Oregon escaped with a victory against OSU once this season, and history will have a funny way of repeating itself in the CFP quarterfinal... There are a lot of great things about the 12-team College Football Playoff. The fact we might see the best two teams face off in the quarterfinals isn’t one of them. My Ohio State vs. Oregon predictions explain why I like the Ducks to stay perfect and send the Buckeyes home empty handed in the Rose Bowl on January 1.
Oregon moneyline ( +110 at BetMGM )
Picks made at time of writing may not reflect live odds. My analysis
The Rose Bowl would usually be an awesome place for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks to settle their differences. However, I speak for most college football fans when I say I wish these two powerhouses were meeting in the National Championship Game instead. The No. 1 seed Ducks are undefeated at 13-0 and were crowned Big Ten champions in their first year in the conference. Their record includes wins over Ohio State in the regular season and Penn State in the conference title game. Meanwhile, the No. 8 seed Buckeyes enter this matchup with an 11-2 record. A one-point loss at Oregon back in October isn’t anything to be upset about, but losing to rival Michigan at home 13-10 as 20-point favorites made some question whether Ryan Day’s team would live up to the lofty expectations bestowed upon them in the preseason. A 42-17 beatdown of Tennessee in the first round of the CFP reminded everyone just how scary good this Ohio State team can be. The other thing of note in that first-round win was Ryan Day got out of his own way and put the ball in the hands of his best players — Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka and let them do their thing, torching a very good Vols defense. However, Smith and Egbuka were injured in the last matchup against Oregon, and the Ducks still managed to win. That’s for a few reasons. One, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel made more big plays in the passing game than his counterpart Will Howard. And outside of one big rush from TreVeyon Henderson, the Ducks shut down the Buckeyes’ run game. Gabriel continues to impress when the lights are the brightest. In matchups against Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State, the Ducks have put up 32, 38, and 45 points, proving this Ducks offense can fly against the toughest opponents. But it comes down to this: OSU ranks first in EPA margin, Oregon fifth. I expect this to be a close game, and in a close game, I would rather put my faith in the hands of Dillion Gabriel and Dan Lanning than Will Howard and Ryan Day.
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Ohio State vs Oregon prediction and best bet
My best betOregon moneyline ( +110 at BetMGM )
Picks made at time of writing may not reflect live odds. My analysis
The Rose Bowl would usually be an awesome place for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks to settle their differences. However, I speak for most college football fans when I say I wish these two powerhouses were meeting in the National Championship Game instead. The No. 1 seed Ducks are undefeated at 13-0 and were crowned Big Ten champions in their first year in the conference. Their record includes wins over Ohio State in the regular season and Penn State in the conference title game. Meanwhile, the No. 8 seed Buckeyes enter this matchup with an 11-2 record. A one-point loss at Oregon back in October isn’t anything to be upset about, but losing to rival Michigan at home 13-10 as 20-point favorites made some question whether Ryan Day’s team would live up to the lofty expectations bestowed upon them in the preseason. A 42-17 beatdown of Tennessee in the first round of the CFP reminded everyone just how scary good this Ohio State team can be. The other thing of note in that first-round win was Ryan Day got out of his own way and put the ball in the hands of his best players — Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka and let them do their thing, torching a very good Vols defense. However, Smith and Egbuka were injured in the last matchup against Oregon, and the Ducks still managed to win. That’s for a few reasons. One, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel made more big plays in the passing game than his counterpart Will Howard. And outside of one big rush from TreVeyon Henderson, the Ducks shut down the Buckeyes’ run game. Gabriel continues to impress when the lights are the brightest. In matchups against Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State, the Ducks have put up 32, 38, and 45 points, proving this Ducks offense can fly against the toughest opponents. But it comes down to this: OSU ranks first in EPA margin, Oregon fifth. I expect this to be a close game, and in a close game, I would rather put my faith in the hands of Dillion Gabriel and Dan Lanning than Will Howard and Ryan Day.
Ohio State vs Oregon same-game parlay (SGP)
What more can be said about Gabriel that hasn’t been said already? The QB finished third in the Heisman voting after throwing for 3,558 yards with 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He is also now the all-time FBS leader in total touchdowns, and I expect him to toss a couple more in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday. Gabriel has thrown multiple TD passes in all but two games this season. He threw two in the October win against Ohio State and a massive four against Penn State in the Big Ten Championship. He has proven time and again he can be effective against the nation’s best defenses, so I won’t be doubting him here. Let’s also not doubt the absurd talent of Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. My guess is he would be WR1 if he were eligible for this April’s upcoming NFL Draft. He has also come up big in Ohio State’s biggest games. In matchups against Oregon, Penn State, Michigan, and Tennessee, he's hauled in 24 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns. Specifically, in that last matchup against the Ducks, he grabbed a whopping nine balls for 100 yards and a score. I expect Smith to reach the 80-yard plateau in this one, which he has done eight times this season. Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.Best Ohio State vs Oregon bonus
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Ohio State has only covered the first-quarter spread in three of its last 12 games for -6.25 Units and a -45% ROI. Find more college football betting trends for Ohio State vs Oregon.Ohio State vs Oregon game info
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