Miami vs Ohio State: 3 Player Prop Predictions and Best Bet for Cotton Bowl

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic hosts the first CFP quarterfinal game this year when the No. 10-ranked Miami Hurricanes (11-2) take on the No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) on Wednesday.

Miami advanced to the quarterfinals with a 10-3 victory over Texas A&M. Both the Hurricanes and Aggies struggled to score in that matchup, but Miami’s defense forced three turnovers and scored a late fourth-quarter touchdown to emerge victorious.

Ohio State was undefeated until the Buckeyes fell to the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship game. The defeat snapped Ohio State’s 16-game winning streak, but it did not keep the Buckeyes from earning a bye in this year’s college playoff tournament.

Last year, all four teams that earned a bye into the quarterfinals lost, and the playoff committee changed how schools were selected for the top four spots. Can Ohio State end that streak of losses for bye teams by knocking off the Hurricanes? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player props for this contest.

Ohio State Buckeyes QB Julian Sayin OVER 236.5 Passing Yards

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin should enter the 2026 NCAA season as the favorite to capture the Heisman after finishing fourth in this year’s race. The signal-caller enters this playoff game with 3,323 passing yards, having thrown 31 touchdowns against only six picks.

He’ll have another big game against Miami on Wednesday. The Hurricanes’ pass defense has been suspect all season, allowing several big games by opposing quarterbacks throughout the regular season. Take Sayin to easily cover this player prop bet on Wednesday.

Miami Hurricanes WR Malachi Toney UNDER 62.5 Receiving Yards

Malachi “Baby Jesus” Toney has been a miracle worker for the Miami receiving corps. The freshman is eight yards shy of a 1,000-yard receiving season, having produced that total on 89 receptions this season.

On Wednesday, the 5-foot-11 athlete will face his toughest opponent yet. The Buckeyes have yielded over 200 passing yards to two opponents this season, suggesting Toney’s touches will be at a premium. Bettors should take the under on the freshman’s receiving prop total for the Cotton Bowl.

Ohio State Buckeyes RB Bo Jackson UNDER 71.5 Rushing Yards

Bo Jackson knows football. Ohio State’s running back with a famous name – and in no way related to the former Auburn running back – had a strong season in 2025, earning 1,035 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He also notched 200 receiving yards and another score for the Buckeyes.

Against Indiana, Jackson earned 83 rushing yards on 17 carries. Jackson may earn a similar workload on Wednesday, but Miami’s rush defense is among the nation’s best. Bettors should expect him to fall short of his 71.5-yard rushing goal as he fails to cover this prop wager total.

Best Bet: Miami (+9.5)

The Hurricanes were ranked second in the country until a mid-October Friday-night upset in Louisville. Miami dropped a second game just two weeks later, suffering a 26-20 defeat against the SMU Mustangs.

There’s no question that Ohio State is one of the best teams in the country, and Miami should lose to the Buckeyes in the playoffs. But a 9.5-point spread is too big for this game. Expect the Hurricanes to make it a game, losing by a touchdown or less in the CFP quarterfinals.