Vegas Oddsmakers Undervalue Braxton Miller As New Ohio State Numbers Are Posted

For Ohio State’s Week 1 game at Navy, the LVH SuperBook reopened OSU an 11.5-point favorite. OSU was -17.5 at the beginning of the week.

Three of Ohio State’s Big 10 clashes are posted on the LVH’s Games of the Year board, and in one of them – Nov. 8 at Michigan State – the Buckeyes went from a small favorite to an underdog of more than a field goal.

Oddsmakers, though, are undervaluing Miller, according to The Linemakers on Sporting News’ Kenny White, one of the most respected bookmaking minds in Vegas.

“I think it’s about a 10-point drop off” from Miller to J.T. Barrett, who is line to become the Buckeyes’ new starter, Kenny said.

The first move the LVH made upon the Miller news Tuesday was raising OSU’s odds to win the national championship game from 12-to-1 to 50-to-1.

“They should probably be 100-to-1 because they have no shot,” Kenny opined.

On Wednesday, new Big 10 futures prices were posted. While OSU maintained its status as conference favorite, its odds moved from 5-to-4 to 3-to-1.

Kenny, though, no longer believes OSU is the even best team in the conference.

“They should probably be 10-to-1 because Michigan is 10-to-1 and Michigan is better than them now,” he said.

“I think there’s some value on Michigan,” Kenny added. “I like Michigan. I think (QB) Devin Gardner’s going to have a really good year. The coach (Brady Hoke) is on the hot seat, but he’s a really good coach, and they have a lot of talent back.”

Here are updated point spreads and futures on Ohio State from the SuperBook, with odds prior to the Miller news listed in parentheses.

Saturday, Aug 30 Ohio State -11.5 (-17.5) at Navy

Saturday, Oct 25 Ohio State -4.5 (-11) at Penn State

Saturday, Nov. 8 Ohio State (-1.5) at Michigan State -4

Saturday, Nov. 29Michigan at Ohio State -7.5 (-12)

Odds to win Big 10 championship Ohio State 3-1 (5-4) Wisconsin 12-5 (3-1) Michigan State 12-5 (3-1) Iowa 6-1 (9-1) Michigan 10-1 (12-1) Northwestern 10-1 (12-1) Nebraska 10-1 (12-1) Maryland 30-1 (40-1) Indiana 50-1 (60-1) Minnesota 60-1 (60-1) Illinois 100-1 (100-1) Rutgers 500-1 (500-1) Purdue 500-1 (500-1) Penn State (ineligible)