Betting Interest Wanes As First Round Of College Football Playoff

LAS VEGAS (AP) - With the noteworthy exception of Friday night's Alabama-Oklahoma showdown, bettors aren't precisely rushing 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 matchups in which they are considerable underdogs has taken a great deal of the radiance off the very first round.


Sixth-seeded Mississippi is preferred 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 actually remained in years prior," stated 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 great deal of handle there."


The New Year's Eve and Day quarterfinals might have a number of interesting matches, however 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 manager Seamus Magee stated.


FILE - Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti holds up the champion trophy 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 anticipated match this week is eighth-seeded Oklahoma's home video game versus No. 9 seed Alabama. The betting line has actually bounced back and forth between which team is the favorite.


The Sooners were preferred by 1 1/2 points at BetMGM as of Thursday afternoon in their third meeting in 13 months. Oklahoma won the first 2 video games and will be at home for this match.


handicapper Bruce Marshall noted both offenses have significant question marks. Bama's running video game has actually not fared excellent against top 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 considering that returning from injury.


"The rematch thing type of makes you like Alabama a little bit here, but I do not know they appear like they're a danger to go any much deeper than this round," Marshall stated. "They might get by this one, but they're going to have to play a lot better than they have in the last month, definitely a lot much better than they did against Georgia. That effort didn't make any sense. There was no factor for them to be as flat as they remained in that game."


Second-seeded Ohio State may have lost the Big Ten title game to Indiana, delivering the front runner to the Hoosiers, but the chances still prefer the Buckeyes.


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


Bettors have seen this film. Ohio State entered 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 team by a wide margin, but their cost has actually been so short all year," Magee stated. "My prediction 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 wanted to remain Ole Miss' coach in the playoff after taking the LSU job, however was informed his services were no longer needed in Oxford.


What that indicates to the Rebels' fortunes is hard to know. They were considered borderline championship game contenders under Kiffin, but other than an anticipated triumph in the very first round, how far the Rebels go is far from specific. They are listed at 25-1 at BetMGM to win the title - behind eight other groups.


Marshall said quarterback Trinidad Chambliss' growth under Kiffin might be hard 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 ways. They might truly galvanize and circle the wagons around (coach Pete) Golding, but I think the specifics without Kiffin the play caller might harm Chambliss a little bit."


All 4 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 drawback of getting the bye is waiting about three weeks to take the field for a game and perhaps not being as sharp.


Feazel, nevertheless, didn't purchase that theory.


"That's referring to a 1 year pattern," Feazel said. "We're discussing (just) four video games where that took place last year. ... I think it still is a benefit to get a bye, specifically just the time to prepare depending on the coach."


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