Betting Interest Wanes As 1st Round Of College Football Playoff

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


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


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 exciting as it has actually been in years prior," said Joey Feazel, head of football at Caesars Sportsbook. "But I make sure when we get to the next round, it will be interesting and we'll garner a lot of deal with there."


The New Year's Eve and Day quarterfinals could have a number of appealing matches, however there is a real possibility this weekend will end with a number 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 champion 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 matchup today is eighth-seeded Oklahoma's home video game against No. 9 seed Alabama. The wagering line has actually gotten better and forth between which group is the preferred.


The Sooners were favored by 1 1/2 points at BetMGM since Thursday afternoon in their 3rd meeting in 13 months. Oklahoma won the first 2 video games and will be at home for this matchup.


CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall kept in mind both have significant enigma. Bama's running video game has not fared great versus leading competitors and had minus-3 backyards in the Southeastern Conference title game loss to Georgia. Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has actually had a hard time to find a rhythm because returning from injury.


"The rematch thing sort of makes you like Alabama a bit here, but I don't understand they appear like they're a danger to go any much deeper than this round," Marshall said. "They might manage this one, but they're going to have to play a lot better than they have in the last month, definitely 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 game."


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


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


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


"Ohio State is the No. 1 most-bet team by a broad margin, but their cost has actually been so short all year," Magee said. "My forecast is Ohio State over Indiana. You saw it in 2015 Ohio State losing to Michigan, they lose to Indiana this year, however you see what this team can 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 considered borderline championship game competitors under Kiffin, but besides an anticipated victory in the very first round, how far the Rebels go is far from certain. They are listed at 25-1 at BetMGM to win the title - behind eight other teams.


Marshall stated quarterback Trinidad Chambliss' development under Kiffin could be hard to duplicate.


"Kiffin was so included in the mechanics of that and the play calling, (his absence) may in fact injure Ole Miss a bit," Marshall said. "It could work both ways. They could really galvanize and circle the wagons around (coach Pete) Golding, however I believe the specifics without Kiffin the play caller could hurt 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 3 weeks to take the field for a video game and possibly not being as sharp.


Feazel, however, didn't buy that theory.


"That's referring to a 1 year pattern," Feazel said. "We're speaking about (only) four games where that occurred in 2015. ... I believe it still is a benefit to get a bye, particularly just 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)