NCAA practice rule gives Buckeyes huge edge in National Championship
According to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, Ohio State can run unlimited practice hours leading up the title game due to the fact that the school’s spring semester doesn’t start until Monday. Unfortunately, for Oregon, which started its spring session this week, the Ducks are limited to 20 hours of practice time due to NCAA regulations.
Oddsmakers opened with Oregon as a 7-point favorite over the Buckeyes, following their domination of defending national champion Florida State in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. However, sharp action took Ohio State plus the touchdown and has trimmed the spread to six points as of Thursday afternoon.
According to Peter Childs of Sportsbook.ag, many football bettors are skipping the points and going right to Ohio State’s moneyline, grabbing the Buckeyes as big as +190 to win outright inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Monday.
“That game has seen tons and tons of Ohio State moneyline action,” Childs tells Covers. “To the point that we’re at -200 on Oregon when they’re a 6.5-point favorite. Usually a 6.5-point favorite would be in the -250 range, but our liability on the moneyline as well as Ohio State’s future action has taken this moneyline down to -200, giving only +170 on Ohio State. But our customers are even taking that number.”
That 20-hour cap includes on-field work, weight room sessions, meetings and film study, as well as a three-hour count for the game itself. A Pac-12 official informed ESPN that Oregon is adhering to the NCAA’s strict limitations. The Buckeyes, on the other hand, can do as much preparation as they want simply because school hasn’t started for Ohio State students.
Earlier this week, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer told reporters that he and his staff are being careful not to overwork their players leading up to Monday's title game, but that doesn't mean they can't spend as much time as they want in the classroom or film study, getting familiar with Oregon's unorthodox play sets.
“You do have to treat it a little bit differently about how you practice, the amount of pad contact you have, the amount -- how many times you’re going to hit the tailback and your offensive line,” Meyer told the media. “Those are all things that I think our staff and I’ve watched so close, and the same with our strength coach - not about just wearing them out, because it’s a much different season.”
The Buckeyes upset No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, winning 42-35 as 7.5-point underdogs. Ohio State is led by third-string sophomore QB Cardale Jones, who has played well beyond his experience since taking over for injured J.T. Barrett before the Big Ten Championship. The Buckeyes have been underdogs three times this season and have won outright in all three games.
Monday’s total is set at 75 points.