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College Football Playoff opening line report: Alabama spread rising early
Within 30 minutes of posting Washington-Alabama, early action moved the Crimson Tide to -15. By late Sunday afternoon, it was up to 15.5.
Peach Bowl
No. 4 Washington Huskies vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (-14.5)
Over the past few weeks, there was talk of Alabama being a double-digit favorite against any possible CFP contender. That proved more than true in this case, and in fact, the line is already on the rise, which Bookmaker.eu expected. That’s why, when several other shops opened Alabama at -14, Lester and Co. went a notch higher, opening at 14.5.
“We didn’t even want to mess around and give bettors an opportunity to get the flat -14 without incurring some extra juice,” Lester said. “We’ve taken steady Tide money for the past two months, from sharps and squares alike, and I don’t see any way this number closes at two touchdowns or less. Don’t be surprised if this spread jumps to -17 at some point.”
Alabama (13-0 SU, 9-4 ATS) has now won 25 consecutive games, including Saturday’s 54-16 beatdown of Florida laying a massive 24 points in the Southeastern Conference title game in Atlanta. Washington battered Colorado 41-10 Friday night in the Pac-12 final in Santa Clara, Calif.
Lester said that within 30 minutes of posting Washington-Alabama, early action moved the Crimson Tide to -15. By late this afternoon, it was up to 15.5 at Bookmaker.eu.
Fiesta Bowl
No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 2 Clemson Tigers (+3.5)
Clemson bagged the ACC title on Saturday, but had to hold off a Virginia Tech comeback to do so, perhaps explaining why the Tigers (12-1 SU, 6-7 ATS) swapped spots with idle Ohio State in the CFP rankings. DeShaun Watson and Co. bested the Hokies 42-35, coming up short as a 10-point neutral-site chalk in Orlando.
Ohio State (11-1 SU, 6-6 ATS) sat back and waited this weekend, failing to reach the Big Ten title game due to an upset loss to Penn State back in October. But that setback didn’t keep the Buckeyes out of the playoff. In its regular-season finale, Ohio State went double overtime to edge Michigan 30-27 laying 4.5 points at home.
“We’re anticipating the classic sharp vs. square divide, with the public bettors siding with Ohio State and the pros on the underdog,” Lester said. “Adjustments in the odds are almost always predicated on sharp money, but this spread should stay around a field goal if we get the influx of Buckeyes action that we expect.”
Lester said early action on Clemson moved Ohio State down a tick in price, to -3.5 (-105). Later this afternoon, Bookmaker.eu adjusted to Buckeyes -3 (-120).
Within 30 minutes of posting Washington-Alabama, early action moved the Crimson Tide to -15. By late Sunday afternoon, it was up to 15.5.
Peach Bowl
No. 4 Washington Huskies vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (-14.5)
Over the past few weeks, there was talk of Alabama being a double-digit favorite against any possible CFP contender. That proved more than true in this case, and in fact, the line is already on the rise, which Bookmaker.eu expected. That’s why, when several other shops opened Alabama at -14, Lester and Co. went a notch higher, opening at 14.5.
“We didn’t even want to mess around and give bettors an opportunity to get the flat -14 without incurring some extra juice,” Lester said. “We’ve taken steady Tide money for the past two months, from sharps and squares alike, and I don’t see any way this number closes at two touchdowns or less. Don’t be surprised if this spread jumps to -17 at some point.”
Alabama (13-0 SU, 9-4 ATS) has now won 25 consecutive games, including Saturday’s 54-16 beatdown of Florida laying a massive 24 points in the Southeastern Conference title game in Atlanta. Washington battered Colorado 41-10 Friday night in the Pac-12 final in Santa Clara, Calif.
Lester said that within 30 minutes of posting Washington-Alabama, early action moved the Crimson Tide to -15. By late this afternoon, it was up to 15.5 at Bookmaker.eu.
Fiesta Bowl
No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 2 Clemson Tigers (+3.5)
Clemson bagged the ACC title on Saturday, but had to hold off a Virginia Tech comeback to do so, perhaps explaining why the Tigers (12-1 SU, 6-7 ATS) swapped spots with idle Ohio State in the CFP rankings. DeShaun Watson and Co. bested the Hokies 42-35, coming up short as a 10-point neutral-site chalk in Orlando.
Ohio State (11-1 SU, 6-6 ATS) sat back and waited this weekend, failing to reach the Big Ten title game due to an upset loss to Penn State back in October. But that setback didn’t keep the Buckeyes out of the playoff. In its regular-season finale, Ohio State went double overtime to edge Michigan 30-27 laying 4.5 points at home.
“We’re anticipating the classic sharp vs. square divide, with the public bettors siding with Ohio State and the pros on the underdog,” Lester said. “Adjustments in the odds are almost always predicated on sharp money, but this spread should stay around a field goal if we get the influx of Buckeyes action that we expect.”
Lester said early action on Clemson moved Ohio State down a tick in price, to -3.5 (-105). Later this afternoon, Bookmaker.eu adjusted to Buckeyes -3 (-120).
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