NCAA Football
2025-12-31 - Miami Hurricanes at Ohio State Buckeyes
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Quarter Final
Wednesday 31st December 2025 - Scheduled 7:30pm
12:30am (British Time)
Preview
Last season was the first in the new format of the College Football Playoff and all four First Round winners were able to beat top four Seeded opponents.
That includes the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) crushing a Big Ten rival in Oregon, but this time it is the Buckeyes who have been sitting and waiting to see who they would face Dallas.
Most may have expected the Texas A&M Aggies to be that opponent, but they were upset at home by the Miami Hurricanes (11-2) who have already proven the Playoff Committee were correct in bringing them into the Bracket.
The win over the Aggies was not the most eye-pleasing performance, at least not from an Offensive point of view, and the Hurricanes have to be aware that they are going to need to be better all around to upset the Number 2 Seed. Miami have been set as a considerable underdog in the contest, but that win on the road has to give them belief that they are able to make this a very competitive outing.
Much of the heavy lifting is going to have to be done by the Miami Defensive unit, who just limited the Aggies to 3 points at home.
They are a team that have been very strong at the Line of Scrimmage and that has made it very difficult to run the ball against the Hurricanes, which is going to be something that the Buckeyes may struggle to do with any consistency. Ohio State have been very good at running the ball all season, but there has been a feeling that they have struggled against strong fronts and the Hurricanes are about as good an opponent as Ohio State will have faced this season.
If the Hurricanes can at least slow the rush, they will feel they can unleash a pass rush that Ohio State will have rarely seen and that can put Quarter Back Julian Sayin under pressure. He has shown he is capable of finding big throws when they are needed this season and the Buckeyes are very talented in the Receiver positions, but the Indiana Hoosiers showed the blueprint to beat them and the Miami Hurricanes can certainly play their part on this side of the ball.
A bigger question is can the Miami Hurricanes find enough Offensive output to stay with the Buckeyes? They struggled in poor conditions against the Aggies, but playing indoors will help, although the Hurricanes also have to have a lot of respect for what this Ohio State Defensive unit can put together.
The Buckeyes numbers have been really strong all season on this side of the ball.
Carson Beck has experience, but the pressure is likely going to be carried by the Quarter Back with the Buckeyes Defensive Line capable of closing down the running lanes for the underdog.
He will be well protected, which will help, and Beck will have seen what the Indiana Hoosiers were able to do against the Buckeyes Secondary.
Fernando Mendoza managed to throw 222 yards against Ohio State and the Miami Hurricanes may need something similar to keep this one close on the scoreboard.
As long as the Miami Hurricanes can play a clean game Offensively, this opening Quarter Final will be a battle of field position and that should mean the spread is a bit too high for the favourite to cover, even if they are to win and move through to the next Round.
Prediction
The opening College Football Playoff Quarter Final looks like it could develop into a competitive affair.
The Pick :
Ohio State Buckeyes 20-13 Miami Hurricanes
