Ohio State vs. Texas Opening Odds, Early Picks & Predictions: 2025 Cotton Bowl CFP Semifinal
Thanks to an overtime win in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, Texas (13-2) meets Ohio State (12-2) in the CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).
The Cotton Bowl opening odds at our college football betting sites have the Buckeyes favored over the Longhorns after they got revenge on Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Our Ohio State vs. Texas odds, early picks, and predictions expect the Buckeyes to live up to their hype as college football championship odds favorites.
We broke down the other semifinal matchup in our Notre Dame vs. Penn State opening odds and early picks.
Cotton Bowl opening odds: Ohio State vs. Texas CFP betting lines
Ohio State vs. Texas early odds via FanDuel for the 2025 Cotton Bowl.
| Market | Ohio State | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -5.5 (-110) | +5.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | -205 | +168 |
| Total (O/U) | Over 54.5 (-110) | Under 54.5 (-110) |
Heading into the CFP quarterfinal, Texas was the biggest favorite to take the national championship and was expected to be favored against Ohio State. However, with the Longhorns nearly blowing a lead against the Sun Devils, and the Buckeyes thumping the Ducks, the Buckeyes are 5.5-point favorites.
My early Ohio State vs. Texas prediction: Cotton Bowl CFP semifinal
College football picks made Wednesday; odds subject to change. Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!
Prediction: Ohio State -4.5
Best odds: -110 via bet365 | Implied probability: 52.38%
*Deposit required. Mobile app only. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
No team in the country has been as impressive as Ohio State lately. After its heartbreaking loss to Michigan, which led to rumors of Ryan Day's firing, the Buckeyes responded by outscoring Tennessee and Oregon 83-38.
Following championship weekend, those two teams entered the CFP ranked No. 2 and No. 8 in SP+, respectively - with Ohio State sitting at No. 1, despite losing to the Wolverines. Well, Texas may have been No. 4 then but has looked shaky in the CFP.
In their win over Clemson, the Tigers nearly mounted a comeback, while the Sun Devils actually did to force overtime - and a missed targeting call may have changed the outcome of the game.
So with the Buckeyes ranked top three in both EPA per rush and dropback on defense, Quinn Ewers and his banged-up O-line could have a tough time moving the ball. And the Buckeyes' offense has been a different beast in the CFP.
Quarterback Will Howard is coming off the two best performances of his career - five big-time throws and zero turnover-worthy plays, per PFF - with freshman Jeremiah Smith already looking as good as Marvin Harrison Jr. If the Buckeyes can cover for a third straight CFP game, a $10 bet pays a $9.09 profit.
Get in now, this line is moving furiously in the Buckeyes' direction with several of our best sports betting sites opening at -4.5 and swiftly moving to -6.5.
Don't miss our guide for how to bet on college football or this week's best sportsbook promos.
Ohio State vs. Texas odds
See our college football odds from our best college football betting sites for every college football bowl game.
Moneyline
- Ohio State best odds: -210 via bet365 | Implied probability: 67.74%
- Texas best odds: +180 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 35.71%
There's not much difference in the moneyline across our best sports betting apps with Ohio State sitting between -220 and -210 and Texas between +175 and +180. I'd hold off on backing the Longhorns, though, with the way the spread is moving implying the ML will lengthen.
Spread
- Ohio State best odds: -4.5 (-110) via bet365
- Texas best odds: +6.5 (-110) via BetMGM
The spread is all over the place at our best sportsbooks after two drastically different performances from Ohio State and Texas. The Buckeyes are a steal at -4.5 via bet365, while it's hard to pass on Texas at +6.5 from BetMGM.
It's safe to assume by the time the Cotton Bowl kicks off, this line will be somewhere in the middle. I think the Buckeyes will be -5.5, and I'd take them at that number to cover.
Over/Under
- Over best odds: 54 (-110) via bet365
- Under best odds: 54.5 (-110) via Caesars
There's not much variance with the Over/Under for the Cotton Bowl. All of our best live betting sites are sitting between 54 and 54.5, and I think we should see that number drop.
These were the top two defenses by SP+ after the opening round of the CFP, and I'd be taking the Under with the game total this high. Expect it to be as low as 52.5 by Jan. 10.
Ohio State vs. Texas State injuries to watch
Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker has you covered with the latest opt-out news and the impact on the college bowl game odds.
How to watch Ohio State vs. Texas: Cotton Bowl CFP semifinal info
- When: Friday, Jan. 10
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
- How to watch: ESPN
- Weather: 41 degrees, 1% chance of precipitation, wind 4 mph NW (retractable roof)
- Favorite: Ohio State -5.5 (-115 via FanDuel)
College football betting odds pages
Here are our best college football betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.
Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)
Related Articles
