Upcoming Match-ups

Ohio State’s National Title Odds Now +150 After Beating Michigan Again in “The Game”

Jake Mitchell

by Jake Mitchell in College Football

Updated Jan 6, 2023 · 2:43 AM PST

JK Dobbins celebrating a touchdown
JK Dobbins was a huge part of Ohio State's win against Michigan. Photo from @Sportsnaut (Twitter).
  • Ohio State has +150 odds to win the national title after a 56-27 win at Michigan
  • In “The Game”, Ohio State has won eight straight, and 15 of the last 16 matchups
  • The Buckeyes lead Clemson (+250) and LSU (+250) in the odds

Ohio State has owned “The Game” in recent years, and on Saturday, things were no different. The Buckeyes cruised to a 56-27 victory over the Wolverines , and Ryan Day’s team now sits firmly at the top of the National Championship Odds.

2020 CFP National Championship Odds

Team Odds
Ohio State Buckeyes +150
Clemson Tigers +250
LSU Tigers +250
Georgia Bulldogs +900
Utah Utes +1600
Oklahoma Sooners +3300
Baylor Bears +10000

Odds taken December 1st.

Rivalry Dominance

Saturday’s win was the eighth in a row for Ohio State over Michigan, and the Buckeyes have now won 15 of the last 16 meetings with their arch rival. This series is firmly in control of Ohio State, and their win on Saturday was the worst kind of demoralizing for the Wolverines.

The Buckeyes held Michigan to just 2-of-13 on third down, and JK Dobbins had his way with Don Brown’s defense. He carried the ball 31 times for 211 yards and four touchdowns. On both sides of the ball, Ohio State won the battle in the trenches in dominant fashion.

YouTube video

On top of that, Justin Fields had a strong game as well. He went 14-of-25 on the day, for 302 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. With such a dominant defense, running game, and passing attack, it’s tough to find any holes in Columbus.

What’s Ahead for the Buckeyes?

The only thing left between the Buckeyes and an appearance in the four-team field is a Big Ten Championship showdown with Wisconsin. Fortunately for Ohio State, they have been dominant in this series as well. Much like against Michigan, it’s been a long time since the Buckeyes have lost to the Badgers.

Ohio State has won seven in a row against Wisconsin, and there have been some particularly lopsided scores along the way. In the 2014 Big Ten Title game, it was a 59-0 final that earned the Buckeyes a conference title. Earlier this season, in late October, Ohio State won by a score of 38-7.

YouTube video

The First-Place Advantage

Ohio State certainly has a case for the title of best team in the country, but they have the best championship odds for another key reason. They’re currently the first-ranked team in the country, and with a blowout win on Saturday and a potential win over Wisconsin, the Buckeyes should stay put.

That means, of course, that Ohio State would avoid Clemson or LSU in the semi-final game. One of those Tigers won’t make it to the title game, and the Buckeyes will face one of the outside contenders (#6 Utah, #7 Oklahoma, #9 Baylor) for the fourth spot.

YouTube video

Not only will Ohio State get a much easier semi-final matchup, but they’ll also meet a team, whether it’s LSU or Clemson, that just went through a 12-round heavyweight fight against the other. The most complete team in college football is unquestionably Ohio State. Clemson and LSU are close, but with the way the four-team field is setting up, the Buckeyes are the best bet.

Ohio online sports betting is launching on January 1, 2023. Be sure to claim one of the following Ohio sports betting promos:

Author Image