Understanding the College Football Playoff
The Format
- Selection and Seeding: Four top college football teams are selected by the CFP committee. For 2023, our playoff teams are Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama.
- Semi-Final Matchups: The seeding determines the semi-finals: #1 vs. #4 and #2 vs. #3. This year, it’s Michigan vs. Alabama and Washington vs. Texas.
- Championship Game: Winners of the semi-finals compete in the National Championship game.
2023 Outright
As the CFP approaches, the betting futures for the National Championship Game are heating up:
National Championship Game Winner
- Michigan: +185
Alabama: +200Texas: +260- Washington: +750
Shop the best odds on spreads, props, and offers for college football.
2023 Playoff Games
Rose Bowl Game: #1 Michigan vs. #4 Alabama (+1.5) OU 45.5
- Date: Monday, Jan 1 @ 5:00 PM ET
- Location: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
- Moneyline: Michigan -125 | Alabama +105
- Watch: ESPN
Alabama has hailmary’d its way into the College Football Playoffs over undefeated #5 Florida St., and not with controversy. Regardless, the committee has decided, and two of the biggest franchises in college football are set to face off in the semifinal. Michigan is favored, but not by much, and the books aren’t giving you much leeway here. Michigan is reeling off a shutout last week, while Alabama is rolling tide after a hail mary upset, and maybe a little preferential selection went their way.
Our pIck: Michigan ML, Over
Allstate Sugar Bowl: #2 Washington vs. #3 Texas (-6) O/U 64
- Date: Monday, Jan 1 @ 8:45 PM ET
- Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Moneyline: Texas -185 | Washington +154
- Watch: ESPN
Washington rallied to beat once-Heisman favorite Bo Nix and the Ducks head-to-head in a thriller while, like Michigan, Texas is walking off an absolute blowout against Texas Tech. It’s safe to assume Texas will be the better-rested team in the Alamo Bowl Rematch; they’ll need to be. Michael Penix Jr is back and in form, and his weapons, Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan, put on a show last week. I like the firepower.
Our Pick: Washington +6
All odds are provided by DraftKings. Accurate as of Jan 8.
Championship Game: #1 Michigan Wolverines vs. #2 Washington Huskies (+4.5) O/U 56.5
- Date: Monday, Jan 8 @ 8:45 PM ET
- Location: NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
- Moneyline Michigan (-192) | Washington (+160)
- Watch: ESPN
The Wolverines look like the best team in college football on both sides of the ball. Michael Penix Jr. looks like the most dynamic quarterback in college football. Michael can seem to put the ball in any window a defense allows. The should’ve-been-Heisman threw for 430 yards and 2 TDs, 125 yards being Odunze’s and a TD for McMillan, in their tight Sugar Bowl win over the Texas Longhorns. What remains to be seen is whether Penix can maintain his composure and keep squeezing those passes under the intense pressure the Michigan defense will apply. On the offensive end, J.J. McCarthy has been in form himself, throwing 221 yards for three tuddies through to three receivers in the OT thriller vs playoff sneak-ins, Alabama. Michigan seems to be the better all-around team but CFB is anything but predictable. With this much talent, on both sides of the ball, for both teams, yet these being children under the brightest lights they’ve seen, it really can go either way. But we bet here, and I bet history. Huskies+4.5
Our Pick: Washington Huskies (+4.5), Over
