It’s finally College Football Playoff time with an expanded 12-team field and bracket, but there’s a lot more than that going on in the next few days.
In addition to the four first-round CFP games, there are several early bowl matchups that we’re looking at for our latest picks against the spread, as we’re running out of chances to improve in the standings. Aside from Notre Dame-Indiana, Penn State-SMU, Texas-Clemson and Ohio State-Tennessee, we’ve got Florida-Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl, San Jose State-South Florida in the Hawai’i Bowl and more.
So here are our next nine college football picks against the spread for the first round of the College Football Playoff and some early bowl games.
Tail responsibly, and best of luck out there.
All odds via BetMGM
Opening Line: Ohio -2.5
Blake Schuster: Ohio -4.5
No more fading MAC teams in bowl games for me, thanks.
Mitchell Northam: Jacksonville State +4.5
Two teams with turnover at head coach. I’m going with the more talented offense here.
Christian D’Andrea: Ohio -4.5
When in doubt, back the MAC.
Michelle Martinelli: Jacksonville State +4.5
My heart says MACtion forever, but my head says Gamecocks.
Tyler Nettuno: Jacksonville State +4.5
Both these teams are reeling from head coaches leaving for other jobs, but I’ll go with the more tested and talented Gamecocks as underdogs here.
Opening Line: Florida -9.5
Blake Schuster: Tulane +13.5
This is a trap, right? Up until Week 14, Tulane was a playoff contender.
Mitchell Northam: Florida -13.5
Tulane was one of the best Group of Five teams in the nation, but their quarterback is already at Duke. The Gators ended the regular season with some good momentum and that should carry into this.
Christian D’Andrea: Tulane +13.5
That’s too big a spread to trust Billy Napier with.
Michelle Martinelli: Tulane +13.5
This spread is so big, but with the Green Wave looking to a backup QB who’s expected to make his first college start, maybe they’ll rally behind him. Florida has momentum, but Tulane’s defense should be able to keep this interesting.
Tyler Nettuno: Florida -13.5
This spread is terrifyingly large, but the Gators will be close to full strength after seeing little portal attrition from key players. Tulane, meanwhile, is down to a backup quarterback in Ty Thompson and has struggled mightily against the run, which is Florida’s specialty.
Opening Line: Notre Dame -8.5
Blake Schuster: Indiana +7.5
This is a bit of a nightmare scenario for Notre Dame. Indiana comes in playing with house money despite the fact the Hoosiers’ offense is good enough to shred the Irish. I think ND wins, but I’m taking the points without hesitation.
Mitchell Northam: Notre Dame -7.5
It’s been a fun run for Indiana, but I think the Irish’s defense is just too good.
Christian D’Andrea: Indiana +7.5
For god’s sake, man. Believe in SOMETHING.
Michelle Martinelli: Indiana +7.5
While it would be incredible for the Hoosiers’ magical season to continue, I think this is where it ends. But not with a loss by more than a touchdown, especially if their offense gets off to a hot start.
Tyler Nettuno: Notre Dame -7.5
If Indiana can hit some big plays early, the Irish could be in trouble. But Notre Dame is much more talented in the trenches and should be able to run the ball at a very efficient clip in this game. If it can, the Hoosiers probably can’t drum up enough explosiveness to hang around.
Opening Line: Penn State -8
Blake Schuster: SMU +8.5
It’s just too many points. Everything says Penn State wins this one comfortably, but, well, how many times have we been misled on that before? I’ll trust the SMU offense.
Mitchell Northam: Penn State -8.5
No, this is not what will shake the “can’t-win-the-big-game” thing off James Franklin. Penn State is expected to win this game and should do so quite comfortably against a team which, in its best win of the season (at Duke), turned the ball over six times.
Christian D’Andrea: SMU +8.5
It’s not Pennsylvania-based sports if it doesn’t make you feel awful, even in victory.
Michelle Martinelli: Penn State -8.5
I AM UNCOMFORTABLE. But I have a feeling the Nittany Lions’ defense is going to force SMU into some tight spots and maybe lead more self-inflicted wounds, like in the ACC title game.
Tyler Nettuno: Penn State -8.5
I’m not particularly confident we’ll see Penn State’s Big Ten championship offensive success replicated in this game, but the defensive line should cause a lot of problems for Kevin Jennings and co. Between that and what should be frigid conditions, I’d give the Nittany Lions a major edge.
Opening Line: Texas -10.5
Blake Schuster: Clemson +12
Dabo’s team has shown up in big games all year. They won’t win this one, but it won’t be comfortable for Texas.
Mitchell Northam: Clemson +12
Texas ain’t beaten nobody, Pawl.
Christian D’Andrea: Clemson +12
The Longhorns occasionally glitch enough that the Tigers should be able to keep this close.
Michelle Martinelli: Texas -12
Clemson fell backward into this playoff game after losing to South Carolina before winning the ACC, and Texas has been far from perfect. But the Longhorns a stronger squad overall and definitely on defense, which will be too much for Cade Klubnik and co.
Tyler Nettuno: Texas -12
This pick certainly makes me nervous, given how turnover-happy Quinn Ewers has been recently. But I just don’t think Clemson will be able to score enough points against a very strong Longhorns defense.
Opening Line: Ohio State -7
Blake Schuster: Tennessee +7.5
Vols win outright and Ryan Day is gone before Monday morning.
Mitchell Northam: Tennessee +7.5
Good luck, Ryan Day.
Christian D’Andrea: Tennessee +7.5
I have genuinely no idea which team will disappoint its team into a week of all-caps rage posting. I just know it will happen.
Michelle Martinelli: Tennessee +7.5
Both teams have top-5 defenses, but the last time we saw the Buckeyes play, their offense couldn’t get anything going. The Vols have been massively inconsistent this season, but I don’t trust Ryan Day and Chip Kelly’s offense — and that’s before considering injuries.
Tyler Nettuno: Tennessee +7.5
I think the Buckeyes hang on to win this game outright, but the matchup between a banged up OSU offensive line and an elite Vols defensive front gives me pause. The Buckeyes should win, but I’m not sure they’re built to do so by more than a touchdown.
Opening Line: UTSA -9.5
Blake Schuster: Coastal Carolina +9
Ok, come on, The Chanticleers shouldn’t get to play at home in a bowl game.
Mitchell Northam: Coastal Carolina +9
Not sure who is in charge of setting this line, and to be honest, I’m not sure how the transfer portal has impacted these two teams. But the Chanticleers are nearly a double-digit postseason home dog?
Christian D’Andrea: Coastal Carolina +9
Bettors know where this game is being played, right?
Michelle Martinelli: Coastal Carolina +9
This spread is way too big for what’s essentially a home game for the Chanticleers. UTSA had a better November to end the regular season, but I’ve gotta take the points here.
Tyler Nettuno: UTSA -9
It’s been a down year for the Roadrunners, but they ended the season on a strong note with a 3-1 run. I’ll take them, even though it’s quite a few points.
Opening Line: Northern Illinois -3.5
Blake Schuster: Fresno State +3
On the bright side, NIU gets to begin adjusting to the blue turf they’ll likely see every other season in the Mountain West now.
Mitchell Northam: Fresno State +3
I think this NIU team is long ways away from the team that upset Notre Dame in September.
Christian D’Andrea: Northern Illinois -3
The Huskies begin their acclimation to the Mountain West with a win in Idaho.
Michelle Martinelli: Fresno State +3
On paper, Northern Illinois is better, but I just have a feeling Fresno State pulls out the win here.
Tyler Nettuno: Northern Illinois -3
It wasn’t a great year for the Huskies, but this is still the only team that beat Notre Dame this season. That counts for something, right?
Opening Line: San Jose State -2.5
Blake Schuster: San Jose State -3
Whoever decided South Florida should fly halfway around the world for a bowl game is a masochist.
Mitchell Northam: San Jose State -3
This is a home game for Ken Niumatalolo.
Christian D’Andrea: San Jose State -3
I haven’t looked it up, but I believe the flight from Tampa to Hawai’i is a three-day affair that requires a steamship.
Michelle Martinelli: San Jose State -3
Not picking against Ken Niumatalolo, and definitely not picking the team that has to travel across half a dozen time zones.
Tyler Nettuno: San Jose State -3
Ken Niumatalolo has done a really good job with this team in Year 1, as he shows off his non-option offensive coaching acumen. I’ve got the Spartans against a South Florida team that has been far too inconsistent for my liking.
