Can you legally bet on the Ohio State College Football Playoff game?

With the looming launch of legal sports betting in Ohio, many are asking whether or not Ohioans can legally bet on the Ohio State College Football Playoff game on December 31, 2022. Ohio State is taking on the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta, Ga., for the College Football Playoff semifinal game at 8:00 p.m. eastern time on New Years Eve.

So, can people in Ohio legally bet on the Ohio State CFP game? As of now, it looks like the answer is going to be no. Incredibly, the start time of the game is just hours before legal Ohio sports betting launches.

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Pre-register now, just in case

Ohio users will want to pre-register with their sportsbook of choice as soon as possible for two reasons. First, lock in the pre-registration bonus. Each sportsbook is offering hundreds of dollars in value in bonus bets and other bonuses as part of the pre-registration window. Second, if for some reason, the launch time is moved up to accommodate the Ohio State Playoff game, then you’ll be ready to roll.

Here are the best pre-launch offers available now for Ohio users:

Could the Ohio launch get moved up?

There have been rumors of various stakeholders pushing the regulators to potentially move up the launch of legal sports betting in the state, but as of now, the launch remains firmly on January 1, 2023. Part of the rationale here is that regulators want all license holders to be able to launch simultaneously on a firm launch date. Nevertheless, as we get closer to the end of the calendar year, you might expect additional public pressure and outcry to get the launch date and time moved up by a few hours so Ohioans can legally bet on their beloved Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff game.

What if the Ohio State game runs long?

What if the game runs long? Can Ohio bettors perhaps place live bets on the game if it goes past midnight? It’s unlikely. Just because the launch date is January 1, 2023, typically state sports betting launches have a launch time as well. For example, in a recent sports betting launch for the state Maryland, a number of sportsbooks launched and opened the doors for legal bets around 10:00 a.m.

Who is favored in Ohio State vs. Georgia?

Most books such as FanDuel, Caesars and BetMGM are showing pretty similar odds on this game with Georgia hovering as a 6.5 point favorite.

• Spread: Georgia -6.5 / -115 (FanDuel)
• Moneyline: Georgia -265 / Ohio State +215 (FanDuel)
• Over/Under: o61.5 -115 / u61.5 -105 (FanDuel)

Frequently asked questions about Ohio Sports Betting

How many sportsbooks can I signup for in Ohio?

You can sign up for multiple sportsbooks. It’s common for sports fans to have two or more sportsbooks they use for a couple reasons. First, many users like to lock in lucrative sign-up bonuses by signing up for a few sportsbook apps. Second, it allows you to shop lines in between books when betting on your favorite teams.

Can I bet on Ohio State if they make the CFP national championship?

Absolutely. If Ohio State beats Georgia and goes to the championship game on January 9, 2023, Ohio sports betting will have already been launched and Ohio residents can bet on their team!

Can I bet on NFL?

Ohio users will be able to bet on all sports including NFL starting on January 1, when the Ohio sportsbooks begin accepting bets.

What are the best sportsbooks in Ohio?

Our recommended sportsbooks are listed below. Many sportsbooks such as BetMGM Ohio are offering great signup bonuses. The DraftKings promo code is one of our top recommendations as well.

Bob Wankel

Bob Wankel is a credentialed baseball writer for Crossing Broad where he covers the Phillies. A graduate of Monmouth University in NJ, Bob also covers the legalized sports betting industry. Past stops include NFL Films and a decade-plus stint in education.