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The first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff kicks off this weekend, marking the first time that on-campus sites will host postseason matchups in the tournament. While every FBS stadium in the country was eligible to host, the first 12-team CFP will begin at serious cathedrals of the sport with Notre Dame Stadium, Beaver Stadium, Ohio Stadium and Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to kick things off.
If you ask Vegas, there isn’t much reason for optimism. All four games have lines of at least a touchdown for the home team. Remember this, though: this is the first year of the system. There have never been teams with this many holes or question marks playing in the CFP. There will be far more upsets and surprises than anyone expects when the games actually happen.
Will it be SMU pulling off a shocking upset of Penn State during its first season as a member of a power conference? Or Clemson QB Cade Klubnik again outdueling a familiar foe? Could Tennessee end Ohio State’s season early? Or will Indiana beat Notre Dame in a battle of in-state programs that have not played since 1991?
Here is how we rank the most likely upsets of the first round of the CFP. Odds below via SportsLine consensus.
1. (6) Penn State vs. (11) SMU
Line: Penn State -8.5
Mathematically, SMU was the last team in the CFP after losing the ACC Championship Game to Clemson. Penn State had a serious case for No. 1 in the country heading into the final quarter of the Big Ten Championship Game. However, the matchup between these two teams is far closer than many would think.
Simply put, SMU has far more offensive playmakers heading into the matchup, headlined by quarterback Kevin Jennings (3,050 yards passing, 379 yards rushing 27 TDs). Running back Brashard…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-odds-where-penn-state-smu-ohio-state-tennessee-rank-among-likely-first-round-upsets/
Author : Shehan Jeyarajah
Publish date : 2024-12-16 15:05:00
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