The No. 1 Oregon Ducks (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten) and No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2, 7-2) will go to battle in an all-Big Ten Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on Wednesday, Jan. 1. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
These teams met once earlier in the season — a 32-31 Oregon win in Eugene on Oct. 12. That win for the Ducks played a huge role in finishing the season 13-0 with a Big Ten Championship.
Ohio State, meanwhile, lost its regular-season finale to Michigan, 13-10, but bounced back to crush Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff, 42-17.
Despite losing the first game against Oregon, Ohio State enters as a -2.5 favorite with the over/under set at 55.5.
Let's take a look at our Oregon vs. Ohio State picks and college football predictions for the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff game on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
Oregon vs. Ohio State Odds, Betting Lines
| Oregon Ducks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+2.5 -112 | 55.5 -110o / -110u | +108 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-2.5 -109 | 55.5 -110o / -110u | -132 |
The Rose Bowl. The Granddaddy of them all.
The 2025 edition is the first in the new 12-team College Football Playoff era and pits No. 1 seed Oregon over No. 8 seed Ohio State in a rematch of an October classic in Eugene.
The winner books a trip to the semifinals to take on either Texas or Arizona State in the Cotton Bowl.
Oregon won the first matchup by one point in a back-and-forth shootout on its turf.
Will the Ducks be able to get by the Buckeyes yet again, or will Ohio State earn its revenge?
Both teams enter this game relatively healthy and should have all their key contributors available in Pasadena.
The quarterbacks are two of the most experienced in America, with Dillon Gabriel and Will Howard having played in tons of big games throughout their careers.
Dan Lanning’s team looks to stay perfect on the season, while Ryan Day’s team keeps its “us against the world” march alive after the stunning loss to Michigan.
We polled nine of our staff members on their leans from both a side and total perspective — the results and analysis are below.
Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Picks, Predictions
Spread for Oregon vs. Ohio State
Spread Bet to Make: Ohio State -2.5
Our staff mostly agrees that Ohio State is the play.
The Ducks won the first head-to-head matchup, but Ohio State has the more talented roster, and it’s tough to beat a great team twice.
Ohio State has the better defense, ranking among the top 10 nationally in Success Rate and Explosiveness allowed — Oregon has some issues allowing chunk plays.
Ohio State’s offense responded well in its most recent matchup with Tennessee.
Specifically, Jeremiah Smith looked unstoppable. Smith torched Oregon’s secondary in the regular season meeting, and the staff figures Smith and quarterback Will Howard can roll on Wednesday.
Dillon Gabriel’s Ducks have been excellent all season, but they aren’t explosive enough to hang with Ohio State’s high-octane offense, ranking 90th nationally in Explosiveness.
Ryan Day is fighting for his job in Columbus, and he should put together another excellent game plan en route to a revenge win against the Ducks in Pasadena — covering the spread in the process.
Over/Under for Oregon vs. Ohio State
Over 55.5 | 5 Picks |
Pass | 0 Picks |
Under 55.5 | 4 Picks |
Over/Under Bet to Make: Over 55.5
By John Feltman
I will side with my Action Network colleagues here. We lean toward the over.
We've got a rematch of an early season matchup between these two teams, and that game flew over the closing total (63 total points over closing at 54.5).
I don't like to base my handicap on a one-game sample, but I’m worried about the Ducks defense.
For example, the Penn State offense marched up and down the field on the Ducks all evening throughout the Big Ten Championship. The Nittany Lions were able to run the ball at will, which the Ohio State offense can replicate. The Buckeyes rank 19th nationally in EPA per Rush, while the Ducks rank 110th in that defensive category.
The Ducks also rank below the 20th percentile in Stuff Rate and Defensive Line Yards. Opposing run-blocking schemes are destroying the defensive front, which will allow the Ohio State offensive line to go to work.
Oregon's offense has its hands full with the Buckeyes' defense, but its running game should be able to exploit those weaknesses.
The Ducks have one of the best offensive lines in the country, which has allowed running back Jordan James to have a sensational season. The Ducks don’t generate many explosive plays, but they are talented enough to move the ball at will and put up a fair share of points regardless of their opponent.
I don’t expect this to be a low-scoring contest.
More Oregon vs. Ohio State Bets
Oregon Team Total Under 27.5 (Play to 27)
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is among the nation’s best assistants on either side of the ball.
The 32 points his defense allowed to Oregon back in October in Eugene will not sit well with Knowles, and I expect him to make some significant adjustments.
The Buckeyes were dominant against Tennessee, giving quarterback Nico Iamaleava fits throughout with its pass rush and penetration up the middle.
That pass rush did not get home to Dillon Gabriel in the first meeting, but I’m banking it will this time.
Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau combined for 3.5 sacks against the Vols, and both have been dominant down the stretch for OSU.
Additionally, I expect OSU to run it plenty on an Oregon defense that is soft against the run, which will burn the clock and limit the number of possessions in this game.
I expect the Buckeyes to get revenge in the Rose Bowl, but I’m most comfortable playing the Oregon team total under.
