Last week, in advance of the first round of the expanded College Football Playoff we wrote about who bettors in Florida were taking both in the first round, and for the National Championship. Now, with the first round in the books, new and interesting trends are developing — and not just with Florida bettors but with Hard Rock Bet customers throughout the country.
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What a difference a game makes
Heading in to the first round of the CFP Playoff the Ohio State Buckeyes were the 8th most-bet team to win the National Championship, and their first round opponent, the Tennessee Volunteers, were the most-bet underdog during the tournament’s first round on Hard Rock Bet… and could you blame them? Last we saw Ohio State they were closing out their regular season with an embarrassing 13-10 home loss to unranked Michigan.
Well, not anymore. The Buckeyes dismantled Tennessee at The Horseshoe opening a 21-0 first quarter lead and cruising to a comfortable 42-17 win… and the bettors were watching.
On the eve of the CFP Quarterfinals the Buckeyes are now the most-bet team to win the National Championship on Hard Rock Bet. That’s right, since the conclusion of the CFP’s first round, Ohio State has garnered 22% of National Championship futures bets, narrowly edging out their Rose Bowl opponent, Oregon (21.5%). Interestingly, in head-to-head wagering, a whopping 72% of bets are on the Ducks to win over the favored Buckeyes. Remember, Oregon took down Ohio State back on Oct. 12 in Eugene by a score of 32-31.
While Ohio State and Oregon are soaring in the futures markets, the third remaining Big Ten team is bringing up the rear. Just 4% of National Championship bettors since the CFP First Round are taking Penn State despite a strong showing against SMU.
Bet on the CFP from 8 states
Hard Rock Bet is accepting bets on the College Football Playoff from eight different states. Make wagers today from: Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in FL. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC, in all other states. Must be 21 and physically present in AZ, FL, IL, IN, NJ, OH, TN or VA to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling? In FL, call 1‑888‑ADMIT‑IT. In AZ, call 1‑800‑NEXT‑STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342. In IN, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1‑800‑9‑WITH‑IT. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1‑800‑GAMBLER (IL, NJ, OH, TN, VA)
