Five-seed Texas football (13-2, 7-1 SEC) won an anxiety-stroking and exciting Peach Bowl victory in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on New Year's Day over the four-seed Arizona State Sun Devils.
Awaiting head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Cotton Bowl in DFW next week are the eight-seed Ohio State Buckeyes and head coach Ryan Day.
Ohio State catapulted the No. 1 overall seed Oregon Ducks in a convincing 41-21 blowout win at the Rose Bowl in the CFP quarterfinals on Jan. 1. The Buckeyes got revenge on Oregon, one of only two teams that defeated Ohio State during the regular season, also including the Michigan Wolverines.
Texas scored on back-to-back plays in single and double overtime to take the lead against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl yesterday. Senior safety Andrew Mukuba sealed the win for the Longhorns in double overtime over the Sun Devils with a clutch interception to end the game with a 39-31 victory.
Here’s a look at the opening betting odds for the semifinals College Football Playoff matchup between five-seed Texas and eight-seed Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, on Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
College Football Playoff opening odds for Texas football vs. Ohio State
Texas opens up as a 4.5-point underdog against Ohio State in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff at the Cotton Bowl (per FanDuel). The over/under is set at 53.5 points.
The moneyline favors Ohio State (-225) over Texas (+180).
Texas has the second-best odds (+380) of winning the national championship, behind Ohio State (+110).
Texas is 8-7-0 against the spread this season (per TeamRankings). The Longhorns didn't cover the 13.5-point pregame spread against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl quarterfinals.
Ohio State is 8-6-0 against the spread this season. The Buckeyes have been favored in every game this season.