The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes will try to overpower the 11th-ranked Utah Utes on Saturday when the teams face off in the 2022 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The Buckeyes (10-2) have the nation's most prolific offense, averaging more than 45 points per game. They also come in with a chip on their shoulder after missing out on the College Football Playoff for the first time in three years. A 42-27 loss to bitter rival Michigan in the regular-season finale also has been simmering. Utah (10-3) routed Oregon for the second time in three weeks in the Pac-12 title game on Dec. 3 to clinch its first Rose Bowl berth.
Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET at Rose Bowl Stadium. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Buckeyes as four-point favorites in the latest Utah vs. Ohio State odds, down 2.5 points from the opening Rose Bowl line. The over-under for total points is set at 64. Before locking in any Ohio State vs. Utah picks or Rose Bowl 2022 predictions, you need to see what SportsLine's advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,600 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters the third week of the 2021-22 college football bowl season on a 43-30 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Ohio State vs. Utah and locked in its Rose Bowl 2022 picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for Utah vs. Ohio State:
- Utah vs. Ohio State spread: Buckeyes -4
- Utah vs. Ohio State over-under: 64 points
- Utah vs. Ohio State money line: Utes +155, Buckeyes -180
- UTAH: It is 4-5 ATS at neutral sites the past 10 years.
- OSU: It is 10-8 ATS at neutral sites since 2012.
Why Ohio State can cover
Ohio State is 18-12-1 ATS as a favorite under Ryan Day, who took over as coach in 2019. The offense averages a national-best 551.3 yards per game behind quarterback C.J. Stroud. The freshman finished fourth in Heisman voting after throwing for 3,862 yards (ninth in FBS) and 38 TDs (fifth). He completed 70.9 percent of his throws (sixth), averaging 9.8 yards per attempt (third) and threw just five interceptions. His receiving corps will be shorthanded with Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson opting out, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with 80 receptions and 1,259 yards (15.7 per catch).
The Buckeyes are 6-5-1 against the spread, and TreVeyon Henderson is a major threat out of the backfield. The freshman has 1,450 total yards and 19 TDs. OSU is plus-10 in turnover margin, getting 19 takeaways, while the Utes have given up 14 while generating 14 turnovers. The Buckeyes defense allows less than 21 points per game (25th in FBS). Safety Ronnie Hickman has become a force, posting a team-high 95 tackles, one sack and two interceptions. OSU is 6-3 SU in its last nine bowl games, losing in a national final and twice in the semifinals.
Why Utah can cover
Utah has been rolling with its top-25 defense, which allows 317.3 yards (13th in FBS) and 20.6 points (24th) per game. It held Oregon to 221 yards, just 147 passing, in the 38-10 Pac-12 title-game win. The Utes beat the Ducks by a combined 76-17 in the two meetings, while Oregon beat OSU 35-28. Stroud could be under pressure all day against a Utes defense that has the sixth-most sacks in the nation (42). End Mika Tafua (9.5) and linebacker Devin Lloyd (eight) were the top two pass rushers in the Pac-12, and Lloyd also had four interceptions.
Utah is 37-21-1 ATS as an underdog since Kyle Whittingham was hired in 2005. The offense scores 35.5 points per game (19th in FBS) and counts on Cameron Rising to avoid mistakes. The QB has thrown an interception in just three of his 11 starts, passing for 2,279 yards, 18 TDs and five picks. The Utes rely on the run, with Rising contributing 407 yards to a rushing attack that averages 216.2 yards (15th). RB Tavion Thomas has 1,041 yards and 20 TDs, and TJ Pledger (671 yards) and Micah Bernard (24 receptions, 728 total yards) also contribute heavily.
How to make Utah vs. Ohio State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the point total, projecting 56 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's Rose Bowl picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Ohio State vs. Utah? And which side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.
