Ohio State vs. Tennessee odds, predictions, picks and best bets
The No. 7 ranked Tennessee Volunteers will take on the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes in a first-round College Football Playoff matchup. After falling short against Georgia, Tennessee ended it's season with big victories over UTEP and Vanderbilt. The Volunteers are one of the most well-rounded teams in all of college football, ranking in the top […]
The No. 7 ranked Tennessee Volunteers will take on the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes in a first-round College Football Playoff matchup.
After falling short against Georgia, Tennessee ended it's season with big victories over UTEP and Vanderbilt. The Volunteers are one of the most well-rounded teams in all of college football, ranking in the top 10 in both total offense and defense. Their defense has been particularly dominant, allowing just 13.9 points per game this year.
Ohio State ended it's season with a shocking 13-10 loss to Michigan. The Buckeyes have the No. 1 ranked defense in the nation, allowing the least amount of yards and points per game. They are a bit inconsistent offensively, ranking outside the top 50 in explosive pass rate. Ohio State also struggled to run the ball in it's loss to the Wolverines.
Let's dive into our best odds, picks and predictions for this game.
*Odds from FanDuel and subject to change
Ohio State vs. Tennessee Moneyline
Ohio State: -275
Tennessee: +220
The biggest mismatch in this game is Tennessee's daunting defensive line versus Ohio State's depleted offensive line. The Buckeyes are down several starters up front, and don't have the most explosive offense to begin with. However, the Volunteers could struggle on offense as well against the best defense in the nation.
This game will be a defensive struggle that will come down to which team takes care of the ball better and makes a couple of more key plays on offense. Regardless of who accomplishes that, a 7.5-point spread is way too steep for this matchup, so I'm avoiding the moneyline and betting on Tennessee to cover.
Ohio State vs. Tennessee Spread
Ohio State: -7.5 (-105)
Tennessee: +7.5 (-115)
Part of me wants to take the Volunteers straight up, but since the spread is so large I'll play it safe and pick them to cover.
Ohio State vs. Tennessee Over-Under 46.5 total points
Over: -112
Under: -108
Like I mentioned above, this is a matchup of two of the best defenses in the nation, and I expect both offenses to struggle to score consistently. I'll bet the under.
