On December 19th and 20th, the first round of the 2025-26 College Football Playoffs will be held at the home stadiums of seeds 5 through 8.
First up on December 19th at 8:00 PM is a clash of a perennial SEC powerhouse versus a newcomer to the conference.
#9 Alabama vs #8 Oklahoma
- Spread: Crimson Tide -1.0 (-110) | Sooners +1.0 (-110)
- Moneyline: Crimson Tide -115 | Sooners -105
- Total: O40.5 (-110) | U40.5 (-110)
Alabama fell to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game, but they are favored to win by a point on the road by online college football betting sites.
Oklahoma has only lost once at home this year, and that was to the #6 Ole Miss Rebels. This game could go either way.
The next day at noon, the only program to qualify from the ACC matches up against another SEC school.
#10 Miami vs. #7 Texas A&M
- Spread: Hurricanes +3.5 (-110) | Aggies -3.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Hurricanes +145 | Aggies -170
- Total: O51.5 (-110) | U51.5 (-110)
CFP sportsbooks rate the Aggies as a 3.5-point home favorite against the #10 Hurricanes. Texas A&M’s only loss came during the final week of the season against their cross-state rivals, the Texas Longhorns.
Look for the Aggies to rebound with a strong cover against the U.
Later that day at 3:30 PM, yet another SEC team hosts an improbable playoff qualifier from the AAC.
#11 Tulane vs #6 Mississippi
- Spread: Green Wave +17.0 (-110) | Rebels -17.0 (-110)
- Moneyline: Green Wave +525 | Rebels -800
- Total: O57.0 (-110) | U57.0 (-110)
Wrapping the first round that night at 7:30 PM is a pairing of a one-loss Big Ten team versus a Sun Belt Conference program that lost a game to the Louisville Cardinals in September.
#12 James Madison vs #5 Oregon
- Spread: James Madison +22.5 (-110) | Ducks -22.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: James Madison +1000 | Ducks -2200
- Total: O50.5 (-110) | U50.5 (-110)
Savvy readers will notice that these last two betting lines include massive separations in the point spreads that are inappropriate for a playoff matchup. Tulane and JMU’s status among all other playoff teams is also reflected in the following odds for the CFP National Championship Betting.
College Football National Championship Futures
- Ohio State (#2) +225
- Indiana (#1) +275
- Georgia (#3) +500
- Oregon (#5) +735
- Texas Tech (#4) +750
- Miami (#10) +1700
- Texas A&M (#7) +1800
- Alabama (#9) +2500
- Mississippi (#6) +2600
- Oklahoma (#8) +4900
- James Madison +65000
- Tulane (#11) +75000
Football betting sites are suggesting that seeds 11 and 12 have no chance whatsoever. If the Green Wave and Bulldogs prove these sportsbooks correct and lay an egg, the CFP Selection Committee will likely revise their qualification rules for future playoffs.
The CFP futures imply that the championship game will be a rematch of the Big Ten Championship Game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Ohio State, with the Buckeyes favored to win.