
Now that the NFL has cleared the decks from another weekend of pro football, the College Football Playoff moves to the front of the line. The first week of the CFP didn’t inspire with its quality, leading to a lot of noise from the pundits who thought 12 teams was four too many.
Now we are down to the final eight, and at least on paper, we should have some very good games.
Penn State (-11) vs. Boise State – December 31
Bookmakers aren’t convinced that Penn State at Boise State on New Year’s Eve is going to be one of the good games. The Nittany Lions are 11-point favorites in the Fiesta Bowl, even though they are the lower seed.
Penn State is from the Big Ten, while Boise State is from the Mountain West, which is a big reason why the Broncos are big underdogs. They’ve also played only one really good team this season in Oregon. But in Eugene, they did play the Ducks to within a field goal, while Penn State lost to Oregon by eight points on a neutral field.
Plus, there is running back Ashton Jeanty, who can keep Boise State competitive all by himself.
Texas (-12.5) vs. Arizona State – January 1
In the Peach Bowl, we have the Texas Longhorns, the No. 1-ranked defense in the country, taking on Arizona State, perhaps the best story in the CFP. ASU was dead and buried early in the year, but an improbable run of six straight wins captured the Big 12, and has them as the fourth seed and playing into January.
ASU is a feel-good story, and running back Cam Skattebo is extremely fun to watch. But outside of Georgia, Texas has beaten everyone it’s played, and most of them rather easily. Since the first of November, the Longhorns six wins have been by an average of 14 points, including a win over Clemson in the first round, 38-24.
Ohio State (-2.5) vs. Oregon – January 1
These two played a classic game at Oregon on October 12, with the Ducks beating Ohio State, 32-31. We thought we might get the rematch in the Big Ten Championship Game, but good things come to those who wait. The highlight of the second round is these two going toe-to-toe in the Rose Bowl for round two.
It only seems fitting that Pasadena is the place for these two longtime Rose Bowl participants to fight for their national championship lives. This is the ninth Rose Bowl appearance for the No. 1 team in the country, Oregon. For Ohio State, this will be their 17th trip to the Rose Bowl.
For college football fans and bettors, this is a game you cannot miss.
Notre Dame vs. Georgia (-1) – January 1
New Year’s night, the final of the four games is in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Georgia. Bulldog quarterback Carson Beck’s college career came to an end with an elbow injury in the SEC Championship Game, and Gunnar Stockton took over. He got the win over Texas in that game, and oddsmakers think he will win again over Notre Dame, albeit by the slimmest of margins.
Notre Dame beat Indiana in the first round by 10 points, but the rest of their schedule this season has been soft. Not on Wednesday, however, when they get a Georgia team loaded with future NFL talent, even with an injured quarterback.

With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.