College Football

College Football Playoff Semis odds, big bets, liabilities, notable action

Updated Jan. 2, 2024 1:24 a.m. ET

The College Football Playoff semifinals headlined the New Year's Day bowl games.

The No. 2 Washington Huskies beat the No. 3 Texas Longhorns 37-31 in the second CFP semifinal at the Sugar Bowl.

Kalen DeBoer's Huskies won as a 3.5-point underdog and the teams hit the Over of 61.5 combined points (68).

The No. 1 Michigan Wolverines covered as a 2.5-point favorite with a 27-20 overtime win over the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide in a CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl.

The Over 46 combined points hit during overtime.

Let's dive into a plethora of betting nuggets, with insights from oddsmakers, info on where the sharp money is and a couple of the biggest bets so far.

Let's start with the big bets. It really wouldn't be a day of big games if Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale didn't make a wager.

Patrick Everson interviewed McIngvale for a story after the Houston furniture store magnate put down $1 million on the Longhorns to win the national title.

If Texas wins it all, Mattress Mack would make a $2.7 million profit ($3.7 million total payout).

Some bettors love Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer.

Bettors are all over Washington receiver Rome Odunze, who was third in the country in receiving yardage (1,428), to have a big game.

One bettor is banking on the defenses being the story in the Texas-Washington Sugar Bowl.

Did anybody get a wager down on a "Big-Boy TD"? Texas' Byron Murphy II, a 308-pound defensive lineman, scored on a 1-yard run to tie the game at 14.

Few bettors are as disappointed as this bettor. Ben Fawkes tweeted that the bettor placed $205,500 on Alabama to win the national title back in August. A profit of $1.233 million won't happen.

FOX Sports Betting Analyst Sam "Sammy P" Panayotovich was on the Wolverines well before kickoff.

Another bettor cashed in on Michgan.

The Tide seemed to be popular with big bettors.

Harbaugh's Wolverines got some big bets, as well.

The betting public is backing the underdogs, the Tide and the Huskies.

Some bettors need a big second half from Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

A Tide bettor put some cash down on Alabama at halftime.

The Tide-Wolverines going into overtime was bad for the books.

From the sportsbooks side, oddsmaker Seamus Magee of BetMGM said bettors have been backing the Crimson Tide.

"Alabama moneyline is the most popular wager and combined with significant future liability on the Tide, BetMGM needs Michigan to win," McGee said. "Washington is also popular with bettors. A Michigan-Texas title game would be good for the sportsbook."

John Murray, executive director of The SuperBook, told FOX Sports' Everson that high-dollar bettors in Las Vegas for New Year's weekend were mostly backing Michigan.

"There might be more $30,000/$40,000/$50,000 tickets on Michigan. But again, the public is so heavy on Alabama," Murray said.

Michigan tied the game against Alabama 7-7 on Blake Corum's touchdown run.

A good sign for Wolverines moneyline bettors?

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