No. 1 Oregon Ducks close as underdogs to No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes in Rose Bowl

The rematch we’ve been waiting for almost all season is finally here, taking place in one of the most historic venues college football has to offer.

The top-seeded Oregon Ducks will play the eighth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff in Pasadena, California, at The Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.

It’s hard to write a script better than that, isn’t it?

While the Ducks had a first-round bye thanks to their Big Ten championship game win, the Buckeyes impressed with their 42-17 blowout of the Tennessee Volunteers a couple of weeks ago.

The looming contest will be among the most anticipated games of the year, and the betting line is closing at a number that suggests it will be a nail-biter.

Take a look at the updated odds from BetMGM:

Oregon vs. Ohio State odds

Oregon vs. Ohio State analysis

The last time these teams met, it resulted in a one-point win for Oregon at home, 32-31. While this game at the Rose Bowl will take place on a neutral field, the Ducks will have a solid advantage in terms of proximity for fans to travel. It feels like we can expect a fan-split of about 60-40, in favor of the Ducks to start.

This is a classic matchup of “momentum” vs. “rest.” The Buckeyes are coming off of arguably their best game of the year in a blowout over Tennessee in the first round of the playoff, and they’re riding high going into the Rose Bowl. Meanwhile, the Ducks have been able to rest and recuperate over the past three weeks, using the time to get as healthy as they have been all season, and prepare for Ohio State.

In a game where both teams have among the most talented rosters in the sport, this will likely come down to matchups. Can Oregon’s secondary hold down the Buckeyes’ elite receiving corps? Can the Buckeyes defensive line get pressure on Dillon Gabriel? Does…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/no-1-oregon-ducks-close-135646549.html

Author : Ducks Wire

Publish date : 2025-01-01 13:56:00

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