#8 Ohio State vs #5 Texas: Odds, Predictions & Key Insights | January 10, 2025

Round three of the College Basketball Playoffs is set to be a showdown, with No. 8 Ohio State taking on No. 5 Texas in the Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes come off a dominant win over Oregon, while the Longhorns barely escaped Arizona State in an overtime thriller. With contrasting performances in their previous matchups, this game promises to be a fascinating clash of styles and strengths.

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College football 2024: 70-62-3 (+0.96 Units)

College Football Playoffs Round Two results: 2-2 (-o.75 Units)

#8 Ohio State vs #5 Texas Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Football games.

Spread:

Ohio State: -5.5 (-110)

Texas: +5.5 (-110)

Total

Over: 53 (-110)

Under: 53 (-110)

Moneyline

Ohio State: -225

Texas: +195

#8 Ohio State vs #5 Texas Bet

Round three of the College Basketball Playoffs is here, and it’s a thrilling matchup: No. 8 Ohio State faces off against No. 5 Texas in the Cotton Bowl. These two teams come into the game riding completely different waves—Ohio State dominated the Ducks, while Texas had to fight through overtime to edge out the Sun Devils in a wild round two thriller.

So, did the Sun Devils expose the two-touchdown favorite Longhorns? Absolutely. Were the Sun Devils a more dangerous team than most realized? Without a doubt. Or perhaps Texas is not quite as strong as we thought? Again, yes. As someone who bet on Texas to cover -13.5 against Arizona State, I was expecting them to roll through with an easy win, which would have given me a better number to fade them in this matchup. From the beginning, I was always ready to jump ship on the Longhorns and take whoever emerged victorious from the Rose Bowl.

Thanks Michigan!

The Michigan loss late in the season might have been the best thing to happen to Ohio State. Since that setback, they’ve demolished Tennessee 42-17 and Oregon 41-21, outscoring their playoff opponents by over 20 points. They’ve racked up more than 470 total yards in both games, and their offense is firing on all cylinders right now. Meanwhile, after Texas’ lackluster performance against Arizona State, I can’t see them stepping up to face one of the most potent offenses in the playoffs.

While Texas boasts an outstanding defense, they completely faltered against Arizona State. The Sun Devils outgained the Longhorns by 135 yards and tallied over 500 total yards—remarkable for a defense that has held opponents under 300 yards all season.

Can Texas keep up?

Now, the Longhorns’ offense, which looked sluggish for most of the game, has to face off against one of the best defenses in the nation. Ohio State’s defense has been impenetrable, holding teams under 300 total yards all season long. They completely shut down both Oregon and Tennessee, limiting them to fewer than 300 yards.

With Texas struggling to break through a defense that’s far less formidable than Ohio State’s, I just don’t see how their offense gets it done here. Despite the loss, Arizona State’s defense kept them in the game, and Texas didn’t capitalize. It’s hard to imagine the Longhorns finding their groove against a defense like the Buckeyes’.

Give me the Buckeyes to win and cover.

Bet: Ohio State (-5.5) on BetOnline

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