College Football Playoff Odds: Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends for Championship Game

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

College Football Playoff odds for the championship game are on the board and getting attention. No. 1 ranked Michigan and No. 2 Washington will meet Monday night in Houston in the CFP final.

Here’s everything you need to know about College Football Playoff odds for the championship game: opening lines, spreads and betting trends, as multiple oddsmakers provide insights on CFP championship odds and action. Check back regularly for updates and use our new BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

College Football Playoff Odds for Championship Game

No. 2 Washington vs No. 1 Michigan Odds

• Opening point spread: Michigan -3.5
• Opening moneyline: Michigan -194/Washington +160
• Opening total: Over/Under 54.5 points scored
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Monday

UPDATE 7:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Right before kickoff, Michigan is a 5.5-point favorite at BetMGM. A week ago, the Wolverines opened -4.5, and they remained at various iterations of -4.5 until lunchtime today. Then came a move to Michigan -5.5 (-105), and it's now -5.5 flat.

It's two-way spread play, with 52% of tickets on Washington/57% of money on Michigan. On the moneyline, it's 70% tickets on the Huskies, while money is almost dead even.

The total is up to 56.5 from a 55 opener, with 59% of tickets/61% of money on the Over.

"We're rooting for a low-scoring, close Michigan win," BetMGM trader Seamus Magee said.

Magee added that Washington is a significant championship futures liability, a key reason BetMGM needs Michigan to win the game. Among the notable bets: $15,000 at +2000, for a potential profit of $300,000; and $4,000 at +2000, for a potential profit of $80,000.

UPDATE 1 P.M. ET MONDAY: A few hours ahead of kickoff, Michigan is up to a 5-point favorite on TwinSpires Sportsbook's College Football Playoff championship odds board. The Wolverines opened -4 last Monday and spent time at -4.5 on the way to -5.

Washington is landing 67% of spread tickets, while 58% of spread money is on Michigan. On the moneyline, it's 60% tickets/70% money on the Huskies.

"It's Pros vs. Joes in the final game of the season. The public is in love with the Huskies. However, there's sharp play on Michigan -4/-4.5," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

Lucas said the ideal outcome at the moment would be a Michigan win and a Washington cover.

The total is up a tick from 55.5 to 56 at TwinSpires. Tickets and money are in the 2/1 range on the Over.

"The public is firing on the Over, and there seems to be no slowing down. We'll need Under 56," Lucas said.

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Heading into the weekend, Michigan is a 4.5-point favorite in the College Football Playoff championship game odds market. That's down a tick from the Wolverines -5 opener, but up a tick from Tuesday's brief -4 low point at PointsBet, A Fanatics Experience.

It's two-way spread play with a lean toward underdog Washington, at 56% of tickets and money. However, on the moneyline, while ticket count is dead even, 80% of cash is on the Huskies. Washington is currently +170 on the moneyline, and Michigan is -206.

In fact, among all bets placed on Monday's title game at PointsBet – spread, moneyline, total, etc. – 48% of money is on Washington moneyline. Further, Washington moneyline is taking 1.5 times more dollars than every Washington and Michigan spread bet combined.

The total opened at 55 and is up to 56.5 at PointsBet. The Over is taking 70% of early bets, while 63% of money is on the Under. But PointsBet noted that money split is skewed by some large Under wagers.

UPDATE 12:30 A.M. ET TUESDAY: The Rose Bowl required overtime to determine the first team to advance into the CFP championship game.

Michigan got a Roman Wilson touchdown catch with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie Alabama at 20. In overtime, the Wolverines handed the ball to Blake Corum twice. That was all it took to get a touchdown and a 27-20 lead.

Michigan then stopped the Crimson Tide on fourth-and-goal to notch the 27-20 win. The Wolverines (14-0 SU/8-5-1 ATS) cashed as 2.5-point favorites. Jim Harbaugh's squad has covered three in a row and is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games.

At halftime of the Sugar Bowl, Washington and Texas were tied at 21. And after the third quarter, with the Huskies up 31-21, it looked like it might be a less intriguing finish. However, Texas rallied late and had a chance to win on the game's final play.

But a superb Michael Penix Jr. and Washington hung on for a 37-31 victory. The Huskies (14-0 SU/8-5-1 ATS) covered as 3.5-point underdogs while moving to 3-1 ATS in their last four games.

The SuperBook opened Michigan -3.5 in the College Football Playoff championship odds market. But that's not where risk supervisor Chase Michaelson thought this matchup would open.

"We had this matchup at Michigan -7 on a hypothetical line, before the semifinals kicked off today," Michaelson said late Monday night. "Michigan didn't really impress everybody against Alabama in the way Washington's offense did against Texas."

And that's what most championship game bettors want: to be impressed.

"Particularly in a championship game, there's so much more public handle," Michaelson said. "So the public is gonna be more attracted to the 'dog. We know the public wants the 'dog here.

"We were overwhelmed with Washington money today against Texas. I'd be very surprised if the public isn't on Washington against Michigan."

John Murray, executive director of The SuperBook, concurred with everything Michaelson said. Murray and Michaelson also noted that The SuperBook has huge championship futures liability to Washington. So Murray and the risk room are rooting for Michigan in all ways – on the moneyline and spread, and in the futures market.

"We're not gonna be afraid to write Michigan money on this game," Michaelson said.

Summarized Murray: "A lot of books are gonna be rooting for Michigan on Monday night. I'll tell you that right now."

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Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson