Penn State QB Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions tackle the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College … [+] Football Playoff semifinals Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The College Football Playoff is down to four teams and the semifinals kickoff off Jan. 9 at the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami. The Penn State Nittany Lions tackle the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and early money supported the Irish. But game day has arrived, and the betting line has dipped to Notre Dame just a 1-point favorite.
The Friday, Jan. 10 semifinal in the Cotton Bowl is the Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes, who are up to a 6-point favorite.
College Football Playoff favorites are 8-0 SU and 7-1 /ATS so far in the CFP after Notre Dame closed a slight favorite in their Sugar Bowl win over Georgia. All four top seeds lost in the quarterfinals.
CFP National Semifinals
College Football Playoff odds from BetOnline refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. All times Eastern and betting favorites (-) listed along with over/under total points. Bet tyes and terms with listed point spread on favorite.
- No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame (-1), total 45.5 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
- No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State (-6), total 53.5 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
While sports betting is fueling more interest in the games for fans in 39 states, football fans in the three most populous states, California, Texas and Florida are not able to bet at U.S. sportsbooks. So with the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida and the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, fans in those states turn to other betting options at top online sportsbooks like BetOnline in Panama.
Penn State-Notre Dame
The Orange Bowl will also be preceded by ESPN’s College GameDay, with Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit breaking down the Notre Dame-Penn State game.
The Orange Bowl press conference with head coaches Marcus Freeman and James Franklin provides some additional insight ahead of the CFP semifinal.
Penn State has two extra days rest and prep off their New Year’s Eve win over Boise State, 31-14 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Notre Dame was another winner in their 23-10 defensive duel over Georgia that was scoreless into the second quarter. The Irish managed just 90 passing yards in that contest and 244 total yards while getting outgained by the Bulldogs.
Penn State has beeing slightly better statistically with a +2.0 yards per play and +147 yards per game margins to Notre Dame +1.9 and +111 yards with the Nittany Lions also playing a stronger schedule. Both teams are defensive dominators with top-7 defenses in the country allowing just 289 adn 295 yards per game at 4.4 to 4.5 yards per play.
Pro handicapper and bettor Brad Powers points out in his college football newsletter that Notre Dame and Penn State have the best against the spread (ATS) records at 27-11-2 for Notre Dame including 10-straight covers and cashes entering the Orange Bowl, and Penn State 26-14-1 ATS.
Key players for both teams are expected to play with Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love (knee) and Penn State Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year DE Abdul Carter (arm) impacting play on both sides of the ball.
Pick: Penn State and Under
More fans and public bettors continue to cash in on the favorites, and many more are counting on the luck of the Irish and Notre Dame to keep their winning streak alive.
You can bet on it.
MORE FROM FORBES
ForbesAdjusted Sugar Bowl Odds And Ohio State-Texas National Semifinal Following New Orleans Terror AttackBy Jay GinsbachForbesCollege Football Playoff 2025 New Year’s Day Bowls And Picks Drawing Major Wager InterestBy Jay GinsbachForbesCollege Football Playoff Picks, Odds And 2024 Opening Round MatchupsBy Jay GinsbachForbesNotre Dame And Penn State Rekindle Rivalry In CFP SemifinalsBy Tim Casey
