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ESPN’s FPI predicts the outcome of Texas-Ohio State CFP semifinal at Cotton Bowl
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ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) predicts the outcome of all the college football games ahead of each weekend. With the regular season in the distant past and most of the postseason games completed, the formula has been updated ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinals.
The Texas Longhorns are taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl. The model sees this game as a coin flip, giving the Longhorns a 50.6% chance to win while giving the Buckeyes a 49.4% chance.
Entering this game, both teams have won 2 Playoff games. The Longhorns knocked off ACC champion Clemson in the opening round by a score of 38-24. Then, in the quarterfinals, the Longhorns knocked out Big 12 champion Arizona State in OT.
The Buckeyes are also 2-0 in the Playoff, beating Tennessee in the opening round and Oregon in the quarterfinals. In those 2 games, the Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 83-36.
For Texas, playing in the Cotton Bowl is nothing new. This will be the team’s 23rd time playing in the bowl game. Overall, the team is 12-10 all-time in Cotton Bowl games and last played in the game in 2002. In that game, the Longhorns defeated the LSU by a score of 35-20.
For the Buckeyes, this will be their 4th time playing in the Cotton Bowl. The team’s last appearance came just last season against Missouri. Overall, the Buckeyes are 2-1 in the bowl with their lone loss coming last season.
These 2 classic college football powers will kick off in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10. The winner will face off against the winner of Penn State-Notre Dame in the national championship.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
