Betting Interest Wanes As First Round Of College Football Playoff

LAS VEGAS (AP) - With the noteworthy exception of Friday night's Alabama-Oklahoma face-off, wagerers aren't exactly hurrying to place wagers on the opening week of this season's College Football Playoff.


The presence of 2 Group of Five representatives - 11th-seeded Tulane and 12th-seed James Madison - in matches in which they are significant underdogs has taken a great deal of the radiance off the very first round.


Sixth-seeded Mississippi is 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 amazing as it has been in years prior," stated Joey Feazel, head of football at Caesars Sportsbook. "But I make sure when we get to the next round, it will be amazing and we'll amass a great deal of handle there."


The New Year's Eve and Day quarterfinals could have a number of intriguing matchups, but there is a real possibility this weekend will end with a couple of blowouts.


"We're still awaiting a bulk of the action to come through," BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee stated.


FILE - Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti holds up the championship prize after the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Indianapolis, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)


The most expected match this week is eighth-seeded Oklahoma's home game against No. 9 seed Alabama. The betting line has 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 first 2 games and will be at home for this match.


CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall noted both offenses have major concern marks. Bama's running game has actually not fared great against leading competitors and had minus-3 lawns in the Southeastern Conference title game loss to Georgia. Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has had a hard time to discover a rhythm because returning from injury.


"The rematch thing type of makes you like Alabama a bit here, however I don't understand they appear like they're a threat to go any deeper than this round," Marshall said. "They might manage this one, however they're going to need to play a lot much 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 were in that game."


Second-seeded Ohio State might have lost the Big Ten title video game to Indiana, ceding the top seed to the Hoosiers, however the odds still prefer the Buckeyes.


BetMGM notes the Buckeyes at +225 to win the nationwide champion; Indiana is ideal behind at +275. Third-seeded Georgia is the next closest at +500.


Bettors have seen this motion picture. Ohio State went into last season's playoffs off a confounding loss to Michigan, but then rolled through the postseason to win the nationwide championship. Each victory was by double digits.


"Ohio State is the No. 1 most-bet group by a wide margin, but their price has been so short all year," Magee stated. "My forecast is Ohio State over Indiana. You saw it in 2015 Ohio State losing to Michigan, they lose to Indiana this year, but you see what this team is capable of come playoff time."


Lane Kiffin wished to stay Ole Miss' coach in the playoff after taking the LSU task, but was told his services were no longer required in Oxford.


What that means to the Rebels' fortunes is difficult to understand. They were thought about borderline nationwide championship competitors under Kiffin, however aside from an expected triumph in the preliminary, how far the Rebels go is far from specific. They are listed at 25-1 at BetMGM to win the title - behind eight other teams.


Marshall stated quarterback Trinidad Chambliss' growth under Kiffin might be difficult to duplicate.


"Kiffin was so associated with the mechanics of that and the play calling, (his absence) may really injure Ole Miss a bit," Marshall said. "It could work both methods. They could really galvanize and circle the wagons around (coach Pete) Golding, however I believe the specifics without Kiffin the play caller might harm 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 major downside of getting the bye is waiting about three weeks to take the field for a video game and maybe not being as sharp.


Feazel, however, didn't purchase that theory.


"That's describing an one-year trend," Feazel stated. "We're speaking about (only) four video games where that happened last year. ... I believe it still is an advantage to get a bye, specifically just the time to prepare depending upon the coach."


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Alabama running back Dre Washington (20) runs against Georgia during the first half of a Southeastern Conference champion NCAA college football video game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)