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CFP First-Round Odds: Alabama Scores Toughest Opening Matchup Against Oklahoma

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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CFP First-Round Odds: Alabama Scores Toughest Opening Matchup Against Oklahoma

Where’s Notre Dame?

James Madison has a big-time program?

The questions regarding the 12-team CFP field keep mounting.

In its second season in the current format, does it seem like there are more questionable scenarios than when there were four teams?

Here are snapshots of the four opening matchups, with odds supplied by BetOnline Sportsbook:

James Madison vs. Oregon (-20.5)

The No. 12-ranked Dukes earned the fifth and final automatic conference-champion bid as coach Bob Chesney prepares to move on to UCLA after the season. The Ducks should get used to playing against a Chesney-coached squad. The Sun Belt-champion Dukes’ program moved up from the FCS to the FBS in 2022. Is the program ready for the next step on the national stage? 

Miami, Fla. vs. Texas A&M (-3.5)

Granted entry over the Fighting Irish because of their Week 1 head-to-head matchup, the No. 10 Hurricanes, who overcame a midseason slump, capped their late playoff push by averaging a winning margin of 27.5 points over their final four outings. The favored Aggies could be challenged by a squad that averages 34.1 points per game on offense and yields 13.8 points on defense.

Tulane vs. Mississippi (-16.5)

Tulane is creating history. Not only will it be the first team from Louisiana to compete in the 12-team field, but the Green Wave also earned its first CFP appearance by capturing the American Conference title. The No. 11 Green Wave came up big against North Texas, the nation’s highest-scoring offense, in the league final. Can they stop Ole Miss, too? 

Alabama (-1.5) vs. Oklahoma

The Crimson Tide didn’t look like a unit primed for a CFP run during Saturday’s SEC championship game. Despite the 28-7 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, the No. 9-seeded squad received the nod to meet Oklahoma in a showcase event, despite losing three games. “This is the worst selection committee we’ve ever had,” NBC’s Nicole Auerbach posted on X (Twitter).

CFP First-Round Odds

Here are the early odds for the CFP first-round games, according to BetOnline Sportsbook:

Games CFP First-Round Odds
James Madison vs. Oregon Oregon -20.5
Miami (Fla.) vs. Texas A&M Texas A&M -3.5
Tulane vs. Mississippi Mississippi -16.5
Alabama vs. Oklahoma Alabama -1.5

*-Odds current at time of publication

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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