Ducks Favored in CFP Title Game on Monday Night

The college football season finally comes down to one game on Monday night when the Oregon Ducks, champions of the Pac-12 conference, battle the Ohio State Buckeyes, champions of the Big Ten conference, in Arlington, Texas.

As of about 24 hours before kickoff bettors who like Oregon could get the Ducks at -6.5 points at 5Dimes, while those who like Ohio State could get the Bucks at +7 at Bovada.

Oregon began this season among the favorites to win the national championship playoff, at odds of around 8/1. And after going 13-1 SU, 10-4 ATS, winning the Pac-12 championship and slapping Florida State in the Rose Bowl 59-20, here they are.

The Ducks lost one game this season, back in Week 5, at home to Arizona. Oregon then avenged that defeat with a 51-13 romp over the Wildcats in the Pac-12 championship game. And since suffering that lone loss the Green Machine from Eugene are 9-0 both straight up and against the spread.

In the other corner the Buckeyes, after losing their starting quarterback before this season even began, went off getting upwards of 40/1 to win the national championship. Ohio State suffered an early upset against Virginia Tech, as backup quarterback JT Barrett found his footing, but the Buckeyes have since won their last 12 games in a row, going 8-4 ATS.

They lost Barrett along the way, but didn't miss a beat with third-string QB Cardale Jones, demolishing Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten championship game, then upsetting top-ranked Alabama in the Sugar Bowl 42-35 to reach Monday's championship bout.

These two teams played one common opponent this season; Michigan State. Back in Week 2 Oregon exploded in the second half, coming from behind for a 46-27 victory over the Spartans, covering as a 14-point favorite. In Week 10, Ohio State went up to East Lansing and beat Sparty 49-37, winning straight up as a three-point underdog.

Finally, these two teams are a combined 19-8 on the OVER/UNDER this season, as Ducks games have averaged a shade under 70 points, Bucks games 67 points. But three of the last four national championship games have played UNDER the posted total.