College Football Best Bets: No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State

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Check out what bets we’re targeting for the massive Week 1 showdown between the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus!

Where to Watch Texas Longhorns at Ohio State Buckeyes

• Stadium: Ohio Stadium
• Location: Columbus, Ohio
• Where to Watch: FOX
• Time: Noon
• Spread: Ohio State -1.5 | Total: 47.5
• Moneyline: Ohio State -122 | Texas +102

Note: All odds are subject to change after article publication. Get the most up-to-date odds here.

Matchups like this do not come around very often as two titanic bluebloods in the sport open the 2025 season with an actual home game. The No. 1 Texas Longhorns bring Arch Manning and a loaded roster to Columbus to face the reigning National Champions, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes. These are two of the top three teams in the national title odds (Texas +550 and Ohio State +700), and both fan bases have incredibly high expectations. 

According to Steve Sarkisian, the Texas Longhorns have been building towards this season. Manning is now the starting quarterback in Austin and has a rebuilt wide receiver room led by Ryan Wingo, as well as a great group of tight ends. He can lean on a really good backfield, and you can bet that Texas will try to assert itself as the more physical team with a strong running game. Keep in mind, Manning can absolutely scoot and pick up big chunks in the running game as well. Ohio State has a very strong secondary, and its defensive line is loaded with blue-chip recruits. However, the Buckeyes are inexperienced up front, which could give Texas an edge.

Any discussion of Ohio State’s offense will begin with its amazing group of wide receivers, including star Jeremiah Smith and running mate Carnell Tate. Julian Sayin will be the starting quarterback, and this will be his first taste of real action. I believe this game will pivot on the matchup between Ohio State’s rebuilt offensive line, paired with a very young quarterback, against perhaps the nation’s best pass rush. Texas can absolutely wreck a game with multiple potential first-round picks on the edge, and Ohio State will be relying on a new offensive coordinator to try to figure out how to negate them. In a game that figures to be played on the fine margins, that’s a significant advantage to the Longhorns.

Texas is currently a short underdog at +2.5, but the odds are -115. The wiser play is to take the No. 1 team in the country to win on the moneyline at +102. I would also lean to betting the under on the point total of 47.5, but that’s not a particularly strong lean.

Best Bets: Texas ML at +102

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