CFB Playoffs Round 2 Action report

If you’re anything like me, you view these bowl games leading up to the second round of the college football playoffs as pure time-killers. They are not intriguing games to bet either. Players opting out and basically having nothing to play for has really doomed the excitement around bowl season. For fans and sports bettors alike, the CFB Playoffs are the only game in town, and these other games are window dressing.

The first round of the CFB Playoffs saw some excitement and as precited had a couple duds as well. You cannot let JMU and Tulane into the tournament to play with the big dogs and expect good results. This isn’t basketball. The bigger, stronger and deeper team will most certainly always win, and it won’t even be close. But now we are down to the final 8 teams, all of which are real contenders.

We created this short article to help you gauge which way the public is betting and to share with you any early sharp action we have seen.

Cotton Bowl

Wednesday January 1st @7:30pm EST

Miami +9.5 (54% of tix/25% of $)
Ohio State -9.5 (46% of tix/75% of $)

Sharp action: None Reported

It’s obvious that even though ticket count is about even, the larger bettors are going all-in on the Buckeyes.

Orange Bowl

Thursday January 1, 2026, at 12:00pm EST

Oregon -1.5 (47% of tix/45% of $)
Texas Tech +1.5 (53% of tix/55% of $)

Sharp Action: Oregon

This may be the best game of the 2nd round. Oregon is the slight favorite and deserve all the credit they get but Texas Tech is no joke and could play New Year’s spoiler.

Rose Bowl

Thursday January 1, 2026, at 4:00pm EST

Alabama +7 (70% of tix/60% of $)
Indiana -7 (30% of tix/40% of $)

Sharp Action:

A couple years ago if I had told you that Indiana would be a TD favorite over Alabama in the Rose Bowl you would have told me I need to have my head examined. But #1 Indiana is for real and will be looking to make a statement with this one.

Alabama has 3 losses this year and Indiana’s record is squeaky clean. The public is backing Alabama as far as tickets are concerned but bigger bets are being placed on Indiana.

Sugar Bowl

Thursday January 1, 2026, at 8:00pm EST

Mississippi +6.5 (42% of tix/35% of $)
Georgia -6.5 (58% of tix/65% of $)

Sharp Action: None Reported

The Bulldogs already dispatched of Ole Miss once this year in a 43-35 win at Georgia, handing the Rebels their only loss. But this game is being played at a neutral location (New Orleans) and may have a different outcome altogether.