The 2022 College Football Playoff semifinals will be played on New Year’s Eve this Saturday. The TCU Horned Frogs and Michigan Wolverines will meet in the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. In the Peach Bowl, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs are at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
We have the latest College Football Playoff betting odds for the semifinals this weekend. Finally, we have meaningful college football games to handicap. College football bowl season is primarily made up of glorified exhibition football. There are only two college bowl games that truly mean something.
Take a look at the full and final #CFBPlayoff selection committee rankings upon completion of the 2022 college football season!
🏈🏆 pic.twitter.com/SDupvlJ7XF— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 4, 2022
via@CFBPlayoff
The Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl are played for the right to go to the College Football Playoff National Championship. TheSportsGeek is handicapping the 2022 College Football Playoff Semifinals betting odds before getting to the college football championship.
If you have been following along at TheSportsGeek, you would know that we are confident in the Georgia Bulldogs’ repeating. However, has anything changed since their matchup against the Buckeyes was announced?
It is best to look at each game individually. That is what the best sports bettors do. If they have to adjust to a situation, then sharp bettors are not scared of changing their opinion.
Ohio State was given a mulligan to reach the College Football Playoff. After getting blown out for the second consecutive year against the Michigan Wolverines, this did not seem possible. The USC Trojans made sure that Ohio State would be going to the playoffs, though.
Everything was lining up for USC to go to the College Football Playoff. With the Heisman Trophy on the field against Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game, Ohio State had to hope for the best. The best-case scenario happened, as Utah beat USC, and effectively helped Ohio State.
Let’s look at the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinals closer. The College Football Playoff betting odds are up on the board and we have our best College Football Playoff predictions. Along with our CFP predictions, TheSportsGeek has some College Football Playoff prop bets to consider betting.
College Football Playoff Betting Odds
The 2022 College Football Playoff semifinals odds suggest that we are going to have a College Football National Championship of Michigan and Georgia. If both favorites win in the semifinals, then we will have the Wolverines and Bulldogs in a rematch.
Georgia beat Michigan in the semifinals a season ago at the Orange Bowl. It was not a particularly competitive game. The Bulldogs were in control from the opening gun, as they pulled away for a lead and held in a 34-11 win.
The Bulldogs advanced to the College Football Playoff Championship to meet the Alabama Crimson Tide after losing a month earlier in the SEC Championship Game. This time it was different, as Georgia defeated the Crimson Tide to claim their first National Championship since 1980.
Georgia fans, rejoice.
With Alabama driving to potentially tie the game, Kelee Ringo picks off Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and returns it 79-yards for the touchdown.
That just about seals it. 33-18, Dawgs. pic.twitter.com/DjMuJkDis9
— Taylor Tannebaum (@TaylorTannebaum) January 11, 2022
via@TaylorTannebaum
Georgia is not the underdog after playing that role last year. They have all of the expectations of winning the College Football National Championship in 2023. The Bulldogs are a favorite to defeat Ohio State, and are expected to advance and then beat their next opponent.
You will have to lay juice to bet Georgia to win the championship this year. They are the only team that is not at plus money to win the College Football Playoff. Michigan is the second-favorite to win the College Football National Championship.
TCU is the least likely team to win this year. With College Football Playoff betting odds of +1500, the public and oddsmakers do not have much faith in the Horned Frogs. The Horned Frogs backed into the CFP after losing their latest outing in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Visit our College Football Betting Sites page for the top CFP online sportsbooks.
| TEAM | RECORD | ODDS |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Bulldogs | 13-0 | -125 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 13-0 | +300 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 11-1 | +375 |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 12-1 | +1500 |
College Football Playoff Predictions
It is time for us to break down the College Football Semifinals betting odds. We know who is the favorite to win the College Football National Championship, but we want point spreads and prop bets.
The first game on Saturday is No. 3 TCU vs. No. 2 Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl in the desert. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EST at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Ohio State and Georgia are scheduled for kickoff at 8:00 p.m. EST in Atlanta.
TCU Horned Frogs (3) vs. Michigan Wolverines (2) Predictions:
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCU Horned Frogs | +7.5 (-110) | +235 | Over 58.5 (-110) |
| Michigan Wolverines | -7.5 (-110) | -285 | Under 58.5 (-110) |
The TCU Horned Frogs and Michigan Wolverines should have an entertaining matchup in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. TCU has nothing to lose as the least bet team in the College Football Playoff.
The Horned Frogs did not look at their best in the Big 12 Championship Game. They fell down against a good Kansas State Wildcats squad by a score of 31-28 in overtime. That was a thriller decided by an inch at the goal line.
With a loss out of their system, could that game be a blessing in disguise for TCU? Max Duggan, who was invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, has to deal with an elite defense in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Best Defense TCU Has Played
The Wolverines are by far the best defense that the Horned Frogs have had to deal with this season. Duggan was the most underrated quarterback in college football in 2022. However, Michigan is the fastest and most physical defense that this offense has seen.
Loving this welcome at the @Fiesta_Bowl!#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/2Vyg0k0w7x
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 27, 2022
via@UMichFootball
Duggan passed for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions on 64.9% completions. He has deceptive speed, as well. Duggan is not a burner, but he has gained 404 yards and 6 touchdowns on 3.6 yards per carry.
What is going to happen when Duggan has to make plays against Michigan, though? The Wolverines are third in college football in defense. They’ve allowed an average of 277.1 yards per game going into the Fiesta Bowl.
Michigan is stout in the box and does not give much room to running backs. With 85.2 rushing yards allowed per game, the Wolverines are the third-best defense versus the run in the FBS.
Horned Frogs Have No Plan B
If the offense is not clicking for the Horned Frogs, it is unlikely that the Horned Frogs can lean on their defense. They are more of a one-dimensional team that depends on the offense to put up big points.
TCU is 74th in college football, allowing an average of 384.6 total yards per game. The secondary has been prone to giving up big plays in particular. The Horned Frogs are 83rd, with 235.6 passing yards allowed per game.
J.J. McCarthy is going to be slept on by some people in this one. He should not be ignored, though. McCarthy continues to get better and is a tremendous decision-maker.
Michigan Will Control The Ball and Clock
McCarthy has passed for 2,367 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions on 65.3% completions. The Wolverines are sixth in college football running the football, so McCarthy has the luxury of facing defenses that have to play the run.
The Don. @DEdwards__ pic.twitter.com/hFdgO8qI5z
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 4, 2022
via@UMichFootball
Blake Corum will not be active, but Donovan Edwards should have a big game behind the best offensive line in college football. Edwards averages a whopping 7.5 yards per attempt out of the backfield. He has 872 yards and 7 touchdowns on 117 carries.
TCU should keep this close in the first-half, but expect Michigan to open things up in the second-half. For our TCU vs. Michigan prediction, we are looking at a final score of 38-24 for the Wolverines.
TCU vs. Michigan Prop Bets:
Are looking for 2022 College Football Playoff semifinals prop bets for this matchup? We have a couple of TCU vs. Michigan props on New Year’s Eve to consider betting.
The First Turnover of The Game?
This College Football Playoff prop bet is asking whether the first turnover of the game will be a fumble or an interception. There is also a bet for no turnovers.
J.J. McCarthy and Max Duggan were both good quarterbacks at protecting the ball. They were not careless and did not throw into mistakes. McCarthy threw only 3 interceptions, while Duggan had just 4 interceptions this season.
For as good as the Michigan defense has been, they were not elite by taking the ball away in the secondary. They have 12 interceptions in 13 games for a tie in 34th. TCU has 14 interceptions in 13 games.
There is value in the first turnover of the game being a fumble. At +155, this looks like a better option than laying -170 on an interception.
Ohio State Buckeyes (4) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (1) Predictions:
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +7 (-120) | +210 | Over 62.5 (-110) |
| Georgia Bulldogs | -7 (+100) | -250 | Under 62.5 (-110) |
The Ohio State Buckeyes did not go perfect this season, but they were the most logical choice for the No. 4 seed. Nobody wanted to see the Alabama Crimson Tide here after a less-than-stellar campaign.
With USC losing in the Pac-12 Championship Game, there was only one option but to insert the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff. After getting KO’d by Michigan in The Game at the Horseshoe, 45-23, it looked improbable that Ohio State would be here.
They will have to beat the defending champs to get to the College Football National Championship. It could not have gotten much worse for Ohio State at home against Michigan. Expect the Buckeyes to regroup and at least play a better game in this one.
Ohio State Will Be Prepared
There is not much better motivation to play better football than getting beaten up by the Wolverines. The Buckeyes are just very fortunate to have an opportunity to make up for that loss.
Calls grew pretty loud to have Ryan Day fired after losing to Michigan. However, there is a sense that Day is going to have his group ready to play in the Peach Bowl. Nothing went right for Ohio State, but they will be alert here.
CJ STROUD ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? TOUCHDOWN PASS TO JULIAN FLEMING pic.twitter.com/ahqnTxu8aK
— Barstool Ohio State (@BarstoolOSU) October 22, 2022
via@BarstoolOSU
C.J. Stroud slid down draft boards after he failed to solve the Michigan defense for the second consecutive year. His big arm gets a do-over in the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinals. Stroud has passed for 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions on 66.2% completions.
The Ohio State offense is the sixth-best in college with 492.7 yards per game. They accumulated 44.5 points for the second-most per game. The Georgia defense is another tall task for Ohio State, but Stroud and Marvin Harrison Jr. will find big plays.
Ohio State Underrated On Defense
The Buckeyes’ defense does not get enough credit. If the Bulldogs do not respect them despite the sloppy effort versus Michigan, the Buckeyes will get stops in this one.
Ohio State is 11th in college football going into the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinals. They conceded 184 passing yards per game for 13th, and 23rd in the FBS with 119.9 yards allowed per game. The defense went back to the drawing board after getting whacked versus the Wolverines.
The Buckeyes allowed 19.3 points per game on defense this season. They are not going to get the most respect after Michigan ran all over the field at the Horseshoe, but the Buckeyes should surprise against Stetson Bennett and the Bulldogs.
Bennett is coming off an SEC Championship and a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. He might be a little too confident going into the Peach Bowl. Our Ohio State vs. Georgia prediction is 30-27, with the Buckeyes covering the inflated point spread.
Ohio State vs. Georgia Prop Bets:
We have another prop bet for the College Football Playoff. If you like kick returns, scoop and scores, and pick-6 touchdowns then you’ll like this prop bet.
Will a Special Teams or Defensive Touchdown Be Scored?
Two of the best defenses in college football are on the field in this one. Along with a chance for a pick-6, a fumble recovery and touchdown will work here. This also includes a punt or kick return for a touchdown.
Expect a big unconventional play late in regulation of the Peach Bowl. In a clutch moment, there very well be a player in the end zone for a defensive touchdown. A big return for a touchdown is not all that unlikely, either.
This is a College Football Playoff prop bet with a lot of value to be had. Consider betting on a special teams or defensive touchdown at +250 on New Year’s Eve in the Peach Bowl.
