#3 Ohio State vs #1 Texas NCAAF Pick: Stellar Clash in Ohio Kicks off Season (Aug 30)

• Ohio State won the National Championship at 14-2 over Notre Dame last season.
• Texas finished 13-3 after losing to the Buckeyes in the National Semifinal Game.
• These two teams last met on January 10, in a game that Ohio State won 28-14.

Ohio State and Texas open the season in a rematch of last year’s Cotton Bowl Semifinal. The Longhorns are seeking revenge against the Buckeyes, entering the season ranked #1, but face an uphill battle on the road.

Texas Looking to Avenge CFP Loss

Texas received the honor of being ranked #1 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll. After making their second consecutive CFP Semifinal, but coming up short of the Finals, the Longhorns brought in another boatload of talent. A potential upgrade at the QB position in Arch Manning is also a large reason for Texas’ rising stock. This opening week game against Ohio State is key to realizing their potential as a title contender.

Ohio State Fighting to Reclaim Top Spot

The defending champs open the season ranked #3, after a fair share of roster turnover. The Buckeyes filled the gaps with plenty more talent, but meshing right away against #1 Texas will prove to be a difficult task. Ohio State’s QB battle is one of the most interesting talking points for this game, as the the starting role is still undecided. Facing the Longhorns’ stellar defense will prove very a tough task for the eventual winner.

Texas vs Ohio State Pick

This is the premier game of Week 1, and may very well be a preview of the National Title Game. The Longhorns got the nod in the poll thanks to more consistency at the QB position with Arch Manning. On the other hand, they’ll face a hostile crowd on the road in Ohio. Expect this game to be a thrilling back-and-forth, with the defending champion Buckeyes eventually pulling away to win it. We’ll say they win it 34-28.