COLUMBUS \u2014 Ohio State has always been one of the two favorites to win the national title in January since the beginning of the offseason. The Buckeyes odds have shifted, though, since the season actually began.<\/p>\n
No, Ohio State isn\u2019t the favorite to win the title. That\u2019s Georgia (+270). But the Buckeyes have the second-best odds to win it all, checking in at +350. Texas (+550) has the third-best odds after a big win over Michigan on the road this past weekend.<\/p>\n
After the Longhorns, there\u2019s quite a large drop off. Alabama and Oregon (+1100) and Ole Miss (+1500) are in the next tier down below those top three of Texas, Ohio State and Georgia.<\/p>\n
The Buckeyes have won their first two games by a combined score of 108-6, but those games have come against MAC programs.<\/p>\n
The schedule doesn\u2019t get much tougher; Ohio State faces Marshall next week before opening Big Ten play on the road at Michigan State on Sept. 28.<\/p>\n
Ohio State doesn\u2019t play this week. Neither does Marshall. The next time these teams play, they\u2019ll be on the same field. Now the kickoff time for the Buckeyes\u2019 final nonconference game of the regular season has been set.<\/p>\n
The Buckeyes will face Marshall in the early window on Sept. 21, and they\u2019ll get the FOX Big Noon Kickoff treatment for the first time this season.<\/p>\n
Ohio State is coming off a pair of easy tune-up wins, those coming against MAC opponents Akron and Western Michigan. The early portion of the Buckeyes slate hasn\u2019t provided much excitement as they have cruised to a 2-0 record.<\/p>\n
Marshall, meanwhile, destroyed Stony Brook in a 45-3 win before falling on Saturday to Virginia Tech. The Hokies won 31-14.<\/p>\n
With just two games under their belts, the Buckeyes still want to see plenty of improvement, which is why they\u2019re calling this off week an \u2018improvement week.\u2019 They\u2019re already at work.<\/p>\n
Ohio State coach Ryan Day sat down for a lengthy interview with On3\u2019s Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman on Monday. Make sure to watch that below.<\/p>\n