Opening CFP Quarterfinal Odds & Early Predictions for all 4 Matchups

• The College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchups are set with one game on New Year’s Eve and three on New Year’s Day
• Georgia (-1.5) is favored in a tight Sugar Bowl matchup with Notre Dame, while Ohio State (-1.5) is slightly favored over Oregon
• Below, see the opening College Football Playoff quarterfinal odds and early betting predictions

After a wild first round of the expanded College Football Playoff, we’re down to eight teams. The CFP quarterfinal matchups are loaded with storylines, including the Georgia Bulldogs taking on Notre Dame without Carson Beck.

Meanwhile, the high-flying Ducks are looking to justify that #1 seed against Ohio State in a huge rematch at the Rose Bowl. Elsewhere, can Arizona State keep pace with a loaded Texas squad?

Here’s a look at the opening odds for all four CFP quarterfinal games, plus early predictions.

College Football Playoff: Quarterfinal Odds

Penn State and Texas are both double-digit favorites in their respective quarterfinal CFP matchups. The other two games, however, have very tight spreads. Georgia and Ohio State are favored by just 1.5 points, respectively, in their quarterfinal clashes.

DRAFTKINGS
SPORTSBOOK

Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets + $50 Deposit Bonus

LOCK IN PROMO

SIGNUP PROMO

BET $5
GET $250

GET PROMO

Odds as of Dec. 21 at FanDuel and DraftKings. Grab the DraftKings promo code to bet on the 2024-25 College Football Playoff.

Early CFP Quarterfinal Predictions

Let’s dive into a couple CFP quarterfinal betting lines that catch my eye.

Sugar Bowl Under 44 Points Looking Juicy

With Carson Beck sidelined with that nagging elbow injury, this Sugar Bowl matchup against Notre Dame has all the makings of a defensive slugfest. Marcus Freeman’s Irish rank third nationally in scoring defense (13.8 PPG), while Kirby Smart’s defensive front should give Notre Dame’s offense fits all night.

Look for first-time starter Gunner Stockton to keep things simple in the Georgia offense, making the under 44 a recommended play.

"That kid played tough as nails… he's a phenomenal leader, and I think everybody rose up around him."

– @GeorgiaFootball head coach Kirby Smart on Gunner Stockton pic.twitter.com/mLK4DQWoui

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 8, 2024

Notre Dame’s sticky man coverage lets DC Al Golden dial up the heat – something that could really rattle the inexperienced Stockton. The Irish D has been flat-out nasty this season, ranking fourth in opponent EPA per play and eighth in defensive success rate.

Both squads are likely to pound the rock, with the Irish unleashing speedster Jeremiyah Love while the Dawgs lean on Trevor Etienne to control the clock. The run-heavy approach should eat up time and keep scoring at a premium.

That 44-point total actually looks generous considering these defensive juggernauts and Georgia’s QB situation. Multiple sharp bettors have already hammered this line, causing it to drop by a few points. All signs are pointing to a defensive chess match at the Sugar Bowl.

• Sugar Bowl Early Pick: Under 44 Points

Texas Poised to Roll Past Arizona State in Peach Bowl

Texas should handle business against Arizona State in this quarterfinal matchup. The Sun Devils’ biggest problem is obvious – their O-line has been a major weakness all season. When they faced Texas Tech early in the season, they barely managed 94 rushing yards and averaged a rough 3.1 yards per carry.

Steve Sarkisian’s defensive front should have a field day with this matchup. The Longhorns just ran wild against Clemson, piling up nearly 300 yards on the ground. They’ve got more than enough offensive firepower to cover this 13.5-point spread.

Quinn Ewers has been dealing lately, and with dynamic backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner running behind that elite Texas O-line, points shouldn’t be hard to come by. ASU’s defense has struggled when facing top competition, and Texas brings plenty of weapons to the table.

Sure, the Sun Devils have gotten better as the season’s gone on, but that offensive line issue isn’t going away against a Texas front that loves to get after the QB. Freshman Sam Leavitt has put up solid numbers, but he hasn’t seen a defense like what the Longhorns will throw at him – they’ve been disrupting passing games all year.

The two-touchdown spread makes sense when you look at how these teams match up. Texas has been favored in every game this season for good reason, and they’re rolling with serious momentum after dominating Clemson in the trenches.

ASU’s got some real talent in the secondary with Myles Rowser and Xavion Alford making plays all season, but Texas’s explosive passing attack is a different beast. I like Texas at 14 points or less — the Sun Devils’ defensive backs will need their best game of the year to keep this one close.

• Peach Bowl Early Pick: Texas -13.5

Follow the college football betting trends to track line movement leading up to kickoff.