CFB Playoff Odds and Predictions for Round One
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All four home teams are favored by at least a touchdown in the CFB Playoff odds for round one. Indiana and Notre Dame face off in the opening game of the first-ever 12-team CFP. Then, a tripleheader on Saturday will decide the remaining first-round matchups.
Keep reading to see the current odds for the College Football Playoff opening round at the top college football betting sites. I will tell you the latest odds for the four first-round match-ups and give my predictions for every game.
Round 1 CFP Schedule
Twelve teams made the CFP this year, but only four are competing in the first round. The top four teams, Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State, all received a bye in the opening round. Here are the matchups for the remaining teams in the first-ever 12-team playoff.
- #10 Indiana vs. #7 Notre Dame
- #11 SMU vs. #6 Penn State
- #12 Clemson vs. #5 Texas
- #9 Tennessee vs. #8 Ohio State
The Longhorns, Nittany Lions, Fightin’ Irish, and Buckeyes did not get byes, but they did earn the right to host playoff games at their home stadiums. Tennessee, Indiana, SMU, and Clemson, on the other hand, qualified for the playoffs but will be on the road for every game they play in the postseason.
Let’s take a closer look at the opening round CFB playoff odds, courtesy of Bovada Sportsbook.
#10 Indiana vs. #7 Notre Dame Odds and Best Bets
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| #10 Indiana | +7.0 (+100) | +255 | Over 52.0 (-110) |
| #7 Notre Dame | -7.0 (-120) | -310 | Under 52.0 (-110) |
The first-ever game in the 12-team CFP format features an in-state rivalry between #10 Indiana and #7 Notre Dame. The Hoosiers will take on the Fightin’ Irish in South Bend for the right to advance and take on Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Bovada lists Notre Dame as a 7.0-point favorite for this playoff matchup. Notre Dame’s only loss this season came at home, an early season 16-14 debacle against Northern Illinois.
Indiana also finished 11-1 this season, the second-best record in the Big 10. However, the Hoosiers missed the cut for the conference championship. Their only loss this year was a 38-15 drubbing at the hands of Ohio State in late November.
This will be a cold-weather matchup, and it could snow in South Bend. Notre Dame’s rushing attack has been the driving force behind its success this season.
However, a bad-weather game could favor Indiana, as the Hoosiers have the top-ranked run defense in the country and a talented running back room of their own. Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton both have at least 10 rushing touchdowns this year, and they could be the key to a Hoosier’s upset on Friday.
- Prediction: Indiana +255
#11 SMU vs. #6 Penn State Odds and Best Bets
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| #11 SMU | +8.5 (-110) | +275 | Over 54.5 (-110) |
| #6 Penn State | -8.5 (-110) | -350 | Under 54.5 (-110) |
Saturday’s CFP tripleheader starts with a matchup between #11 SMU and #6 Penn State. The Nittany Lions are coming off a tough loss to Oregon in the Big 10 Championship game, losing 45-37 to the Ducks in their debut season in the conference.
SMU also lost its conference championship game, falling 34-31 to Clemson in the ACC title game. Their conference title losses were SMU’s and Clemson’s second losses of the season. The Mustangs’ first loss came against BYU, and the Nittany Lions lost against Ohio State.
Penn State should win this game at home, especially if they can stop SMU’s rushing attack. No Mustangs’ wide receiver has more than 600 yards receiving this year, so running back Brashard Smith should be the focus of Penn State’s defensive game plan.
The Nittany Lions have struggled in big spots in recent years, coming up short against Michigan and Ohio State time and again. This is a big game, but it is one that Penn State will be able to win, setting up a second-round matchup with Boise State. The cold weather and the tough road environment will overwhelm SMU this weekend.
- Prediction: Penn State -8.5 -110
#12 Clemson vs. #5 Texas Odds and Best Bets
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| #12 Clemson | +12.0 (-110) | +355 | Over 51.5 (-115) |
| #5 Texas | -12.0 (-110) | -490 | Under 51.5 (-105) |
Most conference champions were rewarded with a bye for their efforts this season. Clemson, the ACC Champion, is the exception. The Tigers made the CFP, but they were the 12th seed and will travel to Texas to take on the Longhorns in the first round.
Texas is a 12.0-point favorite in the current CFB Playoff odds, but beating Clemson could be easier said than done. The Longhorns’ loss in the SEC Championship game has generated plenty of questions at the quarterback position. Quinn Ewers started the title game against Georgia, but Arch Manning got the first snaps in overtime.
Ewers’ uncertain future at Texas could derail the Longhorns’ National Title chances this year. If Ewers and company can keep the focus on the gams at hand, though, they could win it all this year. Texas is the highest-ranked team that did not earn a bye and is the biggest favorite of the opening round.
Clemson, on the other hand, had a rough start to the year, losing 34-3 to Georgia in the season opener. The Tigers quickly turned their season around, though, and despite having three losses, Clemson is a conference champion. The Longhorns should win this game, but I think Clemson can cover the 12.0-point spread on Saturday.
- Prediction: Clemson +12 -110
#9 Tennessee vs. #8 Ohio State Odds and Best Bets
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| #9 Tennessee | +7.5 (-120) | +240 | Over 46.0 (-115) |
| #8 Ohio State | -7.5 (+100) | -290 | Under 46.0 (-105) |
Finally, the game everyone is waiting for, #8 Ohio State hosts #9 Tennessee in the marquee matchup of the first round. Both teams looked dominant at times this season, but neither won their conference.
The Buckeyes only lost twice all year, falling 32-31 to Oregon and 13-10 to Michigan. Their loss to the Wolverines was especially demoralizing, and Ohio State has not played since. Tennessee also has two losses, Arkansas and Georgia, but ended the season with back-to-back wins.
Both teams have had three weeks off to prepare for this game, and I think The Volunteers can pull off the upset in Columbus. Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson will cause issues for Ohio State’s rush defense. The Volunteer’s defense is also one of the best units in the country and will harass Will Howard and company all day.
Howard’s first season at Ohio State has had mixed results. The transfer quarterback has played well enough to win 10 games, but he also had under 3,000 yards passing, and no receiver had more than 1,000 yards for the Buckeyes this season. Tennessee’s defense and rushing attack will be better suited for a cold game in Ohio, and the Volunteers will secure the upset this week.
- Prediction: Tennessee +240
Where to Bet on Updated CFB Playoff Odds
The 12-team CFP has more than tripled the number of playoff games college football fans can bet on this season. You need a great sportsbook to maximize your CFP betting opportunities this year. The best place to bet on every round of the College Football Playoffs is Bovada Sportsbook.
Bovada offers competitive odds on all 11 individual games of the CFP. You can also wager on futures markets, including the latest National Championship odds. The site has excellent betting tools, such as its intuitive prop builder, that make it easy to customize your CFP betting slip.
In addition to the CFB Playoff odds above, Bovada has dozens of thrilling prop wagers for every playoff game this weekend. You can wager on player-specific props, such as Dylan Sampson’s rushing total, and game props. Bettors can also combine their favorite wagers into high-paying CFP parlay tickets.
Betting on the CFP is even easier when you take advantage of Bovada’s bonuses, such as the $1,000 welcome bonus promotion. To claim this deposit match bonus, use the code BV1000 when making your first deposit.
Bet on the CFB Playoff at Bovada
Bovada features one of the best online sportsbooks in the industry, and has betting action for more than a dozen different sports and leagues.
What Are Your CFP First-Round Predictions?
Every home team is a heavy favorite in the opening CFB Playoff odds for Round One. Check out the guide above to see the latest betting odds for every matchup in the opening round of the 12-team CFP.
After reading my predictions, create your Bovada account today to wager on the current CFB Playoff betting odds. Bovada has moneyline, point spread, props, and other thrilling betting markets for every CFP matchup this weekend.
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