Top Five Big Ten Battle: #4 Ohio State vs. #5 Indiana NCAA Football Picks (10/17)
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Thu Oct 15, 2026, 4:57 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
ncaaf
Spread
Total
Moneyline
-3.5
-105
50
-110u
-165
Spread
Total
Moneyline
+3.5
-110
50
-105o
+150
We've got a HUGE Big Ten battle in Bloomington this Saturday, which could be a foreshadowing of this year's conference championship. Last season, the only meeting between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Indiana Hoosiers came in the Big Ten Championship, where Indiana was victorious, winning 13-10. Perhaps Ryan Day's team is playing with revenge on their mind as the two meet in the regular season this year. Will Curt Cignetti keep on winning? Or do the Buckeyes show they have what it takes? Find out with our expert NCAA Football picks below.
Check out the best odds on the market and tons of picks for the NCAA Football Season.
NCAA Football Expert Insights: #4 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #5 Indiana Hoosiers
Turbo Richard and the Hoosiers are looking for a big win against the Buckeyes in Bloomington this Saturday
Ohio State has already suffered a loss this year. And a bad one at that. They led the Longhorns 23-3 early in the second half before the hosts came crawling back. This team needs perfection from here on out. Plus, they have the advantage of heading into the bye week. Day needs to make sure his guys are focused, and help get them across the finish line with a road victory before some much needed rest. They've had this one circled since losing in last year's conference championship. A chance to give Indiana their first loss since January of 2025.
Everyone saw the Hoosiers struggle against Nebraska in Lincoln last weekend, but perhaps Indiana was caught looking ahead. We know one thing, Curt Cignetti did what he does best… he won. It wasn't pretty, but they all count the same. With that being said, they go to The Big House next weekend to face off against Michigan. Will their full focus be on the task at hand?
Matchup Information – Ohio State vs. Indiana – October 17
- Venue & Location: Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN)
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Kick Off: 12:00 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: FOX
Buckeyes vs. Hoosiers Betting Odds
Odds listed are from BetOnline as of Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 4:03 p.m. eastern.
Spread
- Ohio State -3.5 (-105)
- Indiana +3.5 (-115)
Moneyline
- Ohio State -173
- Indiana +152
Total
- Over 50.5 (-110)
- Under 50.5 (-110)
#4 Ohio State vs. #5 Indiana: NCAA Football Expert Picks
Jeremiah Smith has been torching opposing defenses all year long. Is he the undisputed Heisman already?
Ohio State vs. Indiana Prediction: Ohio State Wins & Covers, Over 50.5
Best Bets: Ohio State Team Total Over 27.5 (-104) BetOnline
These two teams were involved in a game that had just 23 points less than a year ago. So why back the Buckeyes team total? For several reasons.
First and foremost, the offense has been booming. Ohio State might have the most explosive offense in the nation, as they've proven they can score points in bunches. The Buckeyes have put up 56, 59, 42, 31, and 45 points this season. Yes, they only scored 23 against Texas, but that was also in just two and a half quarters, as they were shutout in the final 22 minutes of game time. It's also worth noting that the Northwestern Wildcats went into Bloomington and scored 23. The Buckeyes are capable of at least five more on the scoreboard.
Indiana's defense was one of the best in the nation last season. This year… not so much. They struggled to slow down Nebraska last week, they face a hungry Buckeye's team that can't afford to slip up, and their offense has not been performing up to the standard. Cignetti has to work out those issues, he won't have time to worry about the defense. Ohio State turns this into a shootout early and never looks back.
Still Want More NCAA Football Content?
Here at Betting News, we offer Free Expert Picks for every major sports league. We also host daily streams on our Twitch Channel with our best bets, as well as sweat out games on Playback! Be sure to tune into everything we have going on at our Youtube, TikTok, and X pages as well. Be sure to follow my personal X account as well, @Shaggy_Bets for my full daily card.
- NCAA Football Betting Guide
- Expert NCAA Football Picks
- NCAA Football National Championship Odds
- 2026-27 Heisman Odds
- Biggest CFB Storylines for 2026-27
More NCAAF News
NCAAF Betting News
Which team can avoid the letdown? Expert Picks (10/17)
NCAAF Betting News
Midweek CUSA Showdowns: NCAA Football Expert Picks & Predictions (10/14)
Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly
Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER
Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.