2010 Rose Bowl Ohio State vs. Oregon Start Time, TV Guide & Odds
Pasadena, CA – Ohio State and Oregon both ended the regular season playing their best ball. Whichever team plays better New Year's Day will be crowned Rose Bowl champion.
Big Ten champions for the fifth straight season, the No. 8 Buckeyes will carry a five-game winning streak into Pasadena to face a seventh-ranked Ducks team that overcame early season adversity to claim its first Pac-10 title since 2001.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made Oregon -3.5 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for the Friday, Jan. 1 game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 56% of bets for this game have been placed on Oregon -3.5 (View College Football bet percentages).
Following a 26-18 loss at Purdue on Oct. 17, Ohio State (10-2) closed the month with a pair of easy wins, setting the stage for a banner November. The Buckeyes won 24-7 at then-No. 10 Penn State and 27-24 in overtime over then-No. 13 Iowa before wrapping up the outright Big Ten title with a 21-10 victory at Michigan.
The surge earned Ohio State its fifth straight BCS bowl appearance and first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1996 season, when it defeated Arizona State.
"When you're undefeated in November, good things are going to happen over the holidays," coach Jim Tressel said.
Oregon (10-2) probably couldn't have envisioned a happy holiday season after its opener, a 19-8 loss at then-No. 14 Boise State which ended in ugly fashion when senior running back LeGarrette Blount punched Broncos defensive end Byron Hout after the game. The Ducks suspended Blount for the season the next day.
They quickly put the incident behind them, though, as redshirt freshman LaMichael James took Blount's place in the lineup and the entire team stepped up. James ran for 1,476 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry for a Ducks team that averaged 44.4 points while winning 10 of its final 11.
The Ducks claimed the Pac-10 crown Dec. 3 with a 37-33 victory over then-No. 13 Oregon State in the annual Civil War game. They're 4-0 against ranked opponents since losing to Boise State, including a pair of routs against teams in the top 10 - 42-3 over then-No. 6 California and 47-20 over then-No. 4 Southern California.
"That team battled through a lot, but they never doubted themselves," first-year coach Chip Kelly said. "They are a great group to be around. They know how to fight and fight back and they are a great group to be around."
Kelly's Ducks ended the Trojans' seven-year reign as Pac-10 champions and earned their first league title since 2001, when they went on to beat Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl. This is Oregon's first trip to the Rose Bowl since losing to Penn State on Jan. 2, 1995.
Even more surprising in light of the events in the season opener, Blount will be a part of this trip to Pasadena. Kelly reinstated him in mid-November after meeting certain academic and behavior conditions, and he returned to the field to face the Beavers, running nine times for 51 yards and a touchdown.
"We made him do a lot and he did it," Kelly said. "He wasn't handed anything. I am a believer that you define yourself everyday and he needs to continue to work hard."
In addition to working hard, Blount - who ran for 1,002 yards and 17 TDs as a junior - appears contrite.
"I was wrong for what I did," he said. "I never expected to be back with this team. I just expected I'd practice and do what I did."
Along with Blount and James, quarterback Jeremiah Masoli gives the Ducks another threat on the ground. The junior ran for 659 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 58.9 percent of his passes for 2,066 yards with 15 TDs and five interceptions.
Oregon's offense will be tested by a defense that's limiting opponents to 12.2 points and 262.5 total yards per game, and an average of 83.4 yards on the ground - fifth in the nation. Ohio State is one of five FBS teams that did not allow a 100-yard individual rushing performance.
The Buckeyes are no slouches on the other side of the ball, either. Led by sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State averaged 29.3 points and scored 30 or more seven times. Pryor completed 55.8 percent of his passes for 1,828 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and rushed for a team-high 707 yards and seven more scores.
The Buckeyes' offense won't include wide receiver Duron Carter for this game. Ohio State officials announced Dec. 17 that the freshman, tied for fifth on the team in receptions with 13 for 176 yards and one touchdown, would sit out.
Ohio State has won all seven meetings with the Ducks, including a victory in the 1958 Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes have limited Oregon to two touchdowns or fewer in each of the matchups - the most recent a 24-14 win in Columbus during the 1987 season.
If this season's common opponents are an indicator, though, Oregon may have an edge. Ohio State's losses - to USC and Purdue - both came against teams the Ducks defeated.
2010 Rose Bowl
Teams: Ohio State vs. Oregon
Kickoff: Jan. 1, 2010 at 4:30PM ET
Venue: Rose Bowl
TV: ABC
Odds:
Ohio State +3.5 Over 51.5 (+155)
Oregon -3.5 Under 51.5 (-175)
2010 Rose Bowl Ohio State vs. Oregon Picks & Predictions
The Bowl Championship Series kicks off Friday with the 2010 Rose Bowl featuring Ohio State and Oregon from the Rose Bowl at 4:30PM ET.
Ohio State is 10-2 this season and 9-3 against the spread. The Buckeyes have won their last five games and covered in four of their last five.
Oregon is 10-2 and 7-5 against the spread this year. The Ducks won their last three games to reach the BCS bowl, but Oregon has failed to cover in three of their last four games.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made Oregon 4-point favorites over Ohio State on Friday night. The over/under total for this game has been established at 51.
Ohio State is scoring 29.3 points per-game, led by quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Pryor has thrown for 1,828 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. Oregon is giving up 23.6 points and 329.4 yards per-game on defense.
Oregon is scoring 37.7 points per-game behind one of the top rushing attacks in the country. The Ducks average 236 rushing yards per-game on offense. LaMichael James has 1,476 yards rushing with 14 touchdowns while quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has run for 659 yards and 12 scores while passing for 2,066 yards and 15 touchdowns. Defensively, Ohio State is allowing just 12.2 points and 262.5 yards per-game. The Buckeyes have been great against the run, holding opponents to just 83.4 rushing yards per-game. Ohio State also has 23 interceptions on the season.
Ohio State had improved a great deal since its early season loss to USC. Oregon ran through the Trojans this season, but the Buckeys seems to be a tougher matchup for the Ducks. Oregon will have success running, but might not have the success they are accustomed to. This will force Masoli to have to throw, where he might not be able to make plays against the Ohio State secondary. Ohio State should also be able to move the ball on an average Oregon defense, and the Buckeyes are determined to prove that they can compete on a national level. Trends favor the Buckeyes in this game as they are 6-0 against the spread in road games against winning opponents. We suggest Ohio State and the under in this one.
Our Rose Bowl Free Pick for this matchup is: OHIO STATE +4 and UNDER 51.
College Football Bowl Season Betting Trends
OREGON is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) when playing with 2 weeks or more of rest over the last 3 seasons.
OHIO ST is 125-93 ATS (+22.7 Units) in all games since 1992.
OHIO ST is 125-93 ATS (+22.7 Units) in all lined games since 1992.
OHIO ST is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
OREGON is 18-34 ATS (-19.4 Units) as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points since 1992.
Ohio State is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games
Ohio State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Oregon is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
Oregon is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
Bowl Season College Football Injury Report
OHIO ST
[LB] 09/06/2009 - Tyler Moeller out for season ( Head )
[S) 09/10/2009 - Aaron Gant out indefinitely ( Lower Body )
[LB] 11/04/2009 - Andrew Sweat out for season ( Knee )
[RB] 10/16/2009 - Marcus Williams out for season ( Knee )
[PK] 11/02/2009 - Aaron Pettrey out for season ( Knee )
[DE] 12/15/2009 - Rob Rose has been ruled out of the Rose Bowl vs. Oregon ( Eligibility )
[WR] 12/15/2009 - Duron Carter has been ruled out of the Rose Bowl vs. Oregon ( Eligibility )
[WR] 12/23/2009 - Ray Small has been ruled out of the Rose Bowl vs. Oregon ( Eligibility )
[QB] 12/28/2009 - Terrelle Pryor probable Friday vs. Oregon ( Knee )
OREGON
[CB] 09/29/2009 - Walter Thurmond III out for season ( Knee )
[RB] 12/05/2009 - Remene Alston out indefinitely ( Academics )
[CB] 10/07/2009 - Willie Glasper out for season ( Knee )
[WR] 12/25/2009 - Jamere Holland expected to miss Friday vs. Ohio State ( Eligibility )
Rose Bowl Odds
Ohio State Buckeyes +4 Over 51 (+165)
Oregon Ducks -4 Under 51 (-185)