Examining the total for Oregon-Ohio St.

Published on Thursday, 1/8/15, at 12:26 p.m. Eastern. 
Updated on Monday, 1/12/15, at 3:33 p.m. Eastern.

Will Cardale Jones help the total jump 'over' 75 points?

Will Cardale Jones help the total jump ‘over’ 75 points?

For Monday’s finals of the first College Football Playoff at Jerry World between Oregon and Ohio St., most Las Vegas betting shops opened the total at 73.5. As of Thursday, however, the number was up to 75 or 75.5 at most spots. A few places were as high as 76 late Wednesday afternoon.

As of Monday afternoon, the total was down to 74 at most betting shops.

The ‘over’ is on a 12-1 run for Ohio St. and has gone 12-2 overall. This is the highest total the Buckeyes have seen this year. The previous high was 66.5 in a 42-27 win over Indiana that saw the 69 combined points slip ‘over’ the tally. Only four of Ohio St.’s 14 games have had 76 combined points or more. The average combined score in Buckeye games is 67.1 points per game.

Urban Meyer’s team beat Alabama by a 42-35 count for 77 combined points in the CFP semifinals in New Orleans last week.

Oregon has had seven totals in the 70s and they’ve been a wash (3-3-1). The ‘over’ is 7-6-1 overall for the Ducks, whose games have averaged a combined score of 69.5 PPG. We should note, however, that they had seen three straight ‘under’ appearances until the ‘over’ cashed in the blowout win over the ‘Noles. Also, only four of Oregon’s 14 games have had 75 combined points or more.

Oregon’s offense will most likely be without WR Devon Allen, who had 41 receptions for 674 yards and seven touchdowns. He injured his knee in last week’s 59-20 shellacking of FSU and is listed as ‘doubtful.’

Oregon averages 47.2 PPG, while Ohio St. is scoring at a 45.0 PPG clip.

With third-string QB Cardale Jones under center in a pair of starts, the Buckeyes scored 59 against Wisconsin and 42 vs. Alabama.

On Saturday, Oregon took a big hit when news broke of WR Darren Carrington’s positive test for weed that resulted in his suspension for tonight’s game. Carrington had 37 receptions for 704 yards and four TDs this year, including seven catches for 165 yards against the ‘Noles.

I have a 14-1 all-time record in NCAA Championship Games dating back to 2002. You can get my pick for tonight’s game here.

Share this post: