Solid matchup tonight in the College Football Playoff Semifinals for the Cotton Bowl between the #5 Texas Longhorns and #8 Ohio State Buckeyes to advance to face Notre Dame in the National Championship. It’s going to be tough to follow up the absolute all time classic we had last night, an incredible game from start to finish. These were two of the top teams in the college football this year and it should be a solid game.
Texas finished the season as the #5 team in the country in their first year in the SEC, with both of their losses coming against the same team, Georgia. They lost 30-15 in the regular season and then 22-19 in a fantastic SEC Championship. They didn’t really play anyone though, with the only ranked wins they had coming against Michigan, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M…none of those being good teams. To get to the semifinals, they beat Clemson convincingly 38-24 in the first round and then in a fantastic Peach Bowl for the quarterfinal, they beat Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime. In that game, they blew a 24-8 fourth quarter lead before touchdowns in back to back plays in overtime to win.
The Longhorns were pretty solid on both sides of the ball this year. They scored an average of 34.3 points per game, the 21st most in the country. Led by Quinn Ewers, who showed flaws at points this year, they threw for an average of 278.5 yards and 2.5 touchdowns in the air per game, while Texas rushed for an average of 165.5 yards and 1.7 touchdowns on the ground per game.
The Texas defense ranked fourth in the nation, allowing an average of just 14.5 points per game. They gave up an average per game of 166.1 yards passing and just 0.5 passing TDs and 111.5 rushing yards and 0.9 touchdowns on the ground.
The Buckeyes had a very good season, taking two losses, one that was a bit expected in the biggest Big Ten game of the year, and one huge 13-10 loss at home to Michigan (who had a horrible year) to close out the regular season. That loss to the Wolverines seems to have reinvigorated this team completely. Since missing the Big Ten Championship because of that loss, they’ve won both of their playoff games in blowout fashion. In the first round they crushed #9 Tennessee with a 42-17 win at home at The Shoe. Ohio State avenged their loss to Oregon in the regular season with a complete thumping last week at the Rose Bowl against the #1 team in the nation, winning 41-21 in the quarterfinal on New Year’s Day in a complete dud of a game with the Buckeyes getting out to a 34-0 lead in the first half to give the Ducks their first loss of the year and end their season.
Ohio State was elite this season on both sides of the ball. They ranked eleventh in the nation offensively, scoring an average of 36.4 points per game. Will Howard threw for an average of 263.4 yards per game and 2.4 passing touchdowns, while the Buckeyes rushing attack average another 2.1 touchdowns on the ground and 169.1 yards per game.
The Buckeyes had the best defense in the country, allowing an average of only 12.1 points per game. They gave up just 152.4 passing yards and only 92.2 rushing yards, allowing just 0.4 touchdowns in the air and 0.9 on the ground per game.
I think Ohio State is unstoppable right now with the best offense in the country, where I feel like Texas is a pretty weak team that even in the playoffs didn’t really play anybody. OSU is my pick to win the National Championship, and I said before last night that regardless of who won out of Notre Dame and Penn State, that Ohio would dominate them too. I’ll take the Buckeyes for 1.5 units tonight. I also like two player props and will take both Will Howard over 244.5 passing yards and Jeremiah Smith over 85.5 receiving yards for half a unit each.
I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it with both of these defenses being solid and Quinn Ewers and the Texas offense not looking great.
Let’s go Buckeyes!
Bets
1.5u Ohio State -6 (-110)
.5u Will Howard over 244.5 passing yards (-114)
.5u Jeremiah Smith over 85.5 receiving yards (-114)
Record: 195-210-9 (-35.92 units)
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 