Ohio State vs. Missouri: Cotton Bowl game prediction, pick

Predictions for the 2023 Cotton Bowl as Ohio State and Missouri meet in the latest game on the College Football Bowl Season schedule

The second half of College Football Bowl Season gets underway on Friday in primetime as one of the most prestigious bowl games kicks off in the annual Cotton Bowl from Jerry World in Arlington, and this year's matchup brings us a Big Ten vs. SEC tilt featuring two ranked teams as No. 7 Ohio State faces off against No. 9 Missouri.

• Ohio State: Won the first 11 games of the season behind college football's No. 2 ranked scoring defense, but lost a 7-point decision at Michigan
• Missouri: Tigers were 17 combined points from a perfect record, going 10-2 and finishing 2nd in the SEC East, top 25 nationally in scoring per game

Ohio State vs. Missouri prediction, preview

When: Fri., Dec. 29
Time: 8 p.m. Eastern
TV: ESPN network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

Cotton Bowl game odds

Courtesy of SI Sportsbook

Line: Ohio State -3.5
Total: 48.5 points
Moneyline: OSU -190 | UM +160
FPI pick: Ohio State 75.6% to win

What to watch for

1. Who's left? Ohio State lost quarterback Kyle McCord, No. 2 rusher Chip Trayanum, and could go without top wideout Marvin Harrison, Jr., as he's likely to enter the draft. Devin Brown is set to start in place of McCord after playing in five games this year, and he can use the game to audition for the role of starter going forward. Carnell Tate is a name to watch at receiver. The former 5-star prospect has been waiting for his chance, and with Harrison out and Julian Fleming in the portal, Tate can make a good impression.

2. Mizzou's big three. In contrast to OSU's losses, Missouri should retain its most important offensive contributors: quarterback Brady Cook, lead back Cody Schrader, and receiver Luther Burden. Cook and Burden are in for a challenge against a Buckeye air defense that was 1st nationally in yards allowed (147) and 3rd in total production. Schrader went over 100 yards in 7 games, posted 6.0 ypc, and scored 13 times.

3. Turnovers. Missouri is 7th nationally with a plus-9 turnover margin this season, generating 18 takeaways and handing it over 9 times, including four combined in its two losses, to LSU and Georgia. For the improved defense Ohio State has played, it hasn't done most of its damage with takeaways, getting 11 this season from the opposition and is just 76th in margin. Eight of those (73%) came in three games, and the other three came across OSU's other nine outings.

Ohio State vs. Missouri prediction

The matchup of the game will be Missouri's offense against Ohio State's defense, and while the Buckeyes' front seven has the manpower to limit Schrader's gains for most of the game, and the secondary against the Tigers' downfield threats, eventually OSU's inability to create enough scoring drives over time, thanks to its personnel losses, will tilt the game in Mizzou's favor for good.

College Football HQ picks...

• Missouri wins 27-21
• In an upset
• And hits the under

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