College Football Playoff quarterfinal action continues on New Year’s Day, when the Miami Hurricanes and Ohio State Buckeyes collide in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Miami, the No. 1 seed 10, won its first-round game at the same venue – defeating Texas A&M 10-3. Ohio State, the No. 2 seed, earned an opening despite losing in the Big Ten Championship to Indiana.
Let’s dive into my predictions for Miami vs. Ohio State.
Miami Hurricanes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes odds
Cash line: Miami +285 / Ohio State -360
Spread: Miami +9.5 (-110) / Ohio State -9.5 (-110)
Total: Over 41.5 (-105) / Under 41.5 (-115)
Miami Hurricanes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes best bet #1: Under 41.5 (-115)
The Cotton Bowl is a battle between two of the best defenses in college football. Heading into this contest the Buckeyes rank No. 1 in the nation in total defense, giving up just 213.5 yards per game. They are No. 1 in scoring defense, and they only give up 8.2 points per game. The Hurricanes aren’t far behind, ranking No. 10 in total defense (281.5 yards allowed) and No. 4 in scoring (13.0 ppg allowed). Wednesday’s tilt will likely be played at a slower, more structured pace. Neither Miami nor Ohio State really pushes the ball down the field with much urgency. IU is 80th nationally in total games played per game; OSU is 115th in that department. If both teams continue to score goals, you can expect them to be time consuming slogans.
Miami’s CFP first round game against Texas A&M resulted in a total of 13 points (the ‘Canes won 10-3). They held the Aggies to 89 rushing yards and forced three turnovers. The Buckeyes’ most recent outing was a 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship.
Miami Hurricanes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes best betting player: Mark Fletcher Jr. Over 55.5 rushing yards (-114)
There’s no denying that Ohio State’s defense is outstanding, but that’s why you can find Fletcher’s yardage share down to 55.5. Although the Buckeyes are against the run, they are even better against the pass. In fact, coach Ryan Day’s team is No. 1 in the country in pass defense. Miami’s best plan of attack is to keep the ball down – and it’s a good idea to face the best opponent on paper, thus reducing the total number of possessions.
Expect plenty of those carries to Fletcher. Girard Pringle Jr. he briefly shared the duties at the back of the Hurricanes after Fletcher missed two weeks in November with an injury, but the order has been restored to a relegation status. In their first round loss to Texas A&M, Fletcher ran 17 times for 172 yards. In contrast, Pringle found only one thing. In Fletcher’s last five games, he has rushed for 84 yards or more three times and scored four TDs during that time.
