Texas football vs Ohio State: Cotton Bowl predictions, picks

On January 10, 2025By Littum

Texas football is one of the final four teams left in the College Football Playoff for the second year in a row. A national championship is in sight – but a very strong roster stands in the way.

Texas will face Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on Friday as an underdog for the first time since their win over Alabama in 2023. The Buckeyes have NFL talent in spades; some will be drafted this year and others are simply waiting to become eligible to turn pro.

BUY TICKETS TO SEE THE COTTON BOWL

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is a Kansas State transfer who didn’t fare well against Texas in the Big 12. However, the Buckeyes’ receiving core of Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate has allowed the senior to blossom into one of the college football’s best throwers. Texas has the Jim Thorpe Award winner in Jahdae Barron with outstanding safeties Michael Taaffe and Andrew Mukuba, but they haven’t seen this caliber of weapons.

On the other side of the ball, quarterback Quinn Ewers will have to handle a balanced defense that features a strong defensive line led by JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. Safety Caleb Downs, a transfer from Alabama, has had an outstanding sophomore season while leading the secondary.

Texas’ rushing attack was unable to muster much against Arizona State. Running backs Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue will need to bring their A-game to diversify an offense that leaned heavily on Ewers’ arm against Arizona State.

Here are predictions from ESPN, CBS and other outlets for the Cotton Bowl:

Danny Davis: Texas. Both Texas and Ohio State have good defenses and offensive standouts, so this is a coin flip for me. The Longhorn will shock the world and Vegas oddsmakers. Not by winning (a No. 5 seed beating a No. 8 seed is not an upset), but by playing on special teams to secure a trip to the national championship game.

David Eckert: Ohio State 31, Texas 24. Ohio State is the more balanced team in this matchup and that will be the reason why the Buckeyes leave Arlington with a win. Texas has leaned on its dominant defense to make up for an underperforming and error-prone offense and botched special teams units, but it hasn’t been enough in the only two games the Longhorns have played against a team of comparable athleticism and size.

Caleb Yum: Ohio State 37, Texas 35. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers carries the offense against a stout Ohio State defense, but it’s not enough. The Buckeyes pull off a close win as the Longhorns’ defense is finally overwhelmed by a superior roster.

CBS staff picked Ohio State as the outright winner.

Dennis Dodd: Ohio State

Tom Fornelli: Ohio State

Shehan Jeyarajah: Ohio State

Richard Johnson: Ohio State

Brandon Marcello: Ohio State

Chip Patterson: Ohio State

Jerry Palm: Ohio State

They also picked the Buckeyes to cover the spread.

Dennis Dodd: Ohio State

Tom Fornelli: Ohio State

Shehan Jeyarajah: Ohio State

Richard Johnson: Ohio State

Brandon Marcello: Ohio State

Chip Patterson: Ohio State

Jerry Palm: Ohio State

ESPN’s College Football Power Index prediction gives Ohio State a 54% chance to beat Texas on Friday. It favors the Buckeyes by 1.3 points.

Texas vs Ohio State predictions, picks, betting odds

Odds provided by Bet MGM from Wednesday 8 January.

Ohio State is favored by 6 points.

Spread: Ohio State by 6
Above/below: 53½
Moneyline: Ohio State (-225), Texas (+185)

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