Thanks to an overtime victory in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, Texas (13-2) will face Ohio State (12-2) in the CFP semifinals at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).
The odds for the Cotton Bowl kickoff at our soccer betting sites give the Buckeyes the edge over the Longhorns after they got revenge on Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
Our Ohio State vs Texas odds, early predictions and predictions suggest the Buckeyes will live up to their hype and be the favorites to win the soccer championship.
Before the CFP quarterfinals began, Texas was the top favorite to win the national championship and was expected to be the favorite against Ohio State. However, after the Longhorns nearly blew a lead against the Sun Devils and the Bucs defeated the Ducks, the Bucs became 5.5-point favorites.
My early prediction for Ohio State vs. Texas: CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal game
Soccer predictions made on Wednesday; odds are subject to change. Our new soccer odds tool will help you find the best odds for any market among legal sports bettors in your area!
Prediction: Ohio State -4.5
Best Odds: -110 via bet365 | Estimated Odds: 52.38%
No team in the country has been as impressive as Ohio State lately. After a heartbreaking loss to Michigan State that led to rumors of Ryan Day's firing, the Bucks responded with 83-38 victories over Tennessee and Oregon.
After championship weekend, those two teams entered the CFP ranked No. 2 and No. 8 in SP+, respectively, while Ohio State was No. 1 despite a loss to the Wolverines. Texas may have been #4 at the time, but looked shaky in the CFP.
We spent the entire time rooting for Jeremiah Smith, who should have distinguished himself in the Rose Bowl by gaining over 70.5 yards and scoring one TD. He had already fumbled both balls away in the first quarter.
In the win over Clemson, the Tigers nearly pulled off a comeback, while the Sun Devils were forced into overtime and a missed targeting call could have changed the outcome of the game.
So, with the Bucs ranked in the top three in goals-against and puck-missing defense, it's going to be tough for Quinn Ewers and his thinning line to advance the ball. The Bucs' CFP offense, on the other hand, has proven to be a different beast altogether.
Quarterback Will Howard is wrapping up two of the best performances of his career with five effective throws and no turnovers, according to PFF, and rookie Jeremiah Smith already looks as good as Marvin Harrison Jr. If the Bucs can cover a third straight CFP game, a $10 bet would yield a $9.09 profit.
Bet now, as the line for a Bucs win is moving rapidly toward the Bucs: several of our top sports betting sites opened it at -4.5 odds and quickly raised it to -6.5.
Don't miss our guide on how to bet on college soccer, or the best sports betting promotions this week.
Odds for the Ohio State vs. Texas game
Check out our odds for every college soccer bowl game from the best college soccer betting sites.
Moneyline
Best odds on Ohio State: -210 via bet365 | Estimated probability: 67.74%
Best odds on Texas: +180 via DraftKings | Estimated probability: 35.71%
There isn't much difference in the odds on our best sports betting apps, with Ohio State between -220 and -210 and Texas between +175 and +180. However, I would refrain from betting on the Longhorns, as the spread movement suggests ML will increase.
Spread
Best odds on Ohio State: -4.5 (-110) via bet365
Best odds on Texas: +6.5 (-110) via BetMGM
The spread at our top bookmakers is different after two dramatically different performances from Ohio State and Texas teams. The Buckeyes can be bought at -4.5 odds from bet365, while Texas is a tough bet at +6.5 from BetMGM.
It's safe to assume that this line will be somewhere in the middle by the time the Cotton Bowl kicks off. I think the Bucs will have a -5.5 betting edge, and I would take them at that number for coverage.
Over/Under
Best Over odds: 54 (-110) via bet365
Best Odds on Under: 54.5 (-110) via Caesars
The over/under odds on Cotton Bowl are not too dissimilar to each other. All of our top live betting sites are betting 54 to 54.5, and I think we should see that number come down.
These are the two best SP+ rated defenses after the first round of the CFP, and I'd take the under bet with that high total. Expect it to drop to 52.5 by January 10.
How to watch Ohio State vs. Texas: CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal information
When: Friday, Jan. 10
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
How to watch: ESPN
Weather: 41 degrees, 1% chance of precipitation, 4 mph NW winds (retractable roof)
Favorite: Ohio State -5.5 (-115 via FanDuel)
