Betting Interest Wanes As 1st Round Of College Football Playoff
LAS VEGAS (AP) - With the noteworthy exception of Friday night's Alabama-Oklahoma face-off, bettors aren't exactly rushing to position wagers on the opening week of this season's College Football Playoff.
The presence of two Group of Five agents - 11th-seeded Tulane and 12th-seed James Madison - in matches in which they are substantial underdogs has taken a lot of the luster off the preliminary.
Sixth-seeded Mississippi is favored by 17 1/2 points at BetMGM Sportsbook over Tulane, and No. 5 Oregon is a 20 1/2-point favorite over James Madison.
"It's not as hyped up and interesting as it has been in years prior," said Joey Feazel, head of football at Caesars Sportsbook. "But I make certain when we get to the next round, it will be interesting and we'll amass a lot of deal with there."
The New Year's Eve and Day quarterfinals could have a number of appealing matches, but there is a genuine possibility this weekend will end with a couple of blowouts.
"We're still waiting on a bulk of the action to come through," BetMGM trading supervisor Seamus Magee stated.
FILE - Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti holds up the championship trophy after the Big Ten champion NCAA college football video game versus Ohio State in Indianapolis, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
The most anticipated match today is eighth-seeded Oklahoma's home video game against No. 9 seed Alabama. The wagering line has actually recovered and forth in between which team is the preferred.
The Sooners were favored by 1 1/2 points at BetMGM since Thursday afternoon in their third conference in 13 months. Oklahoma won the very first two video games and will be at home for this matchup.
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall kept in mind both offenses have significant enigma. Bama's running game has not fared fantastic versus leading competitors and had minus-3 backyards in the Southeastern Conference title game loss to Georgia. Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has struggled to find a rhythm given that returning from injury.
"The rematch thing type of makes you like Alabama a little bit here, however I do not know they appear like they're a risk to go any deeper than this round," Marshall said. "They may manage this one, but they're going to need to play a lot better than they have in the last month, certainly a lot better than they did against Georgia. That effort didn't make any sense. There was no reason for them to be as flat as they remained in that video game."
Second-seeded Ohio State may have lost the Big Ten title video game to Indiana, delivering the top seed to the Hoosiers, but the odds still favor the Buckeyes.
BetMGM notes the Buckeyes at +225 to win the championship game; Indiana is right behind at +275. Third-seeded Georgia is the next closest at +500.
Bettors have seen this movie. Ohio State went into last season's playoffs off a confounding loss to Michigan, but then rolled through the postseason to win the nationwide champion. Each success was by double digits.
"Ohio State is the No. 1 most-bet group by a wide margin, however their cost has been so short all year," Magee stated. "My prediction is Ohio State over Indiana. You saw it last year Ohio State losing to Michigan, they lose to Indiana this year, but you see what this group is capable of come playoff time."
Lane Kiffin wished to remain Ole Miss' coach in the playoff after taking the LSU task, however was told his services were no longer required in Oxford.
What that indicates to the Rebels' fortunes is difficult to know. They were thought about borderline national championship competitors under Kiffin, but besides an expected triumph in the very first round, how far the Rebels go is far from particular. They are listed at 25-1 at BetMGM to win the title - behind 8 other groups.
Marshall stated quarterback Trinidad Chambliss' development under Kiffin could be tough to duplicate.
"Kiffin was so involved in the mechanics of that and the play calling, (his lack) might actually hurt Ole Miss a bit," Marshall said. "It could work both methods. They might actually galvanize and circle the wagons around (coach Pete) Golding, but I believe the specifics without Kiffin the play caller might injure Chambliss a little bit."
All four schools with a first-round bye lost in the quarterfinals last season when the CFP went to a 12-team format for the very first time.
The of getting the bye is waiting about three weeks to take the field for a video game and perhaps not being as sharp.
Feazel, however, didn't purchase that theory.
"That's referring to an one-year trend," Feazel stated. "We're discussing (just) four video games where that happened last year. ... I think it still is a benefit to get a bye, especially simply the time to prepare depending upon the coach."
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Alabama running back Dre Washington (20) runs versus Georgia during the first half of a Southeastern Championship game NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)