Ohio State now an 18-point favorite over Virginia Tech, plus other lines

Way back in February, our friends at 5Dimes listed Ohio State as a 19-point favorite to open the season at Virginia Tech. Now that we're a little closer to the season, they've tweaked that line, and came out with lines for a few other Ohio State games as well, like the two Michigan games.

Ohio State is now listed as an 18-point favorite at Virginia Tech, which is still a really big number for a Monday night, season-opening, true road game against a squad with a very good defense (Ohio State was an 11-point favorite last year, and we know how that turned out).

The other lines that include Ohio State are:

• Northern Illinois at Ohio State (-31.5)
• Ohio State (-26.5) at Indiana
• Michigan State at Ohio State (-6.5)
• Ohio State (-9.5) at Michigan

Lines for Penn State and other games have not been posted this early, but if the Buckeyes are nearly a touchdown favorite over a Michigan State squad that could be in the preseason Top 10, it's probable that Ohio State would be favored in every other game this season; at least they would be in June, a long time away from actual football.

Nothing jumps out as a major surprise to me from these, although I imagine these will all continue to move a little bit throughout the summer, as roster turnover and injures force adjustments to depth charts. Either way, the bookmakers have some real confidence in Ohio State at this point, and really, who could blame them? We do too.