Ohio State vs. Indiana Prediction, CFB Week 7 Odds & Best Bets (10/17)

Fact checked at 6:44 AM ET, Oct 17, 2026

Odds as of Oct 17, 5:54 AM ET

Both teams are unbeaten in Big Ten play. Ohio State is 5-1, and its only loss was a 24-23 decision at Texas on Sep 12. Indiana is 6-0, but its two closest games came against the two Big Ten teams that threw on it: Northwestern passed for 293 yards in a 29-23 loss, and Nebraska threw for 264 in last week's 20-17 home loss. Ohio State allows 150.7 passing yards a game and has held five of six opponents under 200. So the Buckeyes bring the better pass defense to Bloomington, and the better passing game to aim at a secondary that has already bent twice.

They are short in a couple of spots. Running back Ja'Kobi Jackson (foot) and right tackle Austin Siereveld are out on Friday's Big Ten availability report, and receiver Brock Boyd is doubtful. Receivers Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin are off the report after missing the Maryland game, and Bo Jackson moves back into the starting role at running back.

The line has moved toward Ohio State since it opened and now sits at -3, with a total of 50.5. FOX has the 12:00 PM ET kickoff from Memorial Stadium.

Ohio State vs. Indiana Predictions

• Pick #1: Jeremiah Smith 130+ Receiving Yards (-117)
• Pick #2: Ohio State -3 (-108)

PICK #1: Jeremiah Smith 130+ Receiving Yards (-117)

Smith's yardage tracks how much Ohio State throws. In the four games in which Julian Sayin attempted 25 or more passes, Smith went for 151 against Ball State, 164 at Texas, 217 against Illinois and 206 at Iowa. The two times he came up short, the Buckeyes didn't need him: 85 yards in a 59-3 rout of Kent State, where the backups threw six passes, and 93 against Maryland, when Ohio State ran it 48 times and Sayin threw just 21.

Saturday should look like the first group. Ja'Kobi Jackson is out, and Indiana has held four of its last five opponents under 70 rushing yards, so the easier path runs through the air, at a secondary that gave up 293 to Northwestern and 264 to Nebraska. The best defense Smith has faced was Texas, and he caught eight balls for 164 yards there.

He has cleared 130 in four of six games, and -117 implies 53.9%. Inniss and McCuin coming back adds targets, though McCuin caught passes in all four of Smith's big games. What sinks this is a lopsided score that takes the ball out of Sayin's hands.

PICK #2: Ohio State -3 (-108)

Ohio State has beaten five of six opponents by 17 or more. The one loss was by a point, on the road, at Texas. The defense gives up 13.2 points and 246.8 yards a game.

Indiana's 11.8 points allowed per game looks just as good, but North Texas, Howard and Western Kentucky did a lot of the work on that number, and both league opponents that could throw kept it to one score. Sayin has passed for at least 241 yards in every game. If Smith gets his yards, Ohio State should be finishing drives with touchdowns while Indiana settles for field goals, and three points at -108, a 51.9% break-even, is a price worth paying for that game.

If this goes wrong, it will probably be Indiana's ground game. The Hoosiers ran for 233 yards or more in four of their last five games, and Illinois put 199 rushing yards on this defense.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.