The state of Ohio impressed oddsmen with its upset over Clemson, but the Buckeyes are still listed as subjects for Alabama for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on January 11th.
The Crimson Tide is unanimously 7-point favorite over the Buckeyes in the national title game (20:00 ET, ESPN).
Before the semifinals of the playoffs, Caesars Sportsbook named by William Hill Alabama as an 11-point favorite over the Buckeyes in a lead on a possible game. But after Ohio State ousted Clemson 49-28 in the Sugar Bowl, sports books posted Alabama as a 7-point favorite against the Buckeyes.
The line followed up late Friday night to Crimson Tide -7.5, but has been sitting at -7 at almost every sports book since Saturday morning.
The Crimson Tide also won comfortably in their semifinals, beating Notre Dame 31-14 in the Rose Bowl. Alabama has benefited in 79 consecutive games and 151 of its last 152 overall entry to the championship.
The over / under total for the championship game is 76, which is the highest total for a championship game in the BCS and College Football Playoff eras.
The semifinals were a blessing in disguise for most sports books, with both backlogs – Notre Dame (+19) and Ohio State (+7) – covering the spread. The majority of the betting public voted strongly for Alabama and Clemson.
However, one bettor in Indiana won the Buckeyes big. FanDuel reported that he took a $ 1.3 million bet on Ohio State +7.5 from a bettor who identified the sportsbook only as ‘The Indiana Man’.