College Football National Championship 2015: Vegas Odds Guide for Oregon vs. OSU

The stage doesn't get any bigger. The lights can't get any brighter. And the talent level can't possibly reach more elevated heights.

Thanks to the inaugural College Football Playoff, fans can feast their eyes on two deserving teams that might not have made it to this stage in previous years. Let's just say the national championship game is going to be a wild ride.

Bettors have been drooling over the possibility to line their pockets with the odds set for the big game. Between the enormous over-under and the edge of less than a touchdown given to Oregon, history tells us all we need to know about how to bet on this matchup.

Just hours away from the Bucks vs. Ducks, here's a look at the full spread information and tips for prospective bettors.

Game Information

Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

When: Monday, Jan. 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Spread: Oregon -6.5

Over/Under: 74

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com.

Analysis

There is plenty of excitement brewing around the country for Monday's showdown. Having two of the best offensive teams in the country will do that for college football fans.

Just how exuberant are bettors for the game to finally get underway? David Payne Purdum of ESPN.com notes the game has a chance to make history after early numbers:

What will ultimately decide the final score is the play of the biggest stars.

For the Ducks, there is no bigger star than Marcus Mariota. The Oregon quarterback has compiled 56 total touchdowns to just six turnovers and can get the job done both with his arm and legs. He'll be without receiver Darren Carrington after he was ruled ineligible, but he has fought through adversity all season with success. 

Speaking of battling adversity, the Buckeyes have done just that since before the season started. Cardale Jones is the third starting quarterback, but he won't be carrying the entire load thanks to Ezekiel Elliott. The sophomore has blossomed into a superstar with a combined 450 rushing yards and four touchdowns in his last two games.

Oregon linebacker Tony Washington spoke about Elliott's ability, via Laken Litman of USA Today:

"

Dude is really fast, makes a lot of plays. He’s a tough guy to bring down and he’s gonna compete and work hard every rep. I noticed last game against Alabama he was making a lot of big runs and that’s because he’s determined to get into the end zone. So I mean as a defense you’ve gotta wrap this guy up because it’s going to take multiple efforts to get him down.

"

Essentially, that wealth of talent means there will be plenty of offense to cover the over-under projection. Then there's the fact that Oregon ranks second in the country in points scored (47.2 per game) and Ohio State ranks fifth (45.0). Oh, there will be scoring.

At the end of the game, Oregon will be the team pulling away for a decisive win. Though both will put up huge numbers, Mariota's ability to create plays and not turn the ball over will lead the Ducks to a victory. ESPN College Football notes how impressive the Ducks are at winning the turnover battle:

The Ducks won't win by a margin of 59-20—sorry, FSU fans—but they will cover the 6.5-point spread. In a battle of two teams looking to make history by winning the first-ever playoff, the Ducks will be riding high on Monday night. You can bet on it.

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