College Football Playoff Odds: Early point spreads released on potential CFP semifinal matchups

The first round of the College Football Playoff is in the books. Now, it’s time for the college football world to turn its attention to the quarterfinal matchups that bring the four teams that had bye weeks into the fold for the postseason.

Ahead of those exciting quarterfinal games, the oddsmakers at FanDuel are already looking ahead to the semifinal round of the Playoff. There, the CFP is expected to be full of exciting matchups that are more than worthy of diving into ahead of time.

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So, you can check out FanDuel’s early odds on all the potential College Football Playoff semifinal matchups here:

No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 5 Texas

COTTON BOWL: 7:30 pm ET, Jan. 10 in Arlington, TX. (ESPN)
Point spread: Texas -1.5
Over/Under: 54.5

This projected matchup would have the unbeaten Oregon Ducks get through the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl to advance to the semifinals. They’d meet a Texas Longhorns team that took care of business against Arizona State. With that, the stage would be set for one of the most anticipated games throughout the entire College Football Playoff. According to the oddsmakers, this would be a close one but the Longhorns would actually enter as a slight favorite.

No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 4 Arizona State

COTTON BOWL: 7:30 pm ET, Jan. 10 in Arlington, TX. (ESPN)
Point spread: Oregon -12.5
Over/Under: 55.5

This hypothetical CFP matchup would see the two teams who had a bye week get through to the semifinal round. It starts with Oregon beating Ohio State for a second time this season while the Sun Devils would earn one of the biggest wins in program history against Texas. That would set up a Playoff semifinal game where the Ducks would enter as nearly a two-touchdown favorite.

No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Texas

COTTON BOWL: 7:30 pm ET, Jan. 10 in Arlington, TX. (ESPN)
Point spread: Ohio State -1.5
Over/Under: 51.5

Ohio State came up just shy of beating the Oregon Ducks in the regular season. So, it’s not hard to imagine the Buckeyes getting through the Ducks this time. In this scenario, they’d be playing the Texas Longhorns in an exciting matchup. Both sides are among the most talented rosters in all of college football. So, it’s not a surprise that the oddsmakers have this as a very close game.

No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Arizona State

COTTON BOWL: 7:30 pm ET, Jan. 10 in Arlington, TX. (ESPN)
Point spread: Ohio State -13.5
Over/Under: 53.5

The scenario where the Ohio State Buckeyes advance to play the Arizona State Sun Devils is an intriguing one for the College Football Playoff. It would see an Ohio State team coming off a dominant first round win and a win against Oregon to go up against the Big 12 Champion coming off a win in its first taste of Playoff action after getting a first round bye. Still, the oddsmakers have the Buckeyes as a two-touchdown favorite.

No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 6 Penn State

ORANGE BOWL: 7:30 pm ET, Jan. 9 in Miami Gardens, FL (ESPN)
Point spread: Georgia -2.5
Over/Under: 47.5

The Georgia Bulldogs are heading into the quarterfinal round with some major questions at quarterback given the injury to Carson Beck. Still, if the Bulldogs get through Notre Dame in the quarterfinals it will be a sign that this team is capable of a deep run. In this scenario, they’d run into a Penn State team that would have had two wins in the Playoff but against teams that may not be as well respected as a Notre Dame. With that, the Bulldogs would be just under a field goal favorite.

No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 3 Boise State

ORANGE BOWL: 7:30 pm ET, Jan. 9 in Miami Gardens, FL (ESPN)
Point spread: Georgia -12.5
Over/Under: 51.5

The problems for Georgia at quarterback would still be there in the hypothetical matchup where they play Boise State. On top of that, while the Broncos don’t have the same depth of talent as some other teams, they are bringing in Ashton Jeanty at running back. He’s a Heisman finalist for a reason and could be a game changer. Still, Georgia would be nearly a two-touchdown favorite in this game, according to Vegas oddsmakers.

No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Penn State

ORANGE BOWL: 7:30 pm ET, Jan. 9 in Miami Gardens, FL (ESPN)
Point spread: Notre Dame -1.5
Over/Under: 45.5

The quarterfinal between Notre Dame and Georgia is almost becoming a game of attrition as injuries stack up. If the Irish were to get through that game, they’d then run into a similarly built Penn State team. The Nittany Lions have a depth of talent, good defense, and a dynamic running game that is going to make this an interesting matchup. Still, oddsmakers have Notre Dame as a very slight favorite in this College Football Playoff game.

No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 Boise State

ORANGE BOWL: 7:30 pm ET, Jan. 9 in Miami Gardens, FL (ESPN)
Point spread: Notre Dame -10.5
Over/Under: 48.5

In the hypothetical matchup between Notre Dame and Boise State, the big question comes down to whether or not an Irish defense dealing with multiple season ending injuries could hold up against Ashton Jeanty. Boise State will need to have beaten Penn State to get there after opening the Playoff with a bye week. Notre Dame, meanwhile, will have its second Playoff test against Georgia.