Best NCAAF Prop Bets: College Football Playoff First Round

• The CFP begins on Friday, with Notre Dame and Indiana 

• The other three first-round games will be played on Saturday

• The headlining game is Ohio State vs Tennessee from Columbus 

The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff begins on Friday. Indiana will travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame. 

There are plenty of unknowns in the College Football Playoff, but all our questions will be answered soon. The biggest game of the weekend is on Saturday night when Ohio State hosts Tennessee. 

The spread in each first-round game is set at a touchdown or greater. Because of the large spreads, we are leaning toward the prop markets, and we have picked a few plays for the slate. 

We’re placing our on FanDuel Sportsbook. New customers who place a $5 bet can get $150 in bonus bets if their wager hits. FanDuel also has plenty of promotions for the College Football Playoff, so register today through our custom FanDuel sign-up link.

Drew Allar Under 224.5 Passing Yards (-114) at FanDuel

Penn State will host SMU on Saturday afternoon. Many people didn’t believe SMU should have made the College Football Playoff, but a close loss in the ACC Championship salvaged their position and kept Alabama in Tuscaloosa. 

SMU was matched up with Penn State in the first round, and they now have to travel to Happy Valley. While the Mustangs have put together an impressive season, their strength of schedule is horrendous. 

SMU had a strong season because they played one of the country’s most manageable schedules. Penn State can expose SMU in every aspect of the game, including the air. 

Drew Allar announced he is returning to Penn State next season. He had a fantastic 2024 campaign and has thrown for 2,894 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions this season. 

He had the 10th-best QBR in the country this season. While Allar can throw for many yards in this game, we’re taking the under of 224.5 passing yards. Penn State shouldn’t have to throw the ball much to win this contest. 

Penn State’s physicality should allow them to dominate on offense and run the ball. The Nittany Lions have an elite rushing attack and should use it throughout the game. 

If Penn State runs the ball effectively, Allar’s passing yards will be limited, and the Nittany Lions will coast to the semifinal.

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Will Howard Over 234.5 Passing Yards (-114) at FanDuel

Caesars has Will Howard’s passing yards prop at 240.5. We got the prop at 234.5 on FanDuel, so it’s critical to line shop to get the best odds. 

The Ohio State Buckeyes must make a statement, and they don’t have an easy task against Tennessee. The Volunteers could be the most formidable opponent of any team in the first round. 

Tennessee played in the SEC, and this was the conference of champions in 2024. No team in the first round has played a more demanding schedule than the Volunteers, which is an advantage heading into a hostile crowd. 

While Ohio State has a chip on its shoulder after losing to Michigan, we have fears about Ohio State. Tennessee should score plenty of points in this game if they can hit their big passing shots down the field. 

Howard will be under much pressure to throw if the Volunteers click on offense. Tennessee has an elite defense, but Howard can hit this line on bulk alone. 

Howard has thrown for 2,860 yards with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He had the seventh-best QBR in the country.

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Quinn Ewers Under 263.5 Passing Yards (-114) at FanDuel

Quinn Ewers is on his way out at Texas. The Longhorns are ready for a change at quarterback, with Arch Manning waiting in the wings. 

Manning is the future, and many believe he would be a better option than Ewers. Texas is being picked to win the National Championship, but they have a tough first-round draw. 

Clemson has underperformed this season, and they have an elite passing attack with Cade Klubnik. If Klubnik gets hot, he should have chances to create explosive plays. 

This will force Ewers to do his best to answer, but he can’t do so in our minds. We believe Ewers will sail under 263.5 passing yards whether Texas controls the line of scrimmage or this becomes a shootout. 

Dabo Swinney is one of two active college football coaches who have won a National Championship, so he should have a strategy for eliminating Ewers.

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