Bettors are continuing to side with the favorites ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Both Notre Dame and Ohio State are getting the majority of money at BetMGM ahead of the Orange Bowl on Thursday night and the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. The Irish are 1-point favorites against Penn State in the Orange Bowl, and Ohio State is a 6-point favorite against Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
Underdogs have not had success so far in the playoff. Favorites are 8-0 straight up in the first two rounds and Arizona State has been the only dog to cover. The Sun Devils were two-score underdogs to the Longhorns and lost 39-31 in double-overtime in the Peach Bowl.
Notre Dame is getting 66% of bets and 62% of the money in the Orange Bowl, though the line has moved a half-point in Penn State’s favor. The under is also getting a lot of play. Two-thirds of bets and money is on a low-scoring game and the total has moved significantly as a result. The over/under opened at 50.5 and has dropped five points to 45.5.
Even more bettors are backing Ohio State compared to Notre Dame. The Buckeyes have been the most impressive team through the first two rounds of the CFP and have outscored Tennessee and Oregon by a combined 45 points.
Over 70% of bets and money are on the Buckeyes to cover the spread. The line opened at 4.5 points and moved 1.5 points in Ohio State’s favor, while the total has dropped by a point. Nearly 70% of the money is on the over, however, as the total currently sits at 53.5.
The most-bet props for each game involve touchdown scorers. The most popular prop for the Orange Bowl is a TD for Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love (-145). Love has been dealing with a nagging knee issue that limited him in the Sugar Bowl, but coach Marcus Freeman said Love will play on Thursday night.
In the Cotton Bowl, bettors like Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith to score a TD (-125). Smith has scored two touchdowns in each of Ohio State’s two playoff games and has 13 catches for 290 yards against Tennessee and Oregon.
