No. 3 Ohio State will face Miami (FL) in the Cotton Bowl on December 31 at 7:30 PM EST. This matchup features Miami (FL) with an overall record of 11-2, while Ohio State boasts a record of 12-1. According to BetMGM, the opening line favors Ohio State by 10 points. In terms of performance against the spread, Ohio State stands at 9-3, while Miami (FL) is 8-5.
On offense, Miami (FL) averages 429.5 yards per game, ranking 25th in the FBS. This includes a passing average of 266.8 yards and a rushing average of 162.8 yards. They score an average of 34.9 points per game, which places them 17th overall. In contrast, Ohio State leads the FBS in overall yards per game with 213.5, showcasing a remarkable passing defense that allows only 129.1 yards per game, which is also the best in the league. They allow just 8.2 points per game, solidifying their status as the top defense.
Both teams excel in third-down defense, with Ohio State ranking 6th, permitting opponents to convert only 28.8% of the time, while Miami (FL) ranks 12th at 30.9%. Miami (FL) also shows strength in the turnover department, boasting a +11 margin, ranking them 8th in the FBS. However, they struggle with penalties, averaging 60.2 penalty yards per game, compared to Ohio State”s 40.3.
In the red zone, Miami (FL) ranks 20th, converting 90.9% of their opportunities into scores. Time of possession is another area where both teams perform well; Ohio State ranks 5th with an average of 33:38 minutes, while Miami (FL) is close behind at 7th with 33:09 minutes.
In their most recent games, Miami (FL) emerged victorious against Texas A&M, winning 10-3 on December 20. Quarterback Beck passed for 103 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, while Fletcher contributed significantly with 172 rushing yards. On the other hand, Ohio State suffered a loss to Indiana, falling 13-10 on December 6. Quarterback Sayin threw for 258 yards and one touchdown, but also had one interception. Jackson led the rushing game with 83 yards on 17 carries and Smith was a key target with eight receptions for 144 yards.
