CBS Sports Might've Just Gave Ohio State The Kiss Of Death Before Their Upcoming Match-Up With Texas

Ohio State is just four days away from kicking off its semifinal matchup in the Cotton Bowl against Texas, and the game-winner will play the Orange Bowl winner, which features Penn State vs. Notre Dame.

Right now, the Buckeyes are the hottest team. They play outstanding defense, limiting Tennessee to 17 points and Oregon, one of the best offensives, to 21. Meanwhile, the Ohio State offense is firing on all cylinders, scoring over 40 in both wins.

Ohio State Is A Heavy Favorite Over Texas

Ohio State Buckeyes Jeremiah Smith — Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) is named the game’s offensive MVP following the 41-21 win over the Oregon Ducks in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025.

The Buckeyes come into Friday’s game as a 5.5-point favorite on most sportsbooks, which is the second-best odds they have had this postseason, with the first being a home game against Tennessee, where they were favored by 6.5.

If this game were played in Columbus, Ohio State would be around an eight-point favorite, but since it’s at a neutral site and being played in Dallas, which is only about three hours away from Austin, the location of the University of Texas, the Buckeyes get no favors to the spread.

Texas has had a difficult time playing the best teams this season, and they benefited from an easy SEC schedule, missing out on playing Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, and South Carolina. The one top team from the conference they saw was Georgia, and they lost to them twice, one in Austin and the other in the SEC title game.

The Longhorns must play almost perfectly to knock off Ohio State. CBS Sports released their predictions for the Cotton Bowl and the championship game winner, and Texas fans should be happy about it.

CBS Writers Predict Ohio State To Win It All

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day prepares to lead his team onto the field for the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

11 college football writers from CBS published their predictions for the Cotton Bowl, and all of them had Ohio State knocking off Texas, and then they all predicted them to win it all.

Usually, when a team gets a clean sweep in predictions, they lose, which isn’t suitable for the Buckeyes.

Three weeks ago, Ohio State was getting slammed for losing to Michigan and how Tennessee would pull off some big-time win, and now they are the heavy favorites to win it all.

Hopefully, the Buckeyes will not take the rat poison, tune out all the noise, and play one of their best games ever.