After months of on field action, and off field lobbying by schools across the nation, the College Football Playoff bracket is finally set. Perennial powerhouse Alabama is left on the outside looking in, while teams like Arizona State, SMU and Boise State make their first appearance in the revamped postseason system.
When all was said and done, Oregon remained number 1 in the nation in the eyes of the CFP committee, turning in a perfect 13-0 season en route to a Big 10 championship. Behind them were two loss Georgia who won the SEC in a thriller, 12-1 Mountain West champions Boise State, and 11-2 Big 12 champion ASU.
All four teams will receive first round byes and await the winners of the first round matchups below.
First-round byes
1. Oregon (13-0, Big Ten champion)
2. Georgia (11-2, SEC champion)
3. Boise State (12-1, Mountain West champion)
4. Arizona State (11-2, Big 12 champion)
First-round matchups
No. 12 Clemson (10-3, ACC champion) at No. 5 Texas (11-2, at-large): Dec. 20, 8 pm. ET
No. 11 SMU (11-2, at-large) at No. 6 Penn State (11-2, at-large): Dec. 21, noon ET
No. 10 Indiana (11-1, at-large) at No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1, at-large): Dec. 21, 4 p.m. ET
No. 9 Tennessee (10-2, at-large) at No. 8 Ohio State (10-2, at-large): Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET
Each of the 4 home teams in the first round matchups are heavily favoured across most sports books. Meanwhile, despite featuring a potential Heisman winner in Ashton Jeanty, and receiving a a first round bye, Boise State enters the CFP with the longest odds of capturing a national title in the eyes of Vegas oddsmakers.
National Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Oregon | +330 |
| Georgia | +350 |
| Texas | +360 |
| Ohio State | +450 |
| Penn State | +650 |
| Notre Dame | +1200 |
| Tennessee | +2500 |
| SMU | +3300 |
| Arizona State | +4200 |
| Clemson | +4200 |
| Indiana | +5000 |
| Boise State | +6500 |
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