Overview
- The 12-team College Football Playoff kicks off Dec. 19–20 on campus sites, and the bracket includes auto-bid winners Tulane and James Madison that have fueled debate over the format.
- FanDuel lists Alabama -1.5 at Oklahoma on Friday; Saturday’s lines are Texas A&M -3.5 vs. Miami, Ole Miss -17.5 vs. Tulane, and Oregon -21.5 vs. James Madison.
- Futures markets make Ohio State (+190) and Indiana (+320) the leading championship choices, with Georgia next on most boards.
- Analysts across outlets rate Alabama–Oklahoma as the most likely first-round upset spot, even after Oklahoma’s regular-season win in Tuscaloosa.
- Expert picks highlight divergence: SportsLine’s Matt Severance backs Oklahoma +1.5 and Oregon to win the title at +900, while CBS power ratings keep Ohio State No. 1 and view Texas A&M stronger than its No. 7 seed.