College Football Playoff: Best bets for Notre Dame-Georgia
Public betting information from oddsmakers and best bets
The quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals continue today with not one, not two, but three New Year’s Day games, including a tremendous matchup between No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State (-2, 55.5). Not sure about you, but I plan to firmly plant myself on the couch all day and watch football.
When I spoke to oddsmakers before the CFP began, several had the Buckeyes as their top power-rated team despite the disappointing loss to Michigan, so it’s not a complete surprise that Ohio State opened as a 1- or 1.5-point favorite against Oregon. However, it may be surprising that sharp money pushed it out to Ohio State -2.5 instead of flipping favorites. Remember that these teams met back on Oct. 7 in Eugene and Oregon prevailed 32-31 as a 3.5-point home underdog.
The most surprising action among the four games has been respected bettors backing Arizona State.
“Texas opened -13.5, but Arizona State has been the most-bet team on the spread of any playoff team,” Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata in New Jersey, told me this week. “Most of the Arizona State money came in at higher numbers — we hit 14 for a bit — but now we’re down to 12.5. It’s a little surprising that we’ve seen as much support for the Sun Devils as we have.”
Several other oddsmakers I spoke with over the past few days also reported similar sharp action on Arizona State at +14, +13.5 and +13 to push the number down to its current line of Texas -12.5.
You can read more about the action on all the games in an article I wrote for The Athletic.
Happy New Year!
BetMGM
Most bet (tickets) Georgia-Notre Dame player props
Riley Leonard over 40.5 rushing yards (-130)
Arian Smith over 38.5 receiving yards (-115)
Trevor Etienne over 84.5 rushing yards (-115)
Dominic Lovett under 31.5 receiving yards (-115)
Jeremiyah Love over 67.5 rushing yards (-115)
Most bet (tickets) Georgia-Notre Dame players to score a touchdown
Jeremiyah Love -150
Riley Leonard +125
Trevor Etienne -175
Gunner Stockton +225
Dominic Lovett +280
DraftKings
ESPN BET
Notre Dame–Georgia
50.2% of bets and 53.7% of handle are on Notre Dame (-1, opened –1.5, was as far as +2 last week)
47.6% of bets and 52.3% of handle are on Georgia ML (-105)
63.6% of bets and 57.9% of handle are on OVER (45.5, opened 43.5)
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Best Bets
No. 5 Texas (-12.5, 51) at No. 4 Arizona State
Wednesday, Jan 1, 1 p.m., ESPN
Brennan: “Texas opened -13.5 and a total of 52, but early action dropped the line to its current -12.5 and 51. Wager count remains close (53% favoring Texas), however 67% of the handle is backing Arizona State. Early Smart money showed up backing the underdog as well. Under remains the popular play with 78% of the handle backing a low-scoring affair.”
Arizona State +13.5 — Sharp Hunter app✅
Arizona State +13.5 — Paul Stone, pro bettor✅
Arizona State +13.5 — Chuck Edel, pro bettor in VSiN’s Circa Friday Football Invitational✅
Arizona State +13.5 — Alex White, South Point Studios✅
Texas -13.5 — Todd Fuhrman, CBS Sports❌
Texas -12.5 — Douglas Farmer, Covers❌
No. 8 Ohio State (-2.5, 55.5) vs. No. 1 Oregon
Wednesday, Jan 1, 5 p.m., ESPN
Brennan: “Ohio State opened as a 1-point favorite, and immediately our Ohio contingents thought we were too low. Our opening price of Ohio State -1 and 52.5 has been driven up to -2.5 and 55. Despite the initial surge of Ohio State money, we have seen significant buy back at the current line. Fifty-two percent of the handle is currently taking the points with the Ducks. Very little respected money has shown interest in this game thus far, however the public loves over 55.”
Oregon +2.5 — Pam Maldonado, ESPN❌
Oregon +2.5 — Emory Hunt, CBS❌
Ohio State -2.5 — Paul Stone, pro bettor✅
Ohio State -2 — Douglas Farmer✅
Ohio State ML -125 — Collin Wilson✅
Ohio State ML -115 — Julian Edlow, DK Network✅
Ohio State-Oregon OVER 55 — Brad Powers, pro bettor✅
Ohio State-Oregon OVER 55.5 — Todd Fuhrman, CBS✅
Ohio State-Oregon OVER 55 — Scott Pritchard, pro bettor in VSiN’s Circa Friday Football Invitational✅
Ohio State-Oregon OVER 55 — Alex White✅
Jeremiah Smith Over 70.5 receiving yards (-115) — Douglas Farmer✅
No. 7 Notre Dame (-1.5, 45.5) vs. No. 2 Georgia
Thursday, Jan 2, 4:00 p.m., ESPN
Best bets
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