Texas is a 1.5 point home favorite over No. 1 Ohio State, with the total sitting at 48.5, for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC. The line has barely moved all week. Circa opened the Longhorns at -2, it dipped to a pick’em briefly, and it settled at Texas -1 to -1.5 across the market, where FanDuel still had it Friday. The total opened at 47.5 and ticked up a point with most of the tickets on the under.
| Market | Line |
|---|---|
| Spread | Texas -1.5 / Ohio State +1.5 |
| Moneyline | Texas -115 / Ohio State -104 |
| Total | 48.5 (opened 47.5) |
| Opening line | Texas -2 at Circa; Texas -1.5 at most books |
Lines are consensus figures compiled this week and will move before kickoff. Check your book for the current number.
Live Market Odds
| Rank | Name | Odds | Implied |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio St. | -199 | 67% |
| 2 | Texas | +199 | 34% |
Odds are the live price on Kalshi’s prediction market expressed as an American line, refreshed every two minutes; sportsbook prices will differ. Implied is the market’s probability. 24h is the move in percentage points since the previous day’s close.
What the Line Says
A No. 1 team as a road underdog is unusual, but this is a pure home field number. On a neutral field the books make Ohio State a slight favorite; the standard two to three points for Austin flips it. The market is treating this as a coin flip, which matches the last two meetings: Ohio State won 14-7 in Columbus to open 2025 and 28-14 in the 2024 playoff semifinal, and neither game was decided until the fourth quarter.
Why the Total Is Low
Both teams put up huge Week 1 numbers, Ohio State 56-3 over Ball State and Texas 59-7 over Texas State, but the total is under 50 because the last two meetings produced 21 and 42 points and both defenses are built to keep the ball in front of them. Ohio State held Texas to 7 last year with Arch Manning throwing for 170 yards. The under has been the popular side all week.
Our Pick
Texas 24, Ohio State 20. Texas covers the 1.5 and the game stays under 48.5. The full reasoning, series history and matchup notes are on our Ohio State vs. Texas preview.
Related: injury report, announcers, national championship odds, Heisman odds.
The Bottom Line
Texas -1.5, total 48.5, moneyline near even both ways. It is the closest line of any top five matchup this season and it has not moved more than a point in either direction all week.