- The College Football Playoff matchups are set after the Conference Championship Games on Saturday.
- Alabama will face off against Notre Dame as heavy favorites.
- Clemson will battle Ohio State, also as favorites.
LAS VEGAS - The College Football Playoff is set, and the games look...interesting, to say the least.
Alabama will face off against Notre Dame, while Ohio State will battle Clemson. The early odds and lines are already up on the online sportsbooks, so let’s take a look at College Football Playoff betting.
Game 1 - Ohio State vs. Clemson
Ohio State made it into the Playoff by the skin of their teeth - and the Big 10 changing the rules to let them into the Championship Game.
They’ll face one of the best teams in the nation in the form of Clemson, who enters this matchup as a serious favorite. Clemson’s only loss came to Notre Dame, in a game that Trevor Lawrence was unable to play in.
They’re clearly one of the two best teams in the nation, and while Ohio State is talented, Clemson deserves to be favored.
Clemson vs. Ohio State
- Clemson -7.5 (-105)
- Ohio State +7.5 (-115)
Interestingly, this CFB betting line opened at Clemson -6.5, meaning there’s already been about a point of movement in their direction on the sportsbooks. Clemson -7.5 is currently at -105 odds, but that could be representative of a line in the process of moving, not one in the process of swinging back.
While there’s only a small difference in terms of the absolute value of 6.5 vs 7.5, the implications for betting are huge.
A 7.5-point spread means that Clemson could win by a touchdown and still not cover, which means that those who got in on Clemson -6.5 must be feeling quite good about that decision.
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Speaking of lines moving…
Alabama vs. Notre Dame
Alabama entered this matchup with Notre Dame as a 17.5 point favorite on the spread, but it has since moved further in their favor.
Alabama vs. Notre Dame
- Alabama -19.5 (-115)
- Notre Dame +19.5 (-105)
Notre Dame has the resume to justify being in the College Football Playoff, but that’s about all they have. They have one good win on their schedule, and even that win isn’t a good win. They beat Clemson, at home, in double overtime, with the best quarterback in college football on the sidelines. To be blunt, they don’t have the horses.
Alabama is rolling out elite offensive players all across the board, with both Mac Jones and Devonta Smith being legit Heisman contenders and Najee Harris with an outside shot.
This spread will likely keep moving towards Alabama, especially after the brutal beatdown put on Notre Dame by Clemson the second time they played. With Trevor Lawrence back from COVID, Clemson destroyed Notre Dame, 34-10. Alabama is regarded as at least equal to or better than Clemson.
Notre Dame has their work cut out for them.
These CFP semifinals are going to be some of the most high profile matchups of the year at online sportsbooks, and they are very worth taking a look at for college football bettors.
Maxwell joined the USAOnlineSportsbooks team in 2019. He focuses on creating sports betting content that informs and educates. He focuses on the NBA, the NFL, College Football and Basketball, and whatever else comes across his desk.
