Updated Ohio State vs. Missouri odds: Cotton Bowl Classic point spread
While these teams won’t rein in the new year, they’ll give fans a wonderful way to end 2023. On Dec. 29, Ohio State will square off against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. According to FanDuel, OSU is a 3.5-point favorite in the outing. The over/under for the matchup is set at 48.5 points.
How to watch Ohio State vs. Missouri
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: State Farm Stadium — Glendale, Ariz.
Ohio State’s CFP chances came down to one game, and the Buckeyes didn’t come out on top. However, a six-point loss to the No. 1 overall seed in the CFP doesn’t make a team bad. In fact, it only proves how fearsome Ohio State is. In an 11-1 regular season, Ohio State had a 21.3-point average margin of victory, the fourth-best in the country.
However, Ohio State won’t look like itself in the Cotton Bowl. Starting quarterback Kyle McCord entered the transfer portal after the regular season and transferred to Syracuse. The team also lost wide receiver Julian Fleming to the portal.
To make matters worse, the team will likely be without standout receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. According to reports, Harrison has not participated in practice leading up to the Cotton Bowl. He is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Tigers look to pounce on huge opportunity
Missouri isn’t used to playing this time of the year, but it certainly has earned its spot. The Tigers finished the regular season with a 10-2 record, including three ranked wins. It’s the first time Missouri has finished the regular season with 10 or more wins since 2014.
Missouri’s success is largely thanks to their standout skill players, highlighted by running back Cody Schrader. The 5-foot-9 graduate student finished the regular season with 1,499 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Schrader’s 124.9 rushing yards per game are the most in the country this year.
Unlike Ohio State, Missouri won’t be hindered by any opt-outs. Additionally, head coach Eli Drinkwitz has given any Missouri player in the portal the option to play in the Cotton Bowl.
Ohio State and Missouri have met 12 times before. Ohio State boasts a dominant 10-1-1 record over the Tigers. OSU won the last matchup between the two teams 35-14 in 1998. In this year’s Cotton Bowl, Missouri will look to turn history on its head.