The Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks already played one high-flying game against each other this year, and I’m looking for more offensive fireworks in the Rose Bowl.
The pregame narrative: In Wednesday’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal, I like Jeremiah Smith and Tez Johnson to both make their mark in the receiving game. This +270 SGP also includes an anytime touchdown bet on Jordan James.
Check out my top Ohio State vs. Oregon predictions for this quarterfinal CFP matchup on Jan. 1.
Ohio State vs. Oregon predictions
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Parlay: Smith 70+ receiving yards + Johnson 60+ receiving yards + James anytime TD (+270)
Smith 70+ receiving yards (-150): When Ohio State and Oregon met in October, they combined for 63 points and over 950 yards of offence. I want to tap into the offensive firepower that exists on both sides, and that begins with Smith.
The freshman standout receiver torched the Ducks for a season-high nine catches, which he turned into 100 yards and a TD.
- Smith has 70+ yards in 10/13 games.
- He averages 79.8 yards per game.
- Since Oct. 12, Smith has 7+ targets in 6/8 games (lead by 13 targets vs. Oregon).
Smith’s target share is steady, and Oregon didn’t have an answer for him in the first meeting. Ohio State should continue to make him the focal point of the offence.
Other parlay picks
Johnson 60+ receiving yards (-245): Johnson has had a bumpy closing stretch to the season, which started with an injury on Nov. 2 against Michigan.
After that, Oregon’s top receiver missed two games and was sparingly used in his return on Nov. 30 (a 21-point blowout win over Washington).
But Johnson was fully activated in the Big Ten title game, hauling in 11 catches for 181 yards and a score.
When healthy, Johnson is a game-breaker with high usage. He has eight-plus targets and 60+ yards in 8 of 11 games this season.
Against Ohio State, Johnson had seven catches for 75 yards and a TD.
James anytime TD (-230): It’s been a banner season for James, who has 15 TDs and 1,455 scrimmage yards. And he really hasn’t had any down weeks.
James has found the end zone in 11 of 13 games — including each of his past five. In his two TD-free weeks this year, he still churned for 100+ scrimmage yards.
Ohio State’s defence is arguably the best there is, ranking No. 1 in points and yards allowed. But it’s nothing James hasn’t seen before.
In October, James turned 24 touches into 121 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. He’s the go-to guy at the goal line, but he also has home run potential.
Picks made at 9:35 a.m. on 01/01/25.
Jordan enjoys writing data-driven game previews and analysis articles — especially for MLB markets or NFL/NBA props. And as a proud Ohio University grad, he’ll always have a soft spot for college sports (especially if the Bobcats are involved). Previous stops include mlb.com, Sportsnet and The Athletic.