Against the Spread: How to Bet OSU-Pittsburgh

Mike Gundy’s Cowboys laid a beatdown on an overmatched opponent in South Alabama on Friday evening, moving to 2-0 against the spread in Vegas this season with a 44-7 win and near shutout from the defense.

With OSU’s first Power 5 opponent looming on Saturday, here’s everything you need to know before you lay money down on the Cowboys’ second road game of the season at Pittsburgh.

Against the spread in 2017

• OSU: 2-0 — It’s never a great feeling laying 27.5 points on the road, even if it’s a Sun Belt opponent. But OSU cleared the hurdle with ease Friday to remain undefeated against the spread this season.

Against Pitt, OSU opened as an 11.5 point favorite and that line has since risen to 14 on Bovada.

• Pitt: 0-1-1 — Pitt hasn’t won against the spread thus far, having endured a closer-than-expected opener against Youngstown State (who covered) and getting a push against Penn State this weekend by losing by 19 points with a spread of 19.

Advice: Take OSU and give the points. Against Penn State, Pitt struggled mightily on offense. I think Rudolph and the Pokes will run laps around the Panthers, who simply won’t have the man power to keep pace. So long as the line stays under 20, it’s fair game to me.

Straight up in 2017

• OSU: 2-0 — Tulsa and S. Alabama were no match for the Pokes, who have handled their opponents with an average margin of victory this season at 36.

• Pitt: 1-1 — The Panthers barely beat a middling Youngstown State team, and lost pretty handily to Penn State.

Advice: Take OSU straight up, without question. Pokes roll.

Over/Under

• OSU: The Pokes and Tulsa hit the over, but OSU and South Alabama combined for just 51 points Friday — 17 points short of the line.

• Pitt: Under is the way to be for Pitt, which has gone under by a combined 33 points in 2 games.

Advice: The over/under is set at 65.5. Take the over. OSU might hit the over on offense alone!

Bonus picks

• Take Duke -13.5 vs. Baylor: Baylor just lost by 7 points to UTSA. Against a Power 5 opponent, I’m fearful (yet somewhat excited) to see what an ACC team like Duke can draw up against the Bears. So take Duke -13.5, because I think this could get ugly. Plus, Duke is 2-0 against the spread and won by double digits as an underdog this past weekend. Oh, and this one’s in Durham.

• #RollTide with Bama as a 27.5-point home favorite over Colorado State. Against Fresno State this weekend, Saban’s squad allowed 10 points — even more than Florida State scored in Week 1! I can see Saban overhauling his defense entirely because of this development (kidding, I think), and CSU will be all the worse for it.

• Hook the Horns vs. USC — Tom Herman’s squad is 17-point road dogs against the fourth-ranked Trojans. Yeah, the Maryland game was a stinker. And no, I don’t think Texas is back. But I do believe Texas will keep it within 17 with maybe a little backdoor cover action in garbage time …

Happy betting, folks. May the odds be ever in your favor.