1

College Football Playoff Betting Action Report: 'All the Money is Coming in On Texas'

Lidia Fajardo edited this page 2025-01-08 00:03:20 +08:00

bit.ly
The college football world was wishing for a March Madness type of feel for the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, with upsets galore. Instead, the four first-round matchups underwhelmed, providing plenty of time for vacation shopping. Favorites went a best 4-0 against the spread, consisting of three fairly non-competitive efficiencies by underdogs Indiana, SMU and Tennessee. Sportsbooks and the public do not seem to think so. A minimum of in 2 cases.
bet9ja.com
Both Penn State-Boise State and Texas-Arizona State function double-digit spreads preferring the lower-seeded Nittany Lions and Longhorns. And the latter has been a specifically popular choice with the public. The Longhorns -12.5 is the most-bet side at BetMGM nationally in terms of total dollars since Monday afternoon.
bet9ja.com
"All the cash is coming in on Texas," Seamus Magee, a BetMGM trader, wrote in a text message to The Athletic. "We require Arizona State to cover +13.5."

The enthusiasm for the Longhorns extends to the futures market as well. Keep in mind that enormous $1.5 million wager on Texas to win all of it at +390 chances? The ticket is still out there at Caesars Sportsbook.

Interestingly, the Longhorns' opponent, Arizona State - the most significant underdog amongst the College Football quarterfinal matches - is getting the most enjoy from sharp wagerers. The Athletic spoke with several bookmakers who had actually taken sharp action on No. 4 Arizona State - which had gotten as high as a 14-point underdog at some books versus No. 5 Texas - to push the line to -12.5 or -12.
bit.ly
John Murray, the executive director at The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, informed us he got a wager on Arizona State +13.5 from a "very reputable player."

Even though reputable money has actually can be found in on Arizona State to cover, sportsbooks will likely require the Sun Devils to do just that, as public gamblers are overdoing Texas.

"We would love to see ASU cover, and after that Texas win the game, so we get our Arizona State liability off the futures book," Magee added.

While the Texas video game will be substantial for the books, it isn't the only game in the area. We chatted with several bookmakers to break down where the wagering action is on the other 3 College Football quarterfinal matchups. 6 Penn State (-11, 53) at No. 3 Boise State

This video game opened Penn State -10.5 at most sportsbooks and has approached slightly to an agreement of -11. sports betting on the spread is fairly divided at most sportsbooks. The overall differs by book, as 52% of bets and 79% of the cash at BetMGM nationally are on Boise State -11, while 56% of bets but just 42% of the money at DraftKings is on Boise State -11.5. Penn State to cover is currently the second most popular CFP wager in terms of overall tickets at BetMGM books.

"We opened Penn State -10.5 and are resting on Penn State -11," Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata in Atlantic City, told The Athletic. "I wouldn't be amazed if this line sneaks up a bit more before kickoff, but I presently welcome any Boise State money."

Ohio State got the Oregon second possibility it wanted. Are the Buckeyes ready for revenge?

No. 8 Ohio State (-2.5, 55.5) vs. No. 1 Oregon

Perhaps most surprising to the public is that No. 1 seed Oregon is an underdog against No. 8 Ohio State. These teams fulfilled back on Oct. 7 in Eugene, and Oregon won 32-31 as a 3.5-point home dog.

So why is OSU favored?

Several oddsmakers The Athletic consulted with before the CFP preliminary had Ohio State atop their power scores, and the lookahead lines for this hypothetical match were Ohio State -1 or -1.5. One oddsmaker mentioned that Ohio State playing up to its power rating in its dominant first-round win over Tennessee also formed his opening line.

Ohio State opened as a 1- or 1.5-point favorite (depending upon the sportsbook) in this video game before highly regarded cash pushed it to the present line of -2.5. A a little greater majority of wagers at numerous sportsbooks, approximately 60%, are on the Ducks to cover, while near 60% of the cash has actually come in on the Buckeyes. This will likely be the highest-handle game of the four come kickoff.
bet9ja.com
"We did take some respected money at -1.5, quickly went to -2.5 where it's remained," Gable said. "It's good two-way action at that number today. The overall has increased three points from 52.5 to 55.5, which has actually been the most significant relocation of any of the totals. Money has actually all been on the over up until now.

Joe Brennan, the CEO of Prime sports betting, a sportsbook in Ohio and New Jersey that caters to sharp wagerers, told The Athletic that "Ohio State opened as a 1-point favorite, and right away our Ohio wagerers believed we were too low. Our opening rate of Ohio State -1 has actually been increased to -2.5 and the overall from 52 to 55."

He did note, however, that the book had actually seen considerable buyback at the current line of Ohio State -2.5 which 52% of the overall dollars at his book were taking the points with the Ducks.

GO DEEPER

The most likely upsets for the College Football Playoff's 2nd round

No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Georgia (-1, 45)

The favorite turned in this video game, as Notre Dame opened a 1.5-point preferred and is presently a 1- or 1.5-point underdog at sportsbooks.

What caused the line turn? Simply put, the wagering action.
bet9ja.com
Although Georgia's beginning QB Carson Beck is out for the season and has been changed by relative unknown Gunner Stockton, wagerers are gravitating towards the Bulldogs.

Georgia to cover is the most popular versus the spread wager at BetMGM books nationally in regards to ticket count (second-most popular by overall dollars wagered), and it has actually been "one-way traffic on Georgia," according to Magee. Nearly 70% of bets are on the Bulldogs at multiple sportsbooks.
bet9ja.com