The No. 11 Utah Utes (10-3) meet the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) Saturday for the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One Venture X. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Utah vs. Ohio State odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The Utes picked up their first-ever Pac-12 Championship after topping Oregon Dec. 3 for the second time in as many meetings this season. Now, Utah is off to Pasadena for its first Rose Bowl appearance.
Utah has lost its past two bowl games in 2018 and 2019, last winning in the Heart of Dallas Bowl against West Virginia in 2017. The Utes are 14-3 SU across the past 17 bowl game appearances.
The Buckeyes have had a handful of opt-outs, as WRs Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson will not play, nor will OT Nicholas Petit-Frere and DT Haskell Garrett.
Ohio State has won its past three appearances in the “Granddaddy of Them All”, including a 28-23 win over Washington in the most recent appearance Jan. 1, 2018.
See also: AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
Utah vs. Ohio State odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Utah -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Ohio State +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Against the spread (ATS): Utah -3.5 (-110) | Ohio State +3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 63.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Utah vs. Ohio State odds, lines, picks and predictions
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Prediction
Utah 36, Ohio State 31
Money line
UTAH (+140) is worth a roll of the dice at this price as it’s excited to be in this game. It’s all hands on deck for the Utes as no notable players have opted out despite several players declaring for the draft.
Ohio State will be without Olave and Wilson on offense, but it still has tremendous weapons in Heisman finalist QB C.J. Stroud, freshman sensation RB TreVeyon Henderson and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Plenty of talent is still around for the Buckeyes despite that they’re down a couple of stars, but it’s going to be an uphill battle all afternoon.
Against the spread
While UTAH +3.5 (-110) catching three and a hook is a good play if you’re not quite feeling them straight up. It’s going to be a close game and there’s going to be plenty of scoring.
Utah RB Tavion Thomas rushed for 1,041 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, and he is going to be a handful for Ohio State all day long.
Over/Under
The OVER 64.5 (-108) is the lean in this game, as we have two powerful offenses squaring off. Utah was good for 35.5 PPG this season, while Ohio State rolled up 551.3 total yards per game and 45.5 PPG, both tops in the country.
There will be a bit of a step back with no Olave and Wilson, but Henderson should run wild and Jaxon-Njigba will certainly get his.
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