Even though the Ohio State Buckeyes are the No. 1 team in the country and currently hold a 2-0 winning streak over Texas's head, the No. 4 Longhorns are actually the team favored in their Week 2 matchup.
Of course, the Horns will have to play nearly flawless football to finally topple the beast that Ohio State has become, but the Vegas oddsmakers are on Texas's side, for now, at least.
Texas vs. Ohio State odds, spread, and total
Unsurprisingly, the oddsmakers also expect this top-four matchup to be an extremely close affair, with just a 1.5-point spread set ahead of kickoff.
Spread
- -1.5 Texas
- +1.5 Ohio State
And because of the slim point margin projected for the end of the game, the moneyline is similarly close. If you wanted to win $100 off a Horns' victory, you would have to place a $180 bet. However, if you bet $100 on the Buckeyes winning, you would only have to wager $100 to begin with.
Moneyline
- -180 Texas
- +100 Ohio State
However, despite the Longhorns only being favored by 1.5 points, the over-under point total is relatively high at 49.5 points. That means (if you trust the spread and the O/U), you should expect Texas to score around 25.5 points to beat the Buckeyes, who would score approximately 24 points.
Total (Over/Under)
- +/-49.5 points
Odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Texas vs. Ohio State prediction
Beyond the home-field advantage that Texas will have on its side on Saturday night, the climate will also play a huge role. The projected high in Austin is 97 degrees, and with the way that heat gets trapped by the Central Texas humidity, don't expect it to be much cooler by kickoff.
That means head coaches Steve Sarkisian and Ryan Day will likely have to tap into their depth chart to keep the players on the field as fresh as possible.
This affects the offensive and defensive lines the most (the bigger the body, the harder to move, the quicker you tire out). So depth at the line of scrimmage will be a massive factor.
Because of the recruiting effort that Sarkisian put into building depth on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, I think Texas's roster outweighs Ohio State's on this specific point. So, I believe the Longhorns will finally be able to pull off a win over the Buckeyes, but it will be close.
Final score prediction: Texas 35, Ohio State 28
How to watch Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
- Date & Time: Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
- TV/Streaming: ABC, fuboTV
In a primetime game of the ages, the Longhorns will look to exact their revenge, as the Buckeyes look to keep their winning streak alive. It's a game that could undoubtedly come down to the inches, if not centimeters.
So, grab a seat, get comfortable, and get ready for the biggest matchup of the regular season.
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