College Football Playoff Expert Picks: Best Bets for TCU vs. Michigan & Ohio State vs. Georgia
It's the final Saturday of the 2022 college football season. The College Football Playoff is on center stage with TCU facing Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl and Ohio State taking on Georgia in the Peach Bowl. Read on for our College Football Playoff expert picks based on the best NCAAF odds.
College football's 2023 National Championship matchup will be set late on New Year's Eve following the conclusion of the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl. First, No. 3 TCU takes on No. 2 Michigan, followed by the reigning champion and top-seeded Georgia Bulldogs meeting with the fourth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes.
Here are our College Football Playoff expert picks for Saturday's semifinal matchups (odds via our best sportsbooks).
Check out our college football best bets, as well as our TCU vs Georgia prediction, TCU vs Georgia odds and Ohio State vs. Georgia picks.
College Football Playoff Expert Picks: TCU vs. Michigan
When: Saturday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m. ET
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
How to watch: ESPN
Check out our best Fiesta Bowl odds.
| Philip Wood | Henry John | Brenden Schaeffer | |
| Pick | Michigan -7.5 | Michigan -7.5 | Under 58.5 |
| Best odds | -108 | -108 | -110 |
| Best sportsbook | FanDuel | FanDuel | DraftKings |
Michigan -7.5 (-108 via FanDuel)
With no disrespect to the TCU Horned Frogs, who had a great season, the Michigan Wolverines have been incredible in 2022. They've won 11 of their 13 games by more than one score, including over Penn State and Ohio State. This line opened at 9 and it has dropped to 7.5, but sportsbooks just won't put this below the key number and are clearly trying to bait bettors into taking TCU. - Wood
Michigan -7.5 (-108 via FanDuel)
To date, not a single opponent has been able to hold up against the Wolverines’ offensive line for a full four quarters. TCU does an excellent job of moving around and challenging opponents with a bevy of looks defensively, but the Horned Frogs will be up against it from the standpoint of physicality along the line of scrimmage.
To compensate, the Frogs will likely stack the box with extra defenders in an effort to stop the run and hope that their stud corners can hold up in man coverage. It’s a fine idea, but Michigan’s receivers are certainly capable of making the strategy backfire. The Frogs’ offense may keep the score close for a while, but it’ll be tough to do so for a full 60 minutes. - John
Under 58.5 (-110 via DraftKings)
Michigan and TCU combine to allow fewer than 40 points per game with the Wolverines boasting a top-five scoring defense in the nation. Offensively, both sides rely on strong run games to dominate the time of possession, while simultaneously limiting big plays defensively. Michigan runs one of the most deliberate offensive paces in college football at 29.6 seconds per play (123rd in FBS). - Schaeffer
Check out our TCU vs. Michigan SGP picks!
College Football Playoff Expert Picks: Ohio State vs. Georgia
When: Saturday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
How to watch: ESPN
Check out our best Peach Bowl odds.
| Philip Wood | Henry John | Brenden Schaeffer | |
| Pick | Ohio State ML | Over 62 | Ohio State +6.5 |
| Best odds | +225 | -115 | -105 |
| Best sportsbook | DraftKings | PointsBet | BetMGM |
Ohio State ML (+225 via DraftKings)
The Buckeyes have had to sit with their loss to Michigan for over a month, and now they get to take on the defending national champions. The Bulldogs have shut down high-powered offenses this season, and they are allowing just 12.8 points per game, but the Buckeyes have scored at least 20 points in every game. The Bulldogs, even with their great defense, are going to have a hard time keeping up on Saturday evening. - Wood
Check out our Ohio State vs. Georgia SGP picks!
Ohio State-Georgia Over 62 (-115 via PointsBet)
If the Buckeyes are going to have a shot at springing the upset, their star-studded receiving corps will need to show out. So long as quarterback CJ Stroud is afforded time in the pocket, there’s no doubt that Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka will impact this game.
Meanwhile, Georgia deploys a similar offensive style to the Michigan team that bullied Ohio State last month. Contrary to previous years, the Bulldogs have a passing attack that is capable of not only complementing the run but also taking games over. QB Stetson Bennett’s ability to make adjustments on the fly can turn broken plays into positive gains. - John
Ohio State +6.5 (-105 via BetMGM)
In strangely close games against Kent State, Missouri, and Kentucky, Georgia showed vulnerabilities this year. The winning DNA for this team is undeniable, but I'd make the case that Ohio State actually has more firepower offensively.
The Buckeyes didn't show that in their one big test against Michigan, but as the top-ranked team in FPI's offensive efficiency, the metrics still suggest they're capable. Georgia probably wins the game, but the Buckeyes have the horses to keep it close. - Schaeffer
Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:
- FanDuel: Get a $1,000 No-Sweat Free Bet | Read our FanDuel Review
- Caesars: Earn a Free Bet of Up to $1,250 | Read our Caesars Review
- DraftKings: Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,000 | Read our DraftKings Review
- PointsBet: Earn Five Free Bets of Up to $100 Each | Read our PointsBet Review
- BetMGM: Get a Free Bet of Up to $1,000 | Read our BetMGM Review
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Related Pages
Related Articles
