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Betting interest wanes as 1st round of College Football Playoff lacks excitement
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James Madison team celebrates after winning the Sun Belt championship NCAA college football game against Troy, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Harrisonburg, Va. - photo by AP Photo/Robert Simmons
LAS VEGAS (AP) — With the notable exception of Friday night's Alabama-Oklahoma showdown, bettors aren't exactly rushing to place wagers on the opening week of this season's College Football Playoff. The presence of two Group of Five representatives — 11th-seeded Tulane and 12th-seed James Madison — in matchups in which they are considerable underdogs has taken a lot of the luster off the first round. Sixth-seeded Mississippi is favored by 17 1/2 points at BetMGM Sportsbook over Tulane, and No.