenses in the country. His ability to distribute the ball quickly has allowed Ohio State to consistently create explosive gains without forcing difficult throws.
Jeremiah Smith remains the matchup problem every defense must solve. He has already produced 916 receiving yards, giving Indiana a much more difficult challenge than simply slowing Ohio State's rushing attack.
The Buckeyes' defense has also remained elite. Ohio State has held five of six opponents below 20 points and allowed only 14 at Iowa in its previous road conference game.
Indiana Hoosiers (6-0), (3-0 Big Ten)
Indiana extended its winning streak to 22 games with a dramatic 20-17 victory at Nebraska. The Hoosiers trailed 17-6 in the fourth quarter before Josh Hoover connected with Nick Marsh for touchdowns of 75 and 44 yards.
Hoover enters Saturday as one of only two quarterbacks nationally with at least 15 touchdown passes and no interceptions. His combination of efficiency and ball security has allowed Indiana to repeatedly win the turnover battle or finish even.
Marsh delivered his biggest game of the season at Nebraska with six receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns. That explosiveness gives Indiana a legitimate answer to Smith on the other side.
The defense continues to produce as well. Indiana has won 22 consecutive games while allowing fewer than 24 points, demonstrating that last season's national championship run was not simply a one-year offensive surge.
Ohio State vs. Indiana Head to Head
Ohio State has dominated the overall series, but Indiana won the meeting that mattered most last season.
- December 6, 2025: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10
- November 23, 2024: Ohio State 38, Indiana 15
- September 2, 2023: Ohio State 23, Indiana 3
- November 12, 2022: Ohio State 56, Indiana 14
The 2025 Big Ten Championship ended decades of Ohio State dominance in the series and gave Indiana another major program milestone.
Ohio State still enters having won 30 of the last 32 meetings, but this version of Indiana bears little resemblance to the teams responsible for most of that history.
Ohio State vs. Indiana Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2026
- Time: 12:00 PM ET
- Location: Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
- How to Watch: FOX
Ohio State vs. Indiana Odds
- Spread: Ohio State -3.5 (-108), Indiana +3.5 (-112)
- Total Points: Over 50.5 (-110), Under 50.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Ohio State (-180), Indiana (+150)
Click here for the latest Ohio State vs. Indiana Odds
Ohio State vs. Indiana Line Movement and Betting Splits
Indiana opened closer to +3 before the market moved through the key number and reached +3.5. The total has also climbed from roughly 48.5 into the 50.5 range.
The spread betting strongly favors Ohio State. The Buckeyes are receiving approximately 69% of tickets and 75% of the handle at -3.5.
The moneyline is even more one-sided, with roughly 82% of wagers and 86% of the handle backing Ohio State. Indiana enters as a relatively unpopular home underdog despite being undefeated and carrying a 22-game winning streak.
Ohio State vs. Indiana Prediction
The hook above three is the foundation of the wager. Ohio State is good enough to win in Bloomington, but asking the Buckeyes to create four or more points of separation against a team that has not lost in nearly two full seasons is materially different from simply asking them to win.
Indiana's quarterback play provides another reason to trust the underdog. Hoover has thrown at least 15 touchdowns without an interception and has repeatedly protected the football in high-pressure situations. Giving Ohio State extra possessions is the fastest way for this game to get away, and Indiana has been exceptional at avoiding that mistake.
The Hoosiers also have a legitimate explosive receiving threat in Marsh. His 187-yard performance at Nebraska showed that Indiana can create points quickly when a defense becomes too aggressive. Ohio State cannot simply devote every resource to controlling the run.
Smith is still the most dangerous player in the matchup. Indiana's secondary will have to survive stretches where Ohio State creates favorable one-on-one situations, and Sayin has shown he can consistently find them.
The home environment provides another advantage. This is the first top-five game in Memorial Stadium history, and Indiana is playing with an opportunity to validate last season's championship victory rather than simply celebrate it. The atmosphere should create a much different challenge than Ohio State's previous trip to Bloomington in 2023.
Ohio State's defense makes an Indiana outright win difficult to project confidently. The Buckeyes have allowed fewer than 20 points in five of six games and can force Indiana into a lower-possession game where every mistake becomes magnified.
That same scoring environment makes +3.5 more valuable. If this resembles last season's 13-10 championship game or becomes a 24-21 type of contest, Indiana can lose narrowly and still cash. The Hoosiers have enough quarterback efficiency, defensive structure and home-field advantage to remain within one possession.
Ohio State vs. Indiana Best Bet
- Best Bet: Indiana +3.5 (-112) Check out these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Ohio State deserves to be favored, but the market is asking the Buckeyes to clear the most important field-goal margin on the road against an undefeated defending champion.
Indiana already proved it can beat Ohio State in a low-scoring game, and Hoover has given the offense a more explosive passing element without sacrificing ball security. With +3.5 providing protection against a three-point defeat, the Hoosiers are the preferred side.
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