The College Football Playoffs field of twelve programs has been narrowed down to four teams, with one independent, one from the SEC, and two from the Big Ten Conference.
Online College football sportsbooks have created betting lines for the CFP semifinals as well as futures that project who the eventual National Champions will be.
Thursday, January 9th at 7:30 p.m. at the Cotton Bowl, Notre Dame will face Penn State where the winner will advance to the CFP Championship Game on the 20th.
Notre Dame (#7) vs. Penn State (#6) Betting Line
- Point Spread: Fighting Irish -2.5 (-110), Nittany Lions +2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Fighting Irish -135, Nittany Lions +115
- Over: 45.5 (-110)
- Under: 45.5 (-110)
Both Notre Dame and Penn State had relatively easy paths to the semifinals when compared to the other half of the bracket.
The Fighting Irish had to face Indiana in the first round, a program that hasn’t sniffed NCAAF superiority for six decades. In the second round, ND played Georgia, who would normally be a tough out if not for their starting quarterback missing the game due to injury.
The Nittany Lions played the SMU Mustangs in the first round and won 38-10. Then PSU went up against the Boise State Broncos in the second and won 31-14.
The spread suggests that the Irish will win by nearly a field goal this Thursday.
Friday, January 10th at 7:30 p.m. at the Orange Bowl, Texas and Ohio State will conclude the CFP semifinal round.
Ohio State (#8) vs. Texas (#5) Betting Line
- Point Spread: Buckeyes -6.0 (-110), Longhorns +6.0 (-110)
- Moneyline: Buckeyes -230, Longhorns +190
- Over: 53.0 (-115)
- Under; 53.0 (-105)
Before the playoffs began, legal CFP betting sites favored the Longhorns to win it all.
Texas has done their duty and won their first two playoff matchups against suspect opponents, but the oddsmakers no longer see them as the champions.
The Buckeyes have had to the toughest road of any team. OSU has beaten Tennessee then Oregon, the number one ranked team in the country.
Now they are favored in the CFP semis by just under a touchdown and are the most likely program to win the title based on the latest NCAAF futures.
2024-25 NCAAF Futures
- Ohio State (#8) -110
- Notre Dame (#7) +350
- Texas (#5) +400
- Penn State (#6) +500
The Buckeyes are way out in front the pack according to the moneyline odds, but they’re still drawing even money will only two contests remaining.
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