Best Bets: Playoffs Round 1

Dec 19, 2024 | Uncategorized

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Tennessee v Vanderbilt
Nico Iamaleava is going to cover the spread in the ‘shoe. | Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

Best Bets carries on through the beginning of bowl szn!

Every week, Rock M Nation will post the SEC betting lines for that week’s slate of games. DISCLAIMER: Rock M Nation is not an online gambling operator, nor a gambling site of any kind. We are simply here to provide information about sports betting for entertainment purposes only. None of the staff will be using this information for gambling purposes and are not liable for any losses incurred due to the analysis contained within.

Well, the postseason isn’t off to an amazing start thanks to Navy suddenly deciding to learn how to offense and killing my U39 pick last week. Memphis rescued the week for us in the Frisco Bowl in what turned out to be a really fun shootout. On the week we went 1-2 to drop us to 29-21 (48-45-2 overall) but I’m feeling really good about this week’s picks, particularly a couple of the first round playoff games. Let’s get to it!


Best Bets

Playoffs Round 1: Indiana @ Notre Dame (-7.5)

If there is one team I am least interested in watching in the 12-team playoffs, it’s definitely Indiana. Did they earn a bid? Probably. Going 11-1 in the Big 10 should get you in, even if you don’t beat anybody good while doing so. Even if they are deserving, they also are the team that least tickles my fancy and that is in large part due to the fact that I think they are going to get rolled by Notre Dame. The Irish have been a juggernaut since their early-season loss to Northern Illinois and I think this one won’t be pretty.

Playoffs Round 1: Tennessee (+7.5) @ Ohio State

Alternatively to the first game, this is by far the most compelling match up of the playoffs. I’m not sure who is going to win this game. If you forced me to pick, I’d take Ohio State on the moneyline. But you aren’t forcing me, so I’m not gonna do it. Instead, I am going to take the 7.5 points Tennessee is getting because their defense is good enough to keep this game very close, regardless of who ultimately wins.

Art of Sport LA Bowl: California vs. UNLV (-1)

This one isn’t a playoff game, but it’s an intriguing line nonetheless. Bowl games are hard enough to pick as it is, but especially when players leave via the transfer portal. While UNLV is losing Barry Odom, Cal has had more significant transfer portal losses, particularly their quarterback Francisco Mendoza. Because UNLV was the better team all year and are losing less off the roster for this game, I’m going to take the Rebels.

Worth a look:

Playoffs Round 1: Clemson +12 @ Texas

I do think Texas will win this game in Austin, but 12 points is a pretty big spread for a Longhorn offense that hasn’t looked amazing in the last six weeks. This is a homecoming for Clemson quarterback and Austin native Cade Klubnik and I expect him to play well and keep the Tigers close for most of the game.

Playoffs Round 1: SMU @ Penn State (-8.5)

I’m not crazy about this line as it feels a little to big for an SMU team that has a great offense. That said, they are playing in a hostile (and cold!) environment for really the first time this year so I can’t tell you they will cover with a straight face. So I’ll grin and bear it and pick the Nittany Lions to win by 10 or so.

StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Ohio (-3.5) vs. Jacksonville State

Ohio is red-hot coming off their MAC championship win (and Best Bets loss alas) while Jacksonsville State just lost their head coach to West Virginia. If this match up occurred a month ago I would take the Gamecocks easily, but the vibes are swinging entirely toward the Bobcats at this point in the season so give me Ohio by at least a touchdown.


That’s all we got for this week. I can’t wait to watch these playoff games! We’ll see you then. All odds are provided by DraftKings. Which SEC teams will you be taking this week against the spread?

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

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