Toledo @ #3 Ohio State

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toledo Rockets (2-0)

@ #3 Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0)

Current odds:

Toledo Rockets: (+2500)

Ohio State Buckeyes: (-10000)

• The spread for this game is Ohio State by 31.5 points.

• In this battle of Ohio, one team has one of the top offenses in the country, averaging 46 points through two games. No, it’s not Ohio State. Instead, it’s Toledo, the No. 3 Buckeyes’ opponent in Columbus on Saturday night.

• Granted, Toledo (2-0) hasn’t played teams the caliber of Ohio State (2-0), but 37-0 and 55-10 victories over Long Island University and UMass, respectively, have catapulted the Rockets into a tie for 16th with Oklahoma State in scoring. Plus, the Rockets are tied for second (with Minnesota and Tulane) behind Georgia in scoring defense at 5.0 points.

• Given the spate of upsets nationally during the first two weeks of the season, the Rockets can envision being next in line to knock off a Power Five program.

• The Buckeyes, who led FBS last season with an average of 45.7 points per game, are scoring at a 33-point clip this year following wins over Notre Dame, 21-10, and Arkansas State, 45-12, but that isn’t enough to satisfy the fans or coach Ryan Day.

• An injury to star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has prevented the Buckeyes from operating at full strength. He has not played since the first half of the Notre Dame game after a hamstring injury, but Day said he should be available Saturday. Smith-Njigba led Ohio State with 1,606 receiving yards in 2021.

• Day said he also expects wide receiver Julian Fleming to play on Saturday. Fleming, who had 12 receptions last season, had an undisclosed injury late in training camp and has not played this season.

• Marvin Harrison Jr. stepped up against Arkansas State by catching three of the four touchdown passes thrown by C.J. Stroud.

• Toledo will counter with dual-threat QB Dequan Finn, who rushed for 74 yards on seven carries with two touchdowns and passed for 177 yards and a score.

• With all of the offensive firepower on the field Saturday, the defenses will draw attention. Ohio State has allowed one touchdown this season, and the rush defense is 11th nationally, giving up 129 yards. However, the Buckeyes have yet to force a turnover.

• Toledo is led by former Ohio State linebacker Dallas Gant, who has a team-high 20 tackles. He was in his fourth season for the Buckeyes when he entered the transfer portal last September and eventually returned to his hometown, where his father played for the Rockets and his mother was a cheerleader at the school.