The good news for Ohio State football fans is that the Buckeyes got the help they needed during the weekend’s conference championship games and got into the College Football Playoff.
The bad news for fans of Ohio sportsbooks is that they are slated to miss out on the opportunity to bet on the first playoff game – by a matter of hours.
Ohio State is set to play Georgia on Dec. 31 in the Peach Bowl after the final College Football Playoff rankings were released on Sunday.
Unfortunately for Ohio residents, that game kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern, just a few hours before the BetMGM Ohio bonus code, and other promotions are launched statewide at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Ohio State’s Path to College Football Playoff
After a 22-point loss at home to Michigan on Nov. 26, the Buckeyes fell from No. 2 to No. 5 in the CFP rankings.
But fans awaiting the launch of Ohio sports betting apps on Jan. 1 might have noticed that Ohio State was still a popular bet to make the four-team CFP field. OSU’s odds to win the National Championship went from around +1400 to +1000, despite the Buckeyes being on the outside looking in for the playoff picture after the Wolverines loss.
So going into this weekend, coach Ryan Day’s team needed a bit of upheaval, and especially for No. 4 USC to lose in its Pac-12 title game on Friday against No. 11 Utah. USC already had a loss in the regular season, whereas No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU were all 12-0 and likely to make the Playoff even with a loss in their league title games.
Ohio State Buckeyes Make Fifth CFP Appearance
That was exactly the scenario that the Buckeyes got as the Utes routed the Trojans 47-24, defeating USC for the second time this season (Utah won the regular-season meeting, 43-42, on Oct. 15 in Salt Lake City). That second loss knocked USC out of the Playoff picture and opened the door for the Buckeyes, the only one-loss team in FBS aside from TCU.
TCU, despite its overtime loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 title game on Saturday, kept that game close enough to convince the CFP committee that the Horned Frogs should remain at No. 3 and Ohio State should slot in at No. 4.
Ohio State is in the playoffs for the fifth time since the four-team Playoff format was unveiled in 2014, replacing the BCS system. That year, the Buckeyes won their most recent national title.
While it’s a joyous day for Buckeye fans to be in college football’s final four, they will not be able to back the scarlet and gray for their Playoff semifinal.
However, if the Buckeyes win that game against Georgia in Atlanta, Ohio residents will be able to bet on (or against) Ohio State in the CFP National Championship against either Michigan or TCU on Jan. 9.
Browns, Bengals Available in Week 17 For Ohio NFL Betting
The college football betting scenarios can get complicated, but there’s no complexity when it comes to the NFL.
You can pre-register now with many top operators and get Ohio sportsbook promo codes with BetOhio.com before that Jan. 1 launch.
The Cleveland Browns will be on the road to take on the Washington Commanders on Jan. 1, the first major betting event for Ohio sports fans.
The Browns, who welcome back quarterback Deshaun Watson this week after an 11-game suspension, are fighting to get back into the playoff mix and have a 9.1% of making the postseason, according to the latest odds.
The defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals are at home on Jan. 2, when they welcome the Buffalo Bills in a Monday Night Football contest that could carry enormous playoff implications.
After beating the Tennessee Titans last week, the Bengals are tied with the Baltimore Ravens atop the AFC North and had a 72.2% chance to make the playoffs entering this weekend.
Where Can Ohio Residents Bet?
There will be no shortage of options for the Ohio sports bettor with a bevy of online operators and some retail sportsbooks set to launch when the ball drops to turn New Year’s Eve into the first day of 2023.
There could be over two dozen sportsbook apps ready to take action on New Year’s Day and most are offering new users welcome bonuses for signing up ahead of the launch.
- DraftKings offering $200 in free bets on launch day and a chance to win a $100,000 sweepstakes
- Caesars Sportsbook is offering Ohio users a $100 free bet with a deposit and a chance to win Cleveland Cavaliers tickets
- Bet365 is offering $100 in free bets and $200 in bet credits when you place a $1 bet
- FanDuel is offering $100 in free bets on launch day with early sign-up and three months of NBA League Pass
- BetMGM is offering $200 in free bets
Tipico Sportsbook Ohio, which will launch Jan. 1 along with many others, is already live with its free-to-play “Win Ohio” sweepstakes. Players can earn sportsbook bonuses, free bets and an Ohio fan experience.
Other Ohio Sportsbooks Set For Launch
Other mobile apps set to launch Jan. 1 include PointsBet, WynnBet, BetPARX, Superbook Sportsbook Ohio, Betfred Sports, WynnBET, MaximBet, Fox BET, BetRivers and Unibet.
Be on the lookout, too, for sports-betting kiosks as nearly 1,000 Type-C licenses have been awarded to Ohio businesses with either D-1, D-2 or D-5 liquor licenses.
BetOhio.com not only offers reviews on dozens of Ohio sports betting operators, but we also guide you through starting the process and teach beginners how to bet on sports in Ohio when the legal, regulated market begins in just a few weeks.
