The fifth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes begin their college football season on the road today when they play the Navy Midshipmen. The game is scheduled for a noon start time and it will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network. Currently the odds for the game have Ohio State favored by a couple of possessions on the road.

Ohio State lost quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Miller to season-ending shoulder surgery. That's a major blow to a team that had national championship aspirations, but the Buckeyes and head coach Urban Meyer still believe they're going to be just fine. They'll hand the offense over to redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett, who has never taken a snap in college. His backup, Cardale Jones, is a redshirt sophomore that has only thrown two passes in his career as well. Barrett will become just the second freshman to start a season opener at Ohio State. The other was Art Schlichter back in 1978.

This is going to be a test for Ohio State. The Navy program prides itself on being solid defensively and running the football nearly every play of the game. Navy won nine games, including their final four, last season. They also picked up a win in the Armed Forces Bowl. Their quarterback situation isn't a problem as Keenan Reynolds will look to guide the Midshipmen to an upset win here. Reynolds scored an NCAA-record 31 rushing touchdowns by a quarterback last season. 

Expect Navy to try and keep the Ohio State defense on the field as much as possible here. If the Midshipmen can run the ball effectively and eat up some clock, they're going to hang around in this one.

Had Miller been on the field and healthy for this game, the Buckeyes would have had no problems picking up the win. But now Ohio State has to go to their second (and possibly) third options at the quarterback position and neither is really ready to start the season for the fifth-ranked team in college football. 

Ohio State should win this football game, but it's not going to be easy. Navy will keep the football on the ground and eat up a bunch of clock. That is going to allow them to hang around and this game will be decided in the fourth quarter.

Free Pick: Ohio State 31, Navy 23

 Handicapping Tips: NCAA Week 1 Betting

Ken Thomson and Bryan Leonard From Pregame.com take a look at some handicapping tips for betting week 1 of the NCAA football season.

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