Missouri vs. Ohio State – Picks and Predictions
The 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic will feature the #9 Missouri Tigers against the #7 Ohio State Buckeyes from AT&T Stadium on Friday, December 29. The Tigers are 2.5-point favorites in their clash against the Buckeyes.
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Head-To-Head: Missouri vs. Ohio State
Ohio State fell to 11-1 after its third straight loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the regular season finale with a berth in the College Football Playoffs on the line. However, they still hold the country’s third-ranked defense, allowing 260 yards per game.
The Tigers enter this game with a 10-2 record, losing to #23 LSU 49-39 at home in Week 6 and to the Georgia Bulldogs just before running off three straight victories, including a 36-7 rout of the #13 Tennessee Volunteers. Missouri beat the Arkansas Razorbacks 48-14 in their final game of the regular season, as running back Cody Schrader racked up 217 yards rushing and a touchdown to help the Tigers to the victory.
Ohio State has a 10-1-1 record against Missouri all-time. The last time these two teams faced off was in 1998, when the Buckeyes won 35-14 at home. The Tigers’ only win against Ohio State was in 1976 when they took a 22-21 victory on the road in Columbus.
How to Bet on Missouri vs. Ohio State
College football fans can bet on the Cotton Bowl matchup between Missouri and Ohio State at various sportsbook apps available throughout the country. Besides being rewarded with a generous welcome bonus for signing up, bettors can boost their bankroll through the many attractive ongoing promotions like odds boosts and bet insurance currently available. It only takes a few minutes for players to register and start making their picks.
Missouri vs. Ohio State Odds
The Tigers are favored by 2.5 points on the spread, with moneyline odds currently at -134. Picking the Buckeyes to win in an upset will pay bettors +112 odds on the moneyline, with odds at -108 if they cover the spread. The total for this game is 48.5 points, with a bet on either side paying -110 odds.
Betting Tips for Missouri vs. Ohio State
The Tigers have a 10-3 record in the last 13 games against Big Ten opponents. However, they haven’t had much recent success in December contests, going just 1-8 in the previous nine games. Missouri is also 4-1 against the spread in the last five games when entering as the underdog.
Ohio State is 2-7 in the previous nine games vs. Southeastern Conference opponents, and the total has gone under in seven of their last nine games overall. The Buckeyes are 6-2 in their previous eight games played in December.
Missouri vs. Ohio State Prediction
Missouri is ranked 26th, averaging 34.1 points per game on offense, and is led by QB Brady Cook, who averaged 263.8 passing yards and threw for 20 touchdowns this season. However, they must face the country’s second-ranked defense, which gave up just 11.1 points and 147.5 passing yards per game. Schrader had 1,489 rushing yards in the regular season, but both players can expect less production in this game if the Buckeyes’ defense holds up.
Ohio State plays the rare role of underdog in this matchup, based on their recent defeat and the Tigers’ best offensive output of the season in their last game. But don’t expect the team that just battled in a six-point loss to Michigan to be unprepared for this Cotton Bowl clash. The Buckeyes should win this one outright and move toward 2024 with a positive outlook.
Prediction: Ohio State +2.5
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