Ohio State vs. Texas: Odds, Box Score Prediction for Cotton Bowl 2024

The Ohio State Buckeyes come into the Cotton Bowl as the clear favorite not just to beat the Texas Longhorns, but to win the entire College Football Playoff.

Ohio State has unquestionably looked like the best team in the field through two rounds thanks to demolitions of the Tennessee Volunteers and Oregon Ducks.

The Buckeyes' passing attack, led by freshman wide out Jeremiah Smith, has done whatever its wanted over the last two games.

Texas needs to find a way to slow down Smith and OSU's other wide outs, or to keep pace with the high-scoring offense.

The Longhorns have a strong offense in their own right, but it may be hard for them to go score-for-score with the Buckeyes given how well OSU's defense has performed throughout the playoff.

Cotton Bowl Odds

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PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 1: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes after a touchdown during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Spread: Ohio State (-6)

Over/Under: 53.5

Money Line: Ohio State (-238; bet $238 to win $100); Texas (+195; bet $100 to win $195)

Ohio State's Offense Just Has to Keep Doing What It Has in Playoff

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PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a touchdown against Kobe Savage #5 of the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter during the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Ohio State does not have to change anything from what it's done so far in the CFB Playoff.

Will Howard, Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka have taken the passing game to another level.

Howard eclipsed the 300-yard mark in both games and threw for five total touchdowns, four of which have gone to Smith.

Smith has been the best individual player on either side of the ball throughout the entire playoff.

He will have plenty of targets and catches on Friday, and there's a good chance he'll be in position to earn a third straight 100-yard playoff performance.

Ohio State also buried Tennessee and Oregon with over 150 rushing yards in each game.

The strategy is simple for OSU's offense: get off to a fast start through the air and continue the offensive carnage with the ground attack.

Ohio State held halftime leads of 34-8 and 21-10 and scored 35 total first-quarter points in the first two rounds.

If those trends continue, it will be hard to find a way forward in the bracket for Texas.

Texas Needs to Find Ways to Combat OSU's Scoring

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 1: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns attempts a pass against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

Texas needs to find different ways to combat Ohio State's high-scoring ways.

The Longhorns might try to match pass-for-pass with the Buckeyes, and while Quinn Ewers is capable of that kind of output, the SEC side will try to use a more balanced approach, at least at first.

Texas ran for 292 yards in the first-round win over the Clemson Tigers. The running back tandem of Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue could wear down the OSU defense, or at least be successful enough for Ewers to open up the game with playaction passes.

Ewers had to throw more in the quarterfinal win over Arizona State because the rushing attack was held to 53 yards on 30 carries.

Ewers produced 322 yards and three scores in that victory, and his passing attack should look better with a healthier Isaiah Bond in the fold.

Regardless of which way Texas attacks OSU's defense, it can't afford to get into the hole of a three-score deficit that both Oregon and Tennessee faced before halftime.

Final Score Prediction

CFP/Getty Images

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 1: Emeka Egbuka #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball against Kobe Savage (5) of the Oregon Ducks during the first half at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

Ohio State 34, Texas 20

Ohio State's offense is too good to bet against right now.

The Buckeyes are in incredible offensive form and it would require a near-perfect performance out of the Texas secondary to keep the aerial attack under wraps for four quarters.

Texas can score on the OSU defense, but matching the output on every possession seems like an impossible task with the level the Buckeyes are at.

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