College Football Playoffs

For the second time of the year, the CFP committee released their updated playoff rankings. With only three games left before the Conference Championships, a few teams are almost locks for a playoff berth. The biggest change of the week was Tennessee falling to No. 5 after their loss to Georgia, and TCU replacing them in the Top-4 🏈

However, the odds are not in favor of the Horned Frogs, as they have back-to-back road games coming up, this week against No. 18 Texas. Tennessee is still favored to sneak into the playoffs, as one of Michigan and Ohio State will add a loss to their record when they play in a few weeks. Take a look at the lines 👇

National Championship Winner Odds (subject to change)

• No. 1 Georgia: -120 (bet $120, win $100)

• No. 2 Ohio State: +250 (bet $100, win $250)

• No. 3 Michigan: +800

• No. 5 Tennessee: +1400

• No. 6 Oregon: +2500

• No. 7 LSU: +4000

• No. 8 USC: +6000

• No. 4 TCU: +8000

USC is currently ranked No. 8 by the Playoff Committee, but still has a path to the playoffs. With Colorado, UCLA and Notre Dame left on their schedule, a perfect finish and a Pac-12 title might get them in over a few of the teams ranked above them 👀

• LSU is also an interesting one - they are the only team on this list with two losses, but one came to Florida State in Week 1 (non-conference), and the other to Tennessee

• No two-loss team has ever made the CFP, but if LSU wins the SEC West and then goes on to beat Georgia in the Conference Championship game, they will likely become the first to do it

In the last ten years, this is hands down the most disappointing Alabama team. Two losses in November and barely ranked in the Top-10 at No. 10...what's going on? Don't see them being apart of the conversation going forward, so let's take a look at a few other big games this weekend 🍿

Conference Showdowns

📍 No. 4 TCU vs. No. 18 Texas 

Coming into this weekend, TCU boasts an undefeated record and has established footing for the last spot of the CFP. As members of the media have pointed out though, the Horned Frogs' margin for error is slim, by virtue of playing in a conference that does not hold the same level of competition as the SEC or Big Ten 😬

• TCU is an offense-first team and with Max Duggan at the helm, and tote the nation's fourth best total offense behind a monstrous 508.7 RPG. Duggan has completed 65% of his passes against four ranked opponents this year (all of them wins)

• Texas will be looking to break open the run game with Bijan Robinson, who has rattled off 12 TDs so far. In all of his last seven games, Robinson has accumulated over 100 yards on the ground

• Despite the offensive potency of the Horned Frogs, TCU is a fairly big underdog in Saturday's matchup because as we all know, home field advantage is everything in college football

Betting Preview

• Spread: Texas -7

• Moneyline: Texas -260, TCU +210

• Over/Under: 64.5

📍 No. 24 Washington vs. No. 6 Oregon

After a disappointing start to the season for the Ducks in what was a beatdown at the hands of UGA, Oregon has rattled off eight straight Ws, while putting up at least 40 points in each of these victories 🚀

• Bo Nix is making noise in the Heisman race, and leads the FBS in total touchdowns, a far cry from his days at Auburn. The Oregon QB has accounted for 35 total TDs (22 throwing and 13 rushing)

• Washington is back in the rankings after a three-game win streak, which includes a win over Oregon State (ranked #23 at the time). Michael Penix, the Huskies' QB, is second in the country with 3,252 passing yards to go along with 30 TDs through the air

• Even though Washington is a huge underdog coming into this game, their passing attack could prove troublesome for an Oregon defense that allows 276 passing YPG against opposing offenses

Betting Preview

• Spread: Oregon -13.5

• Moneyline: Oregon -530, Washington +390

• Over/Under: 72.5

📍 No. 7 LSU vs. Arkansas

Despite two losses, LSU is ranked seventh in the country and still has life for a potential CFP appearance, assuming good luck and Ws the rest of the way. They managed to knock off Ole Miss and Alabama over their last two contests, which bodes well for the latter 👏

• Look out for LSU's Jayden Daniels, who is asserting himself as a top dual-threat QB in the country. Daniels has done a lot of heavy lifting for the team's run game, rushing for 10 TDs to go along with 619 rushing yards, 38% of the Tigers' total in that department

• Meanwhile, Arkansas is hovering around the .500 mark (5-4), but provide a solid running game in their own right — they average 233 YPG on the ground

• The health of KJ Jefferson, Arkansas' QB, will be important to monitor considering he is currently dealing with a bruised clavicle 🤕

Betting Preview

• Spread: LSU -3.5

• Moneyline: LSU -182, Arkansas +150

• Over/Under: 62.5

For My Parlay Gurus

I think TCU is being underrated right now, so I like them to cover the spread. Even though LSU managed to come out as the victor against Alabama last weekend, they allowed 465 yards to the Crimson Tide, so I also think Arkansas can make things interesting behind their home crowd. Take a look at my parlay for tomorrow 👇

• TCU +7 @ Texas: -105

• Arkansas +3.5 vs. LSU: -105

$100 on this bet would win you $281 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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