We're still quite a ways away from the New Year's Six games and the College Football Playoff, but it's never too early to take a look at some of the early action we've seen for the biggest games of the season.
Note: All current college football odds listed as of Thursday morning. Check up-to-the-minute odds at BookMaker.eu.
Peach Bowl: Houston vs. Florida State
Opening Peach Bowl Odds: Florida State -6.5
Current Peach Bowl Odds: Florida State -7
The Seminoles have had a great history in bowl games of late if you disregard last year's flop in the national semifinal at the Rose Bowl. They've never really struggled against these lower level teams, and though Houston had a special year, so too did Northern Illinois a few years ago before it was demolished by FSU in the Orange Bowl. Early indications suggest that the garnet and gold are rolling to a victory against a team which was, if you remember correctly, a big underdog against Louisville at the outset of this season.
Cotton Bowl: Michigan State vs. Alabama
Opening Cotton Bowl Odds: Alabama -10 / Total: 49
Current Cotton Bowl Odds: Alabama -10 / Total: 47
The only line movement we've seen in the second of the national semifinal is on the under, which makes a lot of sense considering the fact that the Spartans are coming off of a Big Ten Championship Game which they just slugged through a 13-9 game to reach this point. What's a little surprising is that the spread hasn't come down. There isn't a lot of difference between these two teams as we see it, and asking the Crimson Tide to cover 10 when they haven't scored more than 31 in a game against an FBS team since October 17 is a tall order.
Orange Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Clemson
Opening Orange Bowl Odds: Oklahoma -3.5 / Total: 64.5
Current Orange Bowl Odds: Oklahoma -3.5 / Total: 66
Clemson might've been the top team in the nation for the entire duration of the CFP rankings, but the oddsmakers think that it is going to get beaten in this game by an Oklahoma team which seems to have everything going for it at the moment. Baker Mayfield had one heck of a season, particularly down the stretch. Few teams have as many quality victories as the Sooners do, but they do have that one loss to Texas which stands out. The Clemson offense has been awesome all year, and that's why this total has come up just a bit from 64.5 to 66.
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Opening Fiesta Bowl Odds: Ohio State -6.5
Current Fiesta Bowl Odds: Ohio State -6.5
It's not surprising that this line really hasn't moved yet in the Fiesta Bowl, and we don't expect it to. Ohio State is the better of these two teams, but it isn't by a massive margin.
Rose Bowl: Iowa vs. Stanford
Opening Rose Bowl Odds: Stanford -7
Current Rose Bowl Odds: Stanford -6.5
Iowa was really a great unknown going into the Big Ten Championship Game, but it proved that it was legitimately able to beat Michigan State. The Hawkeyes didn't win that game, but they almost feel like Stanford from a few years ago when the Cardinal came to the Rose Bowl and pulled off an upset. There's at least a little belief that Iowa can win this game, and that's why this line moved down a half point.
Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma State
Opening Sugar Bowl Odds: Ole Miss -6.5
Current Sugar Bowl Odds: Ole Miss -7
The SEC West didn't exactly have a stellar bowl season last year, and that includes when Ole Miss was upset by Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. Yet we're back in the same boat this year with the Rebels favored by a full touchdown over Oklahoma State. This time around, bettors are barking up the same tree, assuming that Hugh Freeze's men are set for a big win over an Oklahoma State team which basically backdoored into the New Year's Six when Baylor got beaten by Texas on the final Saturday of the regular season.
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