College Football Playoff Bracket 2025: First Round Matchups Odds
The 2025 College Football Playoff is officially here. The bracket kicks off with four campus-site showdowns that feature everything bettors love: blue-blood redemption arcs, high-octane rematches, and the debut of the expanded postseason field.
From the electric atmosphere of a night game at Autzen to the pressure cooker of Kyle Field, home-field advantage will be the defining variable of the opening round. Below is BUSR’s complete betting breakdown of the first four games.
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(9) Alabama at (8) Oklahoma
Date Time: Friday, Dec. 19 | 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, OK)
| Team | Spread | Moneyline (ML) | Total (Over/Under) |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | -1 (-110) | -117 | O 40.5 (-110) |
| Oklahoma Sooners | +1 (-110) | -104 | U 40.5 (-110) |
Matchup Analysis
A month after Oklahoma stunned Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide heads to Norman for a high-stakes rematch. While the scoreboard favored the Sooners in Round 1, the box score told a different story: Alabama outgained Oklahoma by nearly 200 yards but was undone by red-zone stalls and a fatigued defense late.
- – Alabama’s Outlook: QB Ty Simpson’s accuracy dipped down the stretch, but the return of RB Jam Miller restores the explosive potential of this offense. Coach Kalen DeBoer has a history of adjusting in rematches, and the Tide enters as the “dangerous floater”—talented, healthy, and seeking revenge.
- – Oklahoma’s Outlook: The Sooners’ layered defense is elite, but they relied heavily on turnovers in the first meeting.
BUSR Best Bet
- Pick: Alabama 20, Oklahoma 17
- Betting Lean: Alabama Moneyline. Expect a tighter, lower-scoring script where Alabama’s depth wins out in the fourth quarter.
(10) Miami at (7) Texas A&M
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 20 | 12:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Kyle Field (College Station, TX)
| Team | Spread | Moneyline (ML) | Total (Over/Under) |
| Miami Hurricanes | +3.5 (-110) | +149 | O 51.5 (-110) |
| Texas A&M Aggies | -3.5 (-110) | -185 | U 51.5 (-110) |
Matchup Analysis
Miami sneaks into the field over Notre Dame, drawing a Texas A&M squad fresh off a near-perfect season. The “12th Man” at Kyle Field is a massive factor, but the noon kickoff may dampen the usually hostile night-game environment.
- The Quarterback Battle: Both teams boast QBs capable of taking over, but A&M’s Marcel Reed has shown cracks, throwing six interceptions in his last five games.
- Defensive X-Factor: Miami DC Corey Hetherman has orchestrated a defensive turnaround that makes the Canes resilient in close games. This matchup hinges on turnovers; the team that plays cleaner football wins.
BUSR Best Bet
- Pick: Miami 31, Texas A&M 28
- Betting Lean: Miami (+ Points). The Aggies are prone to mistakes under pressure, and Miami has proven they can close tight games.
(11) Tulane at (6) Ole Miss
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 20 | 3:30 p.m.
Venue: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, MS)
| Team | Spread | Moneyline (ML) | Total (Over/Under) |
| Tulane Green Wave | +17 (-110) | +610 | O 56.5 (-110) |
| Ole Miss Rebels | -17 (-110) | -1000 | U 56.5 (-110) |
Matchup Analysis
The narrative here is thick: Ole Miss crushed Tulane by 35 points in September, but the Rebels enter the playoff without Lane Kiffin and under a new leadership structure.
- – Tulane’s Challenge: The Green Wave are riding high after a dominant conference championship (5 forced turnovers), but they couldn’t move the ball in the first meeting. QB Jake Retzlaff (56 passing yards in Game 1) must find a rhythm against Ole Miss’s pressure to keep this competitive.
- – Ole Miss’s Advantage: Even without Kiffin calling plays, QB Trinidad Chambliss remains a cheat code. His dual-threat ability torched Tulane previously, and the Rebels have the raw talent to dictate the tempo.
BUSR Best Bet
- Pick: Ole Miss 34, Tulane 16
- Betting Lean: Ole Miss ATS. Tulane’s offensive struggles in this specific matchup are too glaring to ignore. Look at the Team Total Under for Tulane as well.
(12) James Madison at (5) Oregon
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 20 | 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Autzen Stadium (Eugene, OR)
| Team | Spread | Moneyline (ML) | Total (Over/Under) |
| James Madison Dukes | +22 (-110) | +960 | O 50.5 (-110) |
| Oregon Ducks | -22 (-110) | -2273 | U 50.5 (-110) |
Matchup Analysis
James Madison rides an 11-game win streak into Eugene, boasting one of the nation’s most disciplined defenses. However, the step up in weight class is severe.
- – The Reality Check: JMU’s resume is built on a softer Sun Belt schedule. In their loss to Louisville and close call vs. Washington State, the Dukes showed cracks when facing elite speed.
- – Oregon’s Edge: The Ducks are motivated after last year’s early exit and are finally healthy at wide receiver. QB Dante Moore is peaking, and Autzen Stadium is a nightmare for visiting teams. This is the most significant mismatch of the opening round.
BUSR Best Bet
- Pick: Oregon 38, James Madison 13
- Betting Lean: Oregon ATS. The Ducks should control this from the opening drive. Consider the Over only if JMU scores late in garbage time.
The College Football Playoffs are Taking Shape
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