Fiesta Bowl Betting Odds: Ohio State vs. Texas
Fiesta Bowl betting odds ranged anywhere from Texas -8 at a number of online sportsbooks to Ohio State +9 at Sportsinteraction.com
The Buckeyes are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
Ohio State has a legitimate shot, even on the money line, which was +280 for a payout potential of $280 on every $100 bet. Using the money line in All games in non-conference games, the record for Ohio State is 37 wins and 13 losses since 1992.
Gambling911.com suggests playing Ohio State as the +9 underdog to be safe.
The No. 3 Longhorns are still hoping for a split national championship, according to Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com.
They'll probably have to beat No. 10 Ohio State soundly in Monday night's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium to have any chance. Even then, Texas' chances of finishing No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll seem slim at best.
"I think we definitely have a chance," Texas receiver Jordan Shipley said. "Obviously, we lost one game to the No. 5 team in the country in the final seconds of the game. We feel like we have a chance to get some first-place votes if we come out and play well against a team with the tradition that Ohio State has."
Six AP voters have the Longhorns atop their ballots, and that number could swell if the top-ranked Gators lose and their 50 first-place votes go up for grabs. Some voters might choose Texas because it beat Oklahoma.
It's a long shot, but it's the only shot Texas has. The Longhorns will have no shot if they don't take care of the Buckeyes.
"I don't know what needs to happen," Texas tailback Chris Ogbonnaya said. "Right now, our focus is Ohio State and really that is all that matters. We can't talk about being in the national championship picture without having a victory against them."
