The college football playoffs first round has come and gone, with four teams dispatched from the 12-team field, and the four teams who received a bye to the quarterfinals set to enter the picture as we make our college football picks.
With eight teams left in the fight for the National Championship, we have four exciting matchups to look ahead to on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with it all getting started in Glendale, Arizona, next Tuesday.
Ahead of the CFP quarterfinal matchups, it’s time to dive into the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals odds, including our NCAA football picks against the spread.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
| Penn State @ Boise State | Penn State -10.5 (-120) | Penn State -425/Boise State +260 | 53.5 |
| Texas @ Arizona State | Texas -13.5 (-130) | Texas -750/Arizona State +375 | 51.5 |
| Ohio State @ Oregon | Ohio State -2.5 (-115) | Ohio State -145/Oregon +100 | 54.5 |
| Notre Dame at Georgia | Georgia -1.5 (-120) | Notre Dame -105/Georgia -135 | 44.5 |
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Odds Analysis
(No. 3) Boise State vs (No. 6) Penn State
- Spread: Penn State -10.5 (-120)
- Moneyline: Penn State -425/Boise State +260
- Over/Under: 53.5
- Time: Tuesday, December 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET
A dominant 28-point win for the Nittany Lions against SMU in the first round landed the Big Ten outfit a meeting with Boise State on New Year’s Eve. Though those Nittany Lions put the clamps on the Mustangs to get here, doing the same against the Boise State Broncos and Ashton Jeanty won’t be as easy.
Despite Penn State’s strong run defense, there should be no expectation of it containing Jeanty doing what he has done all year — power Boise State’s offense to great heights. On the other side, however, is a Penn State offense loaded with playmakers.
With Penn State tight end Tyler Warren matching Jeanty in dynamism, points will be aplenty on New Year’s Eve.
Pick: Over 53.5
(No. 5) Texas at (No. 4) Arizona State
- Spread: Texas -13.5 (-130)
- Moneyline: Texas -750/Arizona State +375
- Over/Under: 51.5
- Time: Wednesday, January 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET
After Texas comfortably swatted Clemson aside in the first round, it is back on the board as a two-score favorite against the Arizona State Sun Devils. For the Longhorns, it’s a symbolic return to the site of the SEC title game, which they lost, and they’re sure to bury demons.
Though the Sun Devils had a great offense throughout 2024, led by tailback Cam Skattebo, they’re in a tough spot here. Not only do they need to try and kick their offense back into gear after receiving the bye into the quarterfinals, but they need to try and do it against a strong Texas defense.
With the Longhorns’ defense primed to slow Arizona State, it comes down to how efficient Quinn Ewers and the offense can be. As we’ve seen pretty consistently, when SEC competition meets those who haven’t faced such a gauntlet, success will come. Texas should win comfortably to move on to the semifinals.
Pick: Texas -13.5 (-130)
(No. 8) Ohio State at (No. 1) Oregon
- Spread: Ohio State -2.5 (-115)
- Moneyline: Ohio State -145/Oregon +100
- Over/Under: 54.5
- Time: Wednesday, January 1 at 5:00 p.m. ET
The game of the round by every measure sees Ohio State face Oregon at the Rose Bowl — a throwback to Rose Bowls of old. The two dominant Big Ten foes will face off for a second time this year, after the Ducks won the first by one point in a 32-31 thriller.
Yet, despite Oregon’s undefeated record, status as No. 1 in the nation, and previous victory over Ohio State, it’s the Ducks that are the underdogs here. There’s no doubt this will be an incredibly tense game, but there is an element of simple logic at play here.
When the undefeated number one team in the nation is available at plus-money — despite having the better quarterback play and previous result in hand — you take it. In a game that’s likely to put the spread up in the air down to the wire, I’m happy to go with the Ducks and Dan Lanning.
Pick: Oregon moneyline (+100)
(No. 7) Notre Dame at (No. 2) Georgia
- Spread: Georgia -1.5 (-120)
- Moneyline: Notre Dame -105/Georgia -135
- Over/Under: 44.5
- Time: Wednesday, January 1 at 8:45 p.m. ET
It’s similar logic here, in the meeting between Notre Dame and Georgia, but an even more decisive thought. Georgia’s profile ahead of this matchup is incredibly appetizing, with wins over four of the 12 playoff teams in hand.
The Bulldogs’ defense, so consistently the most dominant unit in the nation, remains physical and talented enough to slow Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. And, unfortunately for the Fighting Irish, they don’t have a similar level of talent to exploit what’s certain to be a version of Carson Beck below what we’ve seen.
As Georgia has done time and time again, I’d fully expect the Bulldogs to remind college football that they’re the deepest, most difficult team to beat in the entire nation.
Pick: Georgia moneyline (-135)
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Odds FAQ
When do the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals begin?
The first college football game of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals is on Tuesday, December 31, at 7:30 p.m. ET, between Penn State and Boise State in Glendale, Arizona. The CFP quarterfinals will wrap up the following night, on Wednesday, January 1 at 8:45 p.m. ET with a clash between Notre Dame and Georgia from New Orleans.
What is the Best Game on this week?
All four quarterfinal matchups bring a level of intrigue and excitement to the table. There is, however, one game that stands out as especially competitive and likely to lead to drama. The meeting between Ohio State and Oregon, at the Rose Bowl, is primed to be the game of the round.
How to Make College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Picks
Ready to make picks on the College Football Playoff quarterfinals slate? Make sure to head over to Sportzino.com, where you can find every college football game on the schedule this week, and so much more!
