A loss on Oct. 12 at Oregon reduced the margin of error for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but the football team’s futures odds bettors at Ohio sportsbooks have no reason to tear up their tickets yet.
A 32-31 defeat at Autzen Stadium against the Ducks, who were ranked third in the Associated Press poll at the time, dented OSU’s Big Ten title hopes. It means that another loss might knock coach Ryan Day’s team out of contention for the Big Ten championship game in December. But we’re only halfway through the season and there is still a lot to play for.
The Buckeyes still have excellent odds to make the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff. Let’s break down the Ohio State football bowl projections at BetOhio.com, your best place for Ohio betting promotions.
Bowl | Location | Conference Opponent | Odds | Pct. Chance |
College Football Playoff | TBD | TBD | -200 | 66.7% |
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl | Orlando, FL | Vs. SEC | +450 | 18.2% |
Duke’s Mayo Bowl | Charlotte, NC | Vs. ACC | +1400 | 6.7% |
Pinstripe Bowl | Bronx, NY | Vs. ACC | +2100 | 4.5% |
The Field/No Bowl |
|
| +2450 | 3.9% |
As you can see, we still think it’s very likely (a two out of three chance) that Ohio State will qualify for the CFP even after the defeat against Oregon.
These Ohio State bowl projection odds are exclusive to BetOhio.com, where we review the best Ohio sports betting apps so you can compare operators when you sign up or go searching for the best lines for a game.
What if the Buckeyes stumble again – perhaps a loss Nov. 2 at Penn State, then an upset defeat along the way – and miss the Playoff? Then we project that the most likely destination for them is the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, at +450 odds (an 18.2% implied probability) against an SEC opponent. If the wheels really come off and the Buckeyes fall into the middle of the pack in the Big Ten, the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte or the Pinstripe Bowl in New York could land OSU, a program with a fanbase that traditionally travels very well to bowl games.
Check out Nebraska vs. Ohio State odds to compare operators and track line movement on the point spread, over/under and moneyline for the Oct. 26 game (noon Eastern, FOX) at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes have their second open date of 2024 on Oct. 19, then they will play for six straight weeks to close the regular season.
What’s the new CFP format? The five highest ranked conference champions – from the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12 and the Group of Five leagues – will automatically qualify. The top four of those teams in the rankings will occupy Seeds 1-4 and get a first-round bye in the CFP.
The next seven teams will be chosen at large. Teams 5-12 in the bracket will play first-round games at campus sites, to be held this year on Dec. 20 and 21. Those winners will face the top four teams in the quarterfinals – the Fiesta, Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowl – on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. The semifinals will be the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9, 2025, and the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10. The CFP National Championship Game is Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
All of that is why we cannot project Ohio State to a specific CFP bowl. Assuming the Buckeyes make the field, there’s no way to know where they might be sent until the bracket is revealed the day after the conference championship games.
At Caesars Ohio Sportsbook, Ohio State and Oregon are co-favorites to win the Big Ten at +145 odds, as of Oct. 16.
Year | Bowl | Result |
2023 | Cotton Bowl | Loss, 14-3 against Missouri |
2022 | CFB Playoff | Loss, 42-41 against Georgia |
2021 | Rose Bowl | Win, 48-45 against Utah |
2020 | CFB Playoff | Win, 49-28 against Clemson; Loss, 52-24 against Alabama |
2019 | CFB Playoff | Loss, 29-23 against Clemson |
The Buckeyes have lost three of their past four bowl games, including two CFP games. In their most recent CFP appearance, OSU lost a heartbreaker in the semifinal against Georgia to end the 2022 season.
At bet365 Ohio Sportsbook, Ohio State has the second-best odds to win the national championship even after the defeat against Oregon. The Buckeyes have +450 odds as of Oct. 16, tied with Georgia and behind only Texas (+375).
USA Today Network photo by Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus Dispatch
For the 2024-25 college football season, we project Ohio State to play in the College Football Playoff with odds of -200 (a 66.7% chance). If OSU qualifies, the exact bowl and location would be announced when the 12-team Playoff field is set.
Ohio State is not yet bowl eligible in the 2024 season. Their most recent bowl game was in the 2023 Cotton Bowl, a loss against Missouri.
Author
Ohio native Jim Tomlin has 30 years of experience in journalism, mostly in sports. He lends his expertise to BetOhio.com as a writer and editor after previous experience at the Tampa Bay Times, FanRag, Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition.
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