I am about to head over to Sinema on 12 South in Nashville to teach a three hour sports CLE for lawyers that will also count as three ethics credits. So if you're reading this right now and a Nashville area lawyer who needs ethic credit for CLEs -- which is basically all of us -- then you have a few hours to sign up here.
The Alabama Crimson Tide, who I told you to take at -13.5 are now a 16 point favorite over Washington in one of the national semifinal games. That makes Alabama the single largest favorite in any bowl game this year and pegs them as a roughly 88.6% chance to win the football game. Ohio State, which is a three point favorite over Clemson, has a 57.4% chance to win.
Here is the game preview from our friends at OddsShark.
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The College Football Playoff field is finally set, with national semifinal matchups taking place this year in the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve.
The top-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0) will kick off the biggest night of the year by facing the fourth-seeded Washington Huskies (12-1) as 16-point betting favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com and overwhelming chalk to win their second straight national title along with their fifth in eight years.
The Tide have rolled to 25 consecutive wins dating back to last season with an impressive 16-9 mark against the spread. Meanwhile, the Huskies have won three games in a row straight up (2-1 ATS) since suffering their lone loss to the USC Trojans as 9.5-point home chalk on November 12. The under has cashed in their last four.
In the Fiesta Bowl, the second-seeded Clemson Tigers (12-1) and third-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) will both try to make it to their second CFP National Championship game. The Buckeyes won the championship two years ago and are listed as three-point favorites over the Tigers, who lost 45-40 to Alabama as 6.5-point underdogs for the title last season.
Ohio State has failed to cover six of its last eight games while Clemson is 1-5 ATS in its previous six games against teams with winning records. However, the Tigers have won five straight (4-1 ATS) versus the Big Ten.
Other major bowl game odds and betting trends . . .
Orange Bowl (December 30)
Florida State vs. Michigan (-6.5)
Florida State is 8-0 SU in its last eight games against the Big Ten.
Michigan is 0-4 ATS in its last four games after an ATS win.
Cotton Bowl (January 2)
Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin (-7)
Western Michigan is 15-0 SU and 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games.
Wisconsin is 11-3-1 ATS in its last 15 games.
Rose Bowl (January 2)
USC (-7) vs. Penn State
USC is 0-5 ATS in its last five games against the Big Ten.
Penn State is 8-0 ATS in its last eight games.
Sugar Bowl (January 2)
Auburn vs. Oklahoma (-5.5)
Auburn is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games in the postseason.
Oklahoma is 5-0 ATS in its last five games against teams with winning records.
