The stakes couldn’t be higher as the Ohio State Buckeyes face off against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday, Jan. 10, with a national championship berth at stake. Ohio State delivered a dominant performance in the Rose Bowl, overpowering the top-seeded Oregon Ducks in a 41-21 victory. Texas, on the other hand, edged out Arizona State in the Peach Bowl, securing a hard-fought 39-31 win in overtime. Let’s see if we can find some value in the College Football Playoff odds.
The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Current odds list the Buckeyes as 6-point favorites, with the total points over/under set at 53.0.
Below are the odds from three of the best College Football betting sites.
| Cotton Bowl 2025 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | -230 | -235 | -235 |
| Texas Longhorns | +190 | +205 | +205 |
| Ohio State -6 | -110 | -114 | -114 |
| Texas Longhorns +6 | -110 | -106 | -106 |
| Over 53 | -115 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 53 | -105 | -110 | -110 |
Ohio State returns to the Dallas Metroplex for a bowl game for the second consecutive year and the fifth time in school history. The Buckeyes have a 2-1 record in Cotton Bowl appearances, including victories over Texas A&M in 1987 and USC in 2018, as well as a loss to Missouri last season. Notably, Ohio State also captured the national championship at AT&T Stadium following the 2014 season with a commanding 42-20 win over Oregon.
This matchup marks just the fourth meeting between Ohio State and Texas. The Longhorns hold a 2-1 advantage in the series. Texas claimed a 25-22 victory in Columbus in 2005, while Ohio State responded with a decisive 24-7 win in a top-ranked showdown in Austin in 2006. The Longhorns secured the series lead with a 24-21 win in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl.
The Buckeyes have six consensus national championships, with their most recent title coming in 2014. Meanwhile, Texas boasts four national championships, the last of which was earned in 2005.
Ohio State’s postseason track record against SEC teams has been less favorable, with a 3-10 overall record. However, one of those victories came this year in a dominant 42-17 win over Tennessee in the playoff’s first round.
The Texas Longhorns made a splash in their first season as members of the SEC after transitioning from the Big 12 last summer. Ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP poll—behind only Georgia, Ohio State, and Oregon—Texas quickly lived up to expectations. They opened the season with six consecutive wins, climbing to the top spot in the rankings before their first setback, a 30-15 home loss to Georgia on Oct. 19. Their second loss came in the SEC Championship Game, a hard-fought 22-19 overtime defeat to the Bulldogs on Dec. 7 in Atlanta.
Apart from their struggles against Georgia, the Longhorns excelled against the rest of their schedule. They secured notable victories, including a 31-12 road win over then-No. 10 Michigan and a dominant 34-3 triumph over rival and then-No. 18 Oklahoma in Dallas. Additional wins included a narrow 27-24 victory at No. 25 Vanderbilt and a 17-7 road triumph over rival No. 20 Texas A&M.
Texas entered the College Football Playoff as the No. 5 seed following their SEC title game loss. In the playoff opener on Dec. 21 in Austin, the Longhorns built an early lead and held on to defeat No. 12 Clemson 38-24. In the Peach Bowl quarterfinal, they overcame adversity, surrendering a 17-3 lead before edging No. 4 Arizona State in double overtime, 39-31.
The Peach Bowl was a mixed performance for Texas. The defense struggled, allowing 510 total yards, including 296 through the air, to the Big 12 champion Sun Devils. On offense, quarterback Quinn Ewers shined, completing 20 of 30 passes for 322 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The Longhorns’ rushing attack managed only 53 yards, but receiver Matthew Golden stepped up with seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Gunnar Helm and wideout DeAndre Moore Jr. also contributed touchdown receptions. The game’s decisive moment came in the second overtime, when defensive back Andrew Mukuba’s interception ended Arizona State’s possession and sealed the victory for Texas.
The Buckeyes are gearing up for a fierce showdown against the Longhorns in what will essentially be a home-field advantage for Texas at the Cotton Bowl. Ohio State faces the daunting task of breaking through one of the nation’s most formidable defenses. Texas boasts a suffocating secondary, headlined by Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron, whose lockdown coverage could neutralize Ohio State’s dynamic receiving corps.
However, the Buckeyes bring their own elite defense to the table, a unit capable of making key stops and maintaining the momentum gained from their decisive victory over the tournament’s No. 1 seed. This clash of powerhouses is set to deliver an intense, hard-fought contest with a trip to the national title game hanging in the balance.
Ohio State to just about cover the spread.
You can read our Bovada.lv sportsbook review for much more information about this betting site.
I am backing the Over 53.0 at odds of -110.
Below is our list of some of the best options for your Cotton Bowl bets.
