Ohio State vs. Missouri Cotton Bowl Game Predictions

The No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes have a chance to finish the season with some momentum vs. No. 9 Missouri in the Cotton Bowl

The Ohio State Buckeyes may not have finished the regular season the way they wanted to, falling to Michigan and missing out on a chance at a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff spot. 

However, they still have one game left to play, when they head to AT&T Stadium to take on the No. 9 Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. 

And while most fringe CFP teams may not be very motivated to play in a non-playoff game, it appears that the Buckeyes may be different, with multiple players who very well could - and maybe should - opt out for the NFL Draft planning on playing Friday night. 

That said, the Buckeyes will still be without their starting quarterback Kyle McCord after he elected to transfer, while Marvin Harrison Jr. also seems unlikely to play on Friday. 

Meanwhile, the Tigers seem to be laser-focused on making a statement in Arlington against the Buckeyes. 

So who will come out on top? BuckeyesNow.com's staff gives their predictions below:

Matt Galatzan, Managing Editor 

The Buckeyes are the better football team from top to bottom, with the exception of maybe one position - quarterback. As it happens, that is the most important position on the field, and I'm not sure if Devin Brown is up for the challenge of a very good Missouri defense. 

At the same time, Mizzou is missing two of its best defenders in defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper - both of whom are reportedly going to miss the game with injuries, per ESPN.

Still, I think Mizzou has the edge, and wins a close one. 

Missouri 27, Ohio State 24

Cole Thompson, Staff Writer 

Ohio State has questions at quarterback. Missouri doesn't. The Buckeyes could be without their No. 1 receiver if Marvin Harrison Jr. opts out of the game. The Tigers won't have the problem with Luther Burden. While OSU has a top-five defense going up against a fully loaded Mizzou roster, the Tigers have a top-40 unit taking on a team missing pieces. 

Are the Buckeyes better than Missouri at full strength? Without question. Is Ohio State built to win a national title in 2023? Without question. Is that going to matter in Arlington? Not in the slightest. Mizzou pulls away in the fourth quarter with a Cody Schrader touchdown run. 

Missouri 30, Ohio State 24 

Caleb Spinner, Staff Writer

Let me start off by stating the sometimes-forgotten obvious: the Ohio State Buckeyes are a great football team. Sure they may lose to Michigan and miss out on the College Football Playoff, but at the end of the day the culture and tradition of excellence still stand firm in Columbus.

With that being said, the Buckeyes will not be at full strength when they take on the Missouri Tigers Friday night. Ohio State has lost several notable and experienced starters to the transfer portal, not the least of which are quarterback Kyle McCord and receiver Julian Fleming.

Add to that the high likelihood that receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. elects to sit out in preparation for a potential entry into the 2024 NFL Draft, and you get a beatable Buckeyes team, especially for a quality team like the Tigers. Come Saturday morning, it is hard not to believe Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz won't have his first-ever bowl victory.

Missouri 24, Ohio State 17 

Timm Hamm, Staff Writer

No Kyle McCord. Probably no Marvin Harrison Jr. - OR if MHJ plays, he hasn't practiced all week. Yes, the Bucks' defense is stout. But so is the Tigers' offense. In a game where Ohio State is missing pieces and the Tigers aren't, it could make for a long day for Ryan Day and Co.

Alabama and Georgia aren't the only teams to fear in the SEC as Ohio State will find out on Friday.

Missouri 37, Ohio State 21