COLLEGE · WEEK 9 · SAT OCT 31 · 7:30PM ET

Ohio State vs USC Picks, Odds & Best Bets: October 31, 2026

By SlateLines · Oct 30, 2026

October 30, 2026

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#2 Ohio State

7:30PM ET

USC

Week 9

GAME PICK · LEAN

Ohio State −6.5−110

Pick locks at 4:30PM ET

Opened −115 → now −110

We posted −115 at Fanatics · now −110 at FanDuel

21+ · Gambling involves risk and can be addictive · Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER · Picks are opinion and analysis, not financial advice. Odds move; confirm at the book.

Julian Sayin is out, and Ohio State hasn’t said who starts at quarterback. That changes how much we trust our own number here. When the quarterback picture shifts, we go with the board, and the board still says Ohio State by about a touchdown. Buckeyes.

The Matchup

Ohio State’s season. The No. 2 Buckeyes are 6-1. The only loss was 24-23 at Texas, and they won 31-14 at Iowa and 19-15 at Indiana. They’re coming off a week off.
USC is wobbling. The Trojans are 6-2 and lost 24-7 at Wisconsin in their last game. The other loss was 41-27 to Oregon.
The quarterback. Sayin hurt his throwing arm in the win at Indiana and is out indefinitely. Coach Ryan Day hasn’t named a starter between freshman Luke Fahey and redshirt freshman Tavien St. Clair, but he’s said Fahey has been ahead.
Kickoff. 7:30 PM ET at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, on NBC.

Injuries

Beyond Sayin, Ohio State is without freshman receiver Brock Boyd, and receiver Brandon Inniss is questionable. Offensive lineman Austin Siereveld is cleared after missing two games.

The Number

Our ratings have Ohio State by about 12, but those ratings were built with Sayin at quarterback. Without him, we don’t trust them, so this pick comes from the board. That’s why there’s no gap on the card.

The honest case against: a freshman quarterback on the road at night is exactly the kind of spot where favorites lose. It’s a Game Pick, a lean, and like every pick we post, it lands on the receipts page win or lose. Our college ratings haven’t beaten the lines in testing, so every college pick is a lean.

Bottom Line

Take Ohio State minus six and a half at -110 at Fanatics. Lean. The better roster, against a team that just scored 7 at Wisconsin. O-H.

Lines as posted Friday morning. Injury news for Saturday is expected, not confirmed, so check before kickoff. We don’t post college player props.

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