Texas vs. Ohio State: Prediction, Odds, Betting Preview

As another college football season begins, there’s no doubt about what the biggest game of Week 1 is.

No. 1 Texas travels to Columbus for a must-see showdown with reigning national champion Ohio State. 

It’ll be one of the top games of the entire year and is sure to be a major data point later in the year, as the College Football Playoff bracket is debated. 

Unsurprisingly, Ohio State is the first host of the year for the College Gameday schedule.

Texas vs. Ohio State Odds

• Point Spread: Ohio State -2.5
• Moneyline: Ohio State -120  |  Texas +100
• Over/Under: 47.5

Texas vs. Ohio State Preview

Ohio State might have the 2024 national championship trophy in Columbus, but the Buckeyes are far from a clear favorite this year. They lost a whopping 15 draft picks from last year’s team, plus quarterback Will Howard, who tied everything together. 

This year, redshirt freshman Julian Sayin takes over at quarterback, and the trench play faces a lot of turnover. Given Ohio State’s typical caliber of recruiting, it’s fair to assume that head coach Ryan Day has a huge stock of recruits ready to play at a high level. But will Ohio State be ready for that turnover in Week 1?

On the Texas end, the Longhorns have the Heisman Trophy favorite in Arch Manning and a defense that remains mostly intact from last year. 

Even if Manning can live up to the considerable hype that’s slowly accrued over the last two years, he’ll have a major challenge ahead of him with a road game against Ohio State’s secondary. All-American corner Caleb Downs anchors the best unit on the Buckeyes’ defense, which will help Ohio State’s young team keep a heavy box against Texas.

This game is set for a Week 1 showdown between epic defenses and youthful offenses, and sports bettors seem to know that. At BetMGM, 54% of tickets and 85% of handle are on the under, which has moved the line from 50.5 to 47.5.

That’s an unusual majority for the public, which generally prefers to be overs in the totals market. The under could be a strong consideration for bettors in this game, though I have to admit that I prefer a side.

Texas vs. Ohio State Prediction

I am predicting a Texas win and cover in Saturday’s game.

I just think Ohio State is being propped up as the favorite here because of what happened last year. That includes Ohio State’s 28-14 win against Texas in last year’s CFP semifinals.

But that team has been scattered to the wind, with new faces all over the field. So why don’t Ohio State’s football odds reflect that?

If this game were being played in three months, maybe I’d feel differently. But in Week 1, with a point spread this tight, I don’t know how to pick Ohio State’s unknowns over the knowns with Texas.

Texas vs. Ohio State Prediction: Texas +100