Ohio State vs. USC: Date, time, TV, predictions for Cotton Bowl Classic

Bill Bender

Ohio State vs. USC: Date, time, TV, predictions for Cotton Bowl Classic image

No. 5 Ohio State (11-2) and No. 8 USC (11-2) meet in the Cotton Bowl Classic, a matchup of traditional rivals from the Big Ten and Pac-12.

Here's everything you need to know about the Cotton Bowl matchup between the Buckeyes and Trojans:

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What

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic 

Where

AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) 

When

Friday, Dec. 29, 8:30 p.m. 

How to watch

ESPN, live-stream at WatchESPN

Betting line 

Ohio State -6 

Last meeting

USC beat Ohio State 18-15 on Sept. 12, 2009. The Trojans lead the all-time series 13-9-1, which includes seven Rose Bowls.

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Keys to victory 

Quarterback play 

USC's Sam Darnold and Ohio State's J.T. Barrett are two of the most decorated quarterbacks in college football, and this is a legacy game for both after leading their respective teams to the Pac-12 and Big Ten championships, respectively. Darnold faces a Greg Schiano-led defense that allowed just 183.5 passing yards per game. Barrett, meanwhile, will attack a USC defense that allowed 159 yards per game on the ground. 

Who runs wild?

It's fitting that an Ohio State-USC game will have as many as four great tailbacks getting carries in this game. J.K. Dobbins (1,364 yards, seven touchdowns) and Mike Weber (608 yards, 10 touchdowns) are a productive 1-2 punch around Barrett. USC coach Clay Helton learned to lean on the combo of Ronald Jones (1,486 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Stephen Carr (363 yards, three touchdowns). The team that produces more chunk plays on the ground will be in good shape. 

Ohio State's pass rush

Ohio State's strength remains an aggressive defensive line that features Nick Bosa (7.0 sacks), Tyquan Lewis (6.0 sacks) and Sam Hubbard (4.5 sacks). How will that affect Darnold's timing? That's the biggest factor to watch early in the game.

MORE: College Football Playoff odds: Who's the favorite?

Bold prediction

The Trojans have a chance to tie or take the lead on the game's final drive, but Ohio State comes up with a game-ending turnover. 

Early pick

Ohio State 30-27. The Buckeyes improve to 4-2 in postseason games under Meyer and build momentum heading into 2018.

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.