Ohio State enters as strong CFP Championship favorite after dominant Rose Bowl performance. The Buckeyes crushed #1 Oregon 41-21 in a statement quarterfinal win, following their earlier 42-17 victory over Tennessee in the first round.

The game was effectively over by halftime, with Ohio State leading 34-8. ESPN's Win Probability Index gave the Buckeyes a 99.4% chance of victory when they led 31-0 in the second quarter.

This resurgence comes after a regular season-ending loss to Michigan that had some calling for coach Ryan Day's job. Day reflected on the journey, saying "When you surround yourself with great people, with great character, you find yourself working through difficult times."

Current Championship Odds:

• Ohio State: +120 (DraftKings, ESPN Bet)
• Ohio State: +125 (FanDuel, BetMGM)
• Ohio State: +130 (Caesars)
• Texas: +320
• Penn State: +500
• Georgia/Notre Dame: +700

The Buckeyes now face Texas in the Cotton Bowl semifinal on January 10 at AT&T Stadium, where they're favored by 6+ points. Texas advanced after a double-overtime victory against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.

The other semifinal at the Orange Bowl on January 9 will feature Penn State against the winner of the postponed Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame. The Nittany Lions are currently one-point underdogs against either potential opponent.

Related Articles

Previous Articles