Opening Lines for College Football Playoff

The College Football Playoff selection committee has spoken. The four teams chosen by the committee to take part in college football’s final four did not contain any surprises.

New Year’s Eve will have the Alabama Crimson Tide facing the Washington Huskies in the Peach Bowl and the Ohio State Buckeyes playing the Clemson Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl. The winners will meet in the National Championship Game on January 11.

Alabama against Washington will feature the Tide’s No. 1 defense in the nation against the top offense of Washington.

Alabama opened as an overwhelming 13.5-point favorite to win New Year Eve over Washington, while Ohio State is 2.5-point chalk in its matchup against Clemson.

The Tide has closed as the favorite in each of its 13 games this season and is 9-4 against the spread. In just three games during the season has Alabama closed as less than 14-point chalk. In those three games, Alabama was 3-0 SU while 2-1 ATS.

For Washington, the game will be its first since November of 2015 where it is playing the role of the dog. The Huskies have entered their past 16 games as chalk.

If the Buckeyes line closes -2.5, it would be the second lowest point spread for Oho State all season. The shortest spread all season for Ohio State was against Oklahoma when the Buckeyes closed -1.5 and won that game 45-24.

Clemson is the only team of the four in the CFP that was a dog once this season. Clemson was +1 in its game against Louisville, but won that game outright 42-36.

Alabama remains the heavy favorite to win the National Championship as the only team of the final four to enter without a loss on their record.

The Crimson Tide has been at the top the entire season as they entered as preseason favorites to win their second straight national title.

Current Odds for 2016-17 National Championship

Alabama 4 to 5

Ohio State 4 to 1

Clemson 11 to 2

Washington 7 to 1