The college football world was hoping for a March Madness kind of feel for the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, with upsets galore. Instead, the four first-round matchups underwhelmed, supplying lots of time for vacation shopping. Favorites went a best 4-0 versus the spread, including 3 relatively non-competitive performances by underdogs Indiana, SMU and Tennessee. Sportsbooks and the general public do not appear to think so. At least in 2 cases.

Both Penn State-Boise State and Texas-Arizona State feature double-digit spreads favoring the lower-seeded Nittany Lions and Longhorns. And the latter has actually been an especially popular pick with the general public. The Longhorns -12.5 is the most-bet side at BetMGM nationally in regards to total dollars since Monday afternoon.

"All the cash is can be found in on Texas," Seamus Magee, a BetMGM trader, composed in a text to The Athletic. "We require Arizona State to cover +13.5."

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

Interestingly, the Longhorns' challenger, Arizona State - the most significant underdog among the College Football quarterfinal matches - is getting the most enjoy from sharp wagerers. The Athletic talked to several bookmakers who had taken sharp action on No. 4 Arizona State - which had actually gotten as high as a 14-point underdog at some books against No. 5 Texas - to press the line to -12.5 or -12.

John Murray, the executive director at The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, told us he got a wager on Arizona State +13.5 from a "extremely highly regarded gamer."

Although reputable cash has actually come in on Arizona State to cover, sportsbooks will likely require the Sun Devils to do just that, as public wagerers 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 game will be big for the books, it isn't the only video game in the area. We chatted with numerous bookies to break down where the sports betting action is on the other 3 College Football quarterfinal matchups. 6 Penn State (-11, 53) at No. 3 Boise State

This game opened Penn State -10.5 at the majority of sportsbooks and has approached slightly to a consensus of -11. sports betting on the spread is fairly split at most sportsbooks. The total dollars wagered varies by book, as 52% of bets and 79% of the cash at BetMGM nationally are on Boise State -11, while 56% of bets however just 42% of the cash at DraftKings is on Boise State -11.5. Penn State to cover is presently the 2nd most popular CFP wager in regards to total tickets at BetMGM books.

"We opened Penn State -10.5 and are sitting on Penn State -11," Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata in Atlantic City, informed The Athletic. "I would not be shocked if this line approaches a little bit more before kickoff, but I presently invite any Boise State money."
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No. 8 Ohio State (-2.5, 55.5) vs. No. 1 Oregon

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

So why is OSU preferred?

Several oddsmakers The Athletic consulted with before the CFP preliminary had Ohio State atop their power ratings, and the lookahead lines for this hypothetical matchup were Ohio State -1 or -1.5. One oddsmaker pointed out that Ohio State playing up to its power score in its dominant over Tennessee likewise shaped his opening line.

Ohio State opened as a 1- or 1.5-point preferred (depending on the sportsbook) in this video game before reputable money pressed it to the existing line of -2.5. A somewhat greater majority of wagers at several sportsbooks, roughly 60%, are on the Ducks to cover, while close to 60% of the cash has come in on the Buckeyes. This will likely be the highest-handle video game of the 4 come kickoff.

"We did take some reputable cash at -1.5, rapidly went to -2.5 where it's stayed," Gable said. "It's decent two-way action at that number right now. The total has gone up three points from 52.5 to 55.5, which has been the most significant relocation of any of the totals. Money has all been on the over up until now.

Joe Brennan, the CEO of Prime sports betting, a sportsbook in Ohio and New Jersey that accommodates sharp bettors, informed The Athletic that "Ohio State opened as a 1-point favorite, and immediately our Ohio wagerers believed we were too low. Our opening price of Ohio State -1 has been increased to -2.5 and the total from 52 to 55."
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He did note, though, that the book had seen substantial buyback at the existing line of Ohio State -2.5 which 52% of the overall dollars at his book were taking the points with the Ducks.

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

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

What triggered the line turn? Simply put, the wagering action.

Despite the fact that Georgia's beginning QB Carson Beck is out for the season and has actually been replaced by relative unknown Gunner Stockton, gamblers are gravitating toward the Bulldogs.

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