The game of the year was probably the regular-season encounter between Oregon and Ohio State. When the teams play in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal next week, the stakes will be much higher.
Sportsbooks offered fictitious betting odds for this game last week, with the Ducks at -1.5. After the Buckeyes defeated Tennessee 42–17 in the first round of the CFP, the oddsmakers changed their minds. Now, Oregon is a little underdog.
The 2025 Rose Bowl, which begins at 5 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day, will begin with my predictions and top picks for Ohio State vs. Oregon.
Ohio State vs. Oregon predictions and best bets
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Oregon +2.5:
-110 at FanDuel
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Over 53.5:
-115 at BetMGM
This game appears to be between the top two teams in the country, even though Ohio State is ranked No. 8 in the CFP. I’m taking Oregon and the points because the final score should be close.
After exploding offensively against one of the SEC’s top defenses, the Buckeyes are in a dominant position. OSU’s ball carriers amassed 156 yards and four touchdowns, while Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka combined for 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Against Penn State and the Buckeyes, the Ducks’ defense gave up more than 30 points. It’s simple to imagine Ohio State scoring points.
On the other hand, quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been incredibly dependable and seldom fails to catch downfield passes. Oregon defeated the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions thanks to his ability to connect on long throws, and I have faith that he will produce more spectacular plays in the Rose Bowl.
The top three wide receivers in the country are Evan Stewart, Traeshon Holden, and Tez Johnson. The fact that Ohio State was able to lock down one of them only gives the other two more chances. In the first encounter with Ohio State, Stewart was the star with seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown.
I’m taking over because I anticipate another shootout between the Ducks and Buckeyes. During the regular season, the teams scored 63 points and gained 963 yards. On New Year’s Day, the game flow should be similar.
Ohio State vs. Oregon moneyline odds analysis
Why Ohio State could win as the favorite
The best odds at Fanatics are -130.
The way Ohio State handled the Michigan defeat was outstanding. In just two games during the regular season, Tennessee gave up more than 20 points. The Buckeyes easily scored 42 points.
Additionally, the Buckeyes defense was playing at its peak. QB Nico Iamaleava was restricted to 104 yards and a 45% completion rate by OSU, who also recorded four sacks. Ohio State will probably bring the CFP trophy to Columbus if they keep up their current level of play.
The Buckeyes’ offensive play calling in Eugene earlier this season left fans baffled. During the first half of the game, Ohio State scored 21 points and gained 122 yards by running the ball well. OSU just gained 19 yards and scored 10 points in the second half, seemingly abandoning the ground game.
In Columbus, play calling errors have generated debate. Chip Kelly, the offensive coordinator, is responsible for placing his players in the best possible situations.
Why Oregon could win as the underdog
The best odds at DraftKings are +114.
Gabriel’s performance against the Buckeyes in the first round was outstanding. The transfer from Oklahoma completed 23 of 34 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Gabriel should receive it behind one of the country’s best offensive lines, but it will take time for him to come up with plays.
Only 13 times this season has the Ducks quarterback been sacked, and seven of those sacks were in the first two games. Gabriel has only been taken down three times in the last five games.
It won’t be simple to stop Ohio State’s pass rush. The Buckeyes reached Iamaleava four times and have the second-highest number of sacks in the Big Ten. Oregon needs to do better because they didn’t give up a sack against Ohio State the first time.
Oregon posted a Big Ten-best 40 sacks, demonstrating the power of the Ducks’ pass rush. To slow down the Buckeyes’ aerial offense, defensive ends Matayo Uiagalelei and Jordan Burch, who have a combined 19 sacks, will need to prevent quarterback Will Howard from being comfortable.
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