College football’s top-ranked team has been stingier than Scrooge McDuck thus far this season, allowing a single touchdown through three games. Will Washington find more success vs. Ohio State than the Buckeyes’ first three opponents? The Buckeyes lock horns with the Huskies on Saturday afternoon in Seattle (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS), with both teams looking to begin Big Ten play with a win.
Through a dozen quarters of football this season, the lone points allowed by the Buckeyes are a fourth-quarter touchdown in their season-opening 14-7 win over Texas. After following that momentous win over the Longhorns by brushing aside Grambling and Ohio, the Buckeyes are set for their first road test as they take on the Huskies to kick off their conference campaign.
Will that continue this week? Washington is off to a 3-0 start this season behind outstanding offensive production. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (998 total yards, 8 total TD), running back Jonah Coleman (497 total yards, 10 total TD), and receiver Denzel Boston (16 catches, 249 yards, 3 TD) have stood out in the Huskies’ wins over Colorado State, UC Davis, and Apple Cup rival Washington State.
But a matchup with the No. 1 team in the country is a major step up from that level of competition. To hang with the Buckeyes, the Huskies must bring their best and then some.
Can the home team make things interesting in this matchup? Read on for our Ohio State vs. Washington prediction and best bets, along with the best value odds from BetOnline and other top online sportsbooks.
Ohio State vs. Washington Betting Trends
Ohio State vs. Washington Prediction and Best Bets
Prediction: Ohio State to win
That the spread is where it is indicates that the upset is not seen as a long shot.
It is also somewhat surprising to see the spread here since the Huskies are unranked and not even receiving any votes in the AP poll this week (and ranked 33rd in the Coaches Poll).
But the Buckeyes do have a new starting quarterback who is making his first road start, and their defense is going up an offense that has been explosive both through the air and on the ground.
There are certainly elements that could set the foundation for fireworks for the home team and frustration for the defending national champions. Every top team has to navigate at least a couple of tricky tilts over the course of the season, and the matchup vs. Washington could be one for Ohio State.
But though the Huskies have an offense good enough to keep the Buckeyes on their toes for four quarters, Ohio State is still the pick here. Quarterback Julian Sayin is coming off of consecutive 300-yard games, the Buckeyes have three running backs capable of producing, and the defense may well still have a say even if it bends more than it has to date.
Ohio State vs. Washington Best Bets
1) Washington First Half +4.5 (-115 at BetOnline)
I don’t see Ohio State overlooking or underestimating this matchup vs. Washington. So, this choice is not based in thinking the Buckeyes will come out complacent and sluggish thinking that they can wake up in the second half and stroll away with the win.
It is more based on thinking highly of Washington’s offense and its ability to attack early and feed off what should be an electric atmosphere at Husky Stadium.
Also, while Sayin threw only one more incompletion combined (eight) against Grambling and Ohio than he did against Texas (seven), three of his eight incompletions were interceptions, one against the Tigers and two against the Bobcats. Washington has four interceptions in three games, and an early turnover could go a long way in helping this bet cash.
2) Demond Williams Over 212.5 Passing Yards (-115 at Lucky Rebel)
Being able to make some gains in the ground game will be key for Washington vs. Ohio State, but Williams will also need to make some plays through the air.
He went over this number against Colorado State (226), UC Davis (254), and Washington State (298) while logging 24 attempts (18 completions) against the Rams, 25 attempts (16 completions) against the Aggies, and 19 attempts (16 completions) against the Cougars.
He might need more attempts and completions to make it happen against the Buckeyes, but if you think that the Huskies will be playing catchup at some point or all game long, you should consider adding this bet to your card since trailing should result in an increase in aerial attempts and yards.
I also pondered the over on Williams’ rushing total (currently 40.5) because of what he can do with his legs. But because sacks subtract from quarterback rushing yards in college football, I hesitate to take that one since I’m not sure he gains enough against this defense to offset yardage lost through sacks.
3) Jonah Coleman to Score 2+ Touchdowns (+240 at Bovada)
There are multiple Coleman props that I have considered, but this one gets priority because of the value.
Coleman had two rushing touchdowns against Colorado State, five rushing touchdowns against UC Davis, and two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown against Washington State.
The Buckeyes could bottle up Coleman (347 rushing yards at a clip of 6.9 yards per carry) on the ground, but he could still find the end zone multiple times, not least because he can make things happen as a receiving option as well. He had six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown against Washington State, and four of his eight catches thus far this season have gone for 22, 24, 34, and 45 yards.
He also scored Washington’s first touchdowns against Colorado State and UC Davis and is +240 to be Washington’s first touchdown scorer, which is also worth a sprinkle.
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