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Tennessee vs. Ohio State Prediction Tonight: College Football Playoff Picks

Rob Paul

Last Updated: December 21, 2024 4:57 PM EST • 4 min 15 sec read.

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) passes the ball as we make our Tennessee vs. Ohio State prediction.
Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) passes the ball. Photo by Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.

Three teams have punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, with the final spot on the line tonight when Tennessee squares off against Ohio State.

Our Tennessee vs. Ohio State prediction expects the Volunteers to keep it closer than the 7.5-point spread at the best college football betting sites suggest. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET (ABC) from Columbus, Ohio.

The Buckeyes are one of just four teams with +500 or shorter college football championship odds. However, many believe they have the best chance to be upset following their recent loss to Michigan.

Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker has you covered with the latest opt-out news and the impact on the college bowl game odds. 

Tennessee vs. Ohio State prediction & best pick: College Football Playoff

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

  • Against the spread pick: Tennessee +7.5 () vs. Ohio State ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • My best pick: Quinshon Judkins Under 58.5 rushing yards () ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tennessee vs. Ohio State ATS prediction

Tennessee to cover the spread: +7.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -120 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 54.55%

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This game will lead to memories of old school football, the kind of football Woody Hayes respected. Neither of these teams would be in the playoff this year without devastating defenses, and that's why I'm expecting a low-scoring bar fight between the two.

While the Buckeyes should come out on top, the Vols can cover for the third straight game if they make enough plays on offense. Running back Dylan Sampson won SEC Offensive Player of the Year this season after rushing for the eighth-most yards after contact in the country (927) and forcing the seventh-most missed tackles (70), according to .

Sampson's effectiveness has put the Vols 13th in , and he'll be able to take pressure off Nico Iamaleava and open things up for receiver Dont'e Thornton. The defense will do the rest if Tennessee can create enough explosive plays on offense.

The home of Reggie White, Al Wilson, Eric Berry

When Josh Heupel "the standard at Tennessee is to be elite on defense," he meant it. The Volunteers boast players at every level of their defense who will be playing on Sundays, and they should take advantage of Ohio State's offensive line injuries.

Tennessee is No. 3 in  on defense, with James Pearce Jr. and his 23.5% pass rush win rate leading the way. The team boasts one of the best all-around units in the country, and it allows the fourth-fewest yards per game (278.0).

With Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin out up front for the Buckeyes, Will Howard could be under serious pressure. And mistakes tend to happen when he's under duress. The Vols can cover if he stumbles enough, and a $10 bet pays an $8.33 profit.

Tennessee vs. Ohio State best pick

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Quinshon Judkins Under 58.5 rushing yards ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -117 via Caesars | Implied probability: 53.92%

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The amount of money Ohio State's collective paid Quinshon Judkins to come to Columbus couldn't have been worth it. He's been struggling to put together consistent performances after a hot start to the season, with the running back averaging fewer than four yards per carry in five of his last seven games.

He's gone Under 58.5 rushing yards in all of those outings while averaging just 48.1 rushing yards per game. It's only going to get harder against Tennessee's defense, which sits No. 3 in  with Pearce, Arion Carter, and Joshua Josephs leading the way. They've posted a combined 51 run stops.

The Vols are allowing the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game in the country (99.3) and Judkins is already splitting carries with TreVeyon Henderson, which won't help his cause. If he runs for fewer than 58.5 yards for the third straight game, a $10 bet pays an $8.55 profit.

College Football Playoff expert picks

Tennessee vs. Ohio State odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Tennessee vs. Ohio State live odds

Tennessee vs. Ohio State opening odds:

  • Tennessee: +7.5 (-115)
  • Ohio State: -7.5 (-105)

Tennessee vs. Ohio State odds movement

Ohio State opened as more than a touchdown favorite at the best sportsbooks. Despite a lot of public chatter surrounding the Buckeyes being on upset alert, the betting odds haven't budged in the build-up to the College Football Playoff contest.

DraftKings is one of the only books that lists the spread at anything other than Ohio State -7.5, but its -115 odds on the 7-point spread indicate a potential late movement back up to include the hook.

Tennessee vs. Ohio State injuries

Tennessee vs. Ohio State game info

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 21
  • Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
  • Where: Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
  • How to watch: ABC, ESPN
  • Weather: 27 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, wind 3 mph NW

College football betting odds pages

Here are our best college football betting sites:

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Written By:
Rob Paul
Rob is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review. He’s been with the team since early 2024, with this being his first full-time role in the sports betting industry. Before joining 520ccc.com, he contributed to various sports outlets, including FanSided and Pro Football Network. During that period, he spent five years working full-time as a local community journalist, after attending Durham College for journalism and Wilfrid Laurier University for history. He previously hosted an NFL draft and college football-focused podcast where he had the opportunity to interact with future NFL players such as Maxx Crosby and Quinn Meinerz. Rob has spent multiple years working as a freelance podcast producer for numerous sports-related podcasts while making guest appearances on several college football shows. He’s also made guest appearances on SportsTalk Mississippi on several occasions to talk all things NFL draft. Rob values the way sports betting acts as a catalyst for telling stories and growing interest in certain sports, particularly FCS football, WNBA, and mid-major college basketball. He’s always been drawn to the more obscure teams and conferences in major college sports, but most of all, Rob loves using stats to find the best player props to back.