Ohio State vs. Akron odds, line, picks, bets: 2024 college football Week 1 predictions by proven model

The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes kick off their 2024 season at home against the Akron Zips Saturday on CBS and Paramount+ . The Buckeyes are looking to dominate the Big Ten this season after going 10-2 overall and 8-1 in conference play, bested only by the undefeated Michigan Wolverines. Meanwhile, the Zips went 2-10 on the season and have only defeated Ohio State once in the all-time matchup.

Kickoff at Ohio Stadium in Columbus is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes are 48.5-point favorites in the latest Ohio State vs. Akron odds via SportsLine consensus, down from opening at -50. The over/under for total points scored is 56.5, down from opening at 59. Before making any Ohio State vs. Akron picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model .

Saturday's game can be seen live on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+ , which you can now get for 50% off your first year plus a 7-day free trial (valid through 9/22/24).

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a stunning profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now the model has dialed in on Ohio State vs. Akron and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks . Now, here are the college football odds and trends for Akron vs. Ohio State:

• Ohio State vs. Akron spread: Ohio State -48.5
• Ohio State vs. Akron over/under: 56.5 points
• Ohio State vs. Akron picks: See picks here
  
• Ohio State vs. Akron streaming: Paramount+ (get 50% off first year of annual plan now through 9/22/24)

Why Akron can cover

The Zips haven't defeated the Buckeyes since 1894, but they could still keep Ohio State from covering on Saturday. They went 5-5-1 against the spread last season, including in a Week 4 matchup against Indiana where the Zips held on for an overtime loss.

Akron also gets a boost under center from former Cal quarterback Ben Finley , who had a 110.8 passer rating last season for the Bears. He will get offensive help from running back Charles Kellom and wide receiver Adrian Norton , who are inheriting large workloads since their predecessors have moved on to the NFL . See picks at SportsLine .

Why Ohio State can cover

Ohio State's offense will look different this year with Kyle McCord on a new team and Marvin Harrison Jr. gearing up for his first NFL campaign with the Arizona Cardinals. However, Will Howard is coming off of a career-best season at Kansas State , and he should get plenty of opportunities to air out the offense against an Akron defense that ranked 68th in college football in average points per game (28.0) and 123rd in turnovers forced (11). Running back TreVeyon Henderson is joined by Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins to give the Buckeyes one of the best backfield tandems in the nation.

The Buckeyes have several starting defenders returning for the 2024 season while adding former Alabama and All-American safety Caleb Downs into the mix. The offense is almost certain to post a huge number in this game and OSU's defense is capable of limiting Akron to a score or two, giving the Buckeyes a path to cover this massive number. See picks at SportsLine .

How to make Akron vs. Ohio State picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 66 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can see the model's pick at SportsLine .

So who wins Akron vs. Ohio State, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up well over $2,000 on top-rated spread picks since its inception , and find out, and don't forget to stream on Paramount+ .