CFB Playoff Semifinal Odds and Predictions
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Only four teams remain in the race for the National Championship, and Ohio State leads the latest CFB Playoff odds. The Buckeyes face the Longhorns while Penn State takes on Notre Dame for the right to play for the Natty this season.
This guide will break down the latest playoff odds for the CFB this season. I will tell you the latest odds for this year’s National Championship and highlight the latest odds for the semifinals at top college football betting sites.
Bovada Sportsbook provided the CFB playoff betting odds for this free guide.
2024-2025 National Championship Winner Odds
- Ohio State (-110)
- Notre Dame (+350)
- Texas (+400)
- Penn State (+500)
Ohio State is the betting favorite in Bovada’s updated CFB National Championship odds. The Buckeyes are listed at -110. Notre Dame has the next-best odds at +350, with Texas (+400) and Penn State (+500) rounding out the field.
Ohio State (-110)
The betting favorite in the CFB National Championship odds ahead of the semifinals is Ohio State. Bovada lists the Buckeyes at -110 to win its first National Championship since 2014.
Ohio State lost to Oregon in October, but they avenged that loss in the quarterfinals. Now, the Buckeyes return to the site of another embarrassing loss, the Cotton Bowl. Ohio State missed the four-team CFP last year and lost in the Cotton Bowl to Missouri.
Despite the odds, the Buckeyes face a tough matchup this week against Texas. The Longhorns are the only team from last year’s CFP to make this year’s playoffs. They have also scored at least 38 points in both of their playoff games this season.
Ohio State is arguably the most talented team in college football this season. Unfortunately, their weakest link on offense is their quarterback. The Buckeyes title hopes hinge on Will Howard’s ability to play well against the top teams in the sport.
Notre Dame (+350)
Notre Dame is favored in their semifinal matchup but only has the second-best odds to win the Natty this season. The Fighting Irish are listed at +350 in the current CFB playoff betting odds.
Only two of Notre Dame’s 14 games this season have been one-score games. The first was their 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois in their second game of the season. Notre Dame’s 31-24 win over Louisville was the other.
Their 12 other wins have all come by 10 points or more. Notre Dame has also scored 49 or more points in six of their wins this season. The Fighting Irish had a lackluster offensive performance against Georgia and still beat the Bulldogs by 13 points.
Riley Leonard passed for only 90 yards in the win, and the team combined for just 244 yards. Notre Dame must perform better offensively to compete for a championship. The good news for Fighting Irish fans is the team’s defense has only allowed more than 17 points once in its last nine games.
Texas (+400)
Next are Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns, who are listed at +400 odds to win the National Championship. Texas has lost twice this season to Georgia, including a 22-19 loss in overtime of the SEC championship. On the bright side, thanks to Notre Dame, Georgia has already been eliminated from the CFP.
In their two postseason games so far, Ewers and company have been on fire offensively. Ewers has 524 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and only two interceptions so far in the playoffs. They have also won in different ways, racking up 292 rushing yards against Clemson and 322 passing yards against Arizona State.
Texas will need to continue to take what the defense gives them if they want to beat Ohio State. Ewers is a better quarterback than Howard, but the Buckeyes have the talent edge at most other positions.
The Longhorns defense also needs to step up after giving up 510 yards to ASU in the quarterfinals. Texas also allowed 16 points in the fourth quarter of that game. If the Longhorns cannot tighten up their defense, they have no chance of winning the National Championship.
Penn State (+500)
Rounding out the final four is Penn State, which is listed at 5-1 odds to win it all this season. The narrative on James Franklin’s time as head coach of the Nittany Lions is that he cannot win the big games. Franklin and Penn State are two wins away from proving the doubters wrong.
Getting those two wins will be difficult, though. Penn State must first get by Notre Dame and then beat the winner of Ohio State-Texas. A matchup with the Buckeyes would be especially challenging, as Penn State has only beaten Ohio State, a team they play every year, five times since 2000.
The Buckeyes have won eight straight against Penn State. A matchup against Texas would also be a tough draw for the Nittany Lions, and Penn State would likely be the underdog.
Penn State’s title chances ultimately fall on the shoulders of Drew Allar. If the Junior can play turnover free football, then the Nittany Lions could be the sleeper team of this year’s final four.
CFP Semifinals Schedule
Only two of the four remaining teams will make it past the Semifinals. Here are the current CFB playoff odds for this season’s semifinal matchups.
Notre Dame vs. Penn State
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| #7 Notre Dame | -2.5 (-110) | -135 | Over 45.5 (-110) |
| #6 Penn State | +2.5 (-110) | +115 | Under 45.5 (-110) |
The first semifinal matchup pits #7 Notre Dame against #6 Penn State. Notre Dame defeated Indiana and Georgia to earn their spot in the semifinals. Penn State, on the other hand, beat SMU and Boise to make the final four.
Secure sportsbooks have Notre Dame as the 2.5-point betting favorite. The Nittany Lions are technically the home team, but this Orange Bowl matchup will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Fighting Irish have struggled to pass the ball this season, but they have been dominant on the ground. Penn State has a great run defense, but they did wear down against Boise State throughout the game. The Nittany Lions have also been great at rushing the ball, and Drew Allar has progressed as a pass this season.
Penn State’s biggest hurdle is their history in big games. Before the playoff, Allar was 0-4 against top 10 teams, and head Coach James Franklin was 3-19. If Penn State chokes again, Notre Dame will roll to a National Championship game appearance.
- Prediction: Notre Dame -2.5 -110
Ohio State vs. Texas
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| #8 Ohio State | -6.0 (-110) | -230 | Over 53.0 (-115) |
| #5 Texas | +6.0 (-110) | +190 | Under 53.0 (-105) |
The other semifinal matchup pits #8 Ohio State against #5 Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Bovada lists the Buckeyes as 6.0-point favorites in the latest CFB playoff odds. Texas was the top team in the AP Poll for most of the season, but they face a tough matchup this week.
Ohio State is coming off a dominant win over #1 Oregon in the quarterfinals, avenging one of its two losses this season. The Buckeyes also beat Tennessee in the opening round. So far this postseason, Texas has defeated Clemson and Arizona State.
The Buckeyes are the more talented team, except for the quarterback position. Texas’s only hope for an upset is for Quinn Ewers to continue to prove doubters wrong and take over this game. The Longhorns’ defense, which struggled against ASU, will have its hands full again this week.
True Freshman Jeremiah Smith took over the game against Oregon, and he should have a big game against Texas. Emeka Egbuka should also have a big day through the air. Texas could not stop Cam Skattebo, and they will not be able to stop Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson either.
- Prediction: Ohio State -6 -110
Where to Bet CFB Semifinals
Only three games remain in the first-ever 12-team playoff. With so few games left, bettors need the right sportsbook to maximize the limited betting opportunities in the college football season. Thankfully, sites like Bovada have dozens of markets full of thrilling CFB playoff odds.
Bovada has competitive odds on individual games and exciting futures markets on the CFP. The props and parlay builders make constructing your perfect betting ticket using updated CFB playoff odds easy. The bonus options at Bovada also let new and existing members add extra funds to their CFB bankrolls.
What Are Your CFB Semifinals Predictions?
The Buckeyes have the best odds of the remaining four teams in the latest CFB playoff odds. In the guide above, you can see the latest odds and read my picks for the CFB semifinals.
After reading my predictions, sign up at Bovada today to bet on the updated playoff odds for the CFB. You can bet on individual games and exciting future markets for college football. New members can also use the code BV1000 to add up to $1,000 in extra funds to their CFP bankroll.
Bet on the CFB Playoff at Bovada
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