Early Second-Round Bets for the 2025 College Football Playoff

College football betting continues through bowl season and the remaining rounds of the College Football Playoff.

My first-round CFP bets were OK. The official plays were 1-2, but I ended up with a net positive profit after following my own advice about laddering alt spreads for Ole Miss.

With the second round of the 2025 College Football Playoff set for the New Year’s holiday, I’m not wasting any time in breaking down the early odds market for any interested bettors. 

Ohio State vs. Miami Prediction

Last year, Ohio State got to play a first-round game, then jumped all over rusty No. 1 Oregon in its New Year’s quarterfinal en route to the national championship.

Do I think Carson Beck will do that to Ohio State’s defense? Uh, no. But Miami is one of several teams in this bracket with a high-pressure defensive front that will bother Julian Sayin. We saw what high-level quarterback pressure can do to the Ohio State offense in the Big Ten championship against Indiana.

My early suspicion is that Miami’s excellent pressure can slow down the Ohio State offense and make this an interesting game for a while. I like the points. The backdoor could be open. 

Prediction: Miami +10

Texas Tech vs. Oregon Prediction

For most of this season, Texas Tech has been disrespectfully shorthanded as “Pretty good … for a Big 12 team.”

The defensive front is nasty. It’s arguably the best in all of college football. To handicap this game, you have to ask yourself two questions:

1. Can Tech win enough positional battles elsewhere on the field to win this game?
2. How effectively can Oregon neutralize the Tech advantage at the line of scrimmage by throwing short passes and screens out to the boundary?

I picked Texas Tech on a Big 12 podcast last week, but I’ve changed my mind. I think Texas Tech can win this game, but Oregon has the personnel and scheme to outmaneuver the Red Raiders.

I hope I’m wrong because the defense is good enough to warrant a semifinal appearance and a national apology tour. Unfortunately, Oregon is likely the toughest matchup for anyone remaining. 

Prediction: Oregon -115

Indiana vs. Alabama Prediction

Indiana is the No. 1 seed in the playoff and probably the most complete team in college football. Yet, head coach Curt Cignetti will somehow use the branding power of Alabama to convince his locker room that the Hoosiers are actually the underdog. Or something. 

I don’t have a bet in this game right now, and I think there’s an interesting case for Alabama 1H +3.5. Maybe Indiana comes out a little sluggish, as the first-round bye teams did in 2024, and Alabama is hanging around at halftime. 

But in my heart of hearts, I can’t fathom doing anything other than laying the points with Indiana here.

Grade: Pass; Lean Indiana -7

Georgia vs. Ole Miss Prediction

In the first round, we got an Ole Miss rematch against a team the Rebels had played earlier this season. I didn’t think the result would be any different. It wasn’t.

In the second round, we’re getting an Ole Miss rematch against a team the Rebels played earlier this season. 

And you’re never going to believe this, but I don’t think the result will be any different.

The one note about betting this game I will emphasize is that patience could matter. Georgia is an early touchdown favorite, but the vig implies that some bettors could see the line move to Ole Miss +6.5 at some point. 

So sure, I would take a piece of the Georgia -7 now. But the real opportunity will come down the line, if BetMGM ever moves off that number up to Georgia -6.5.

Prediction: Georgia -7

Best College Football Bets for College Football Playoff Second Round/Quarterfinals

• Miami +10
• Oregon -115
• Georgia -7