College Football Playoffs: Round 3 Betting Preview

It’s not just a big weekend for NFL playoffs this week, but football fans have a lot to look forward to from the college game. Just four teams remain in the College Football Playoffs with the winners meeting in the championship game on Jan. 19 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

Those who enjoy some college football betting will have two interesting matchups to check out and the action kicks off on Thursday with the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes battling the sixth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels.

Friday then brings the No. 5 Oregon Ducks taking on the No. 1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers. Here’s a look at each matchup with odds courtesy of FanDuel.

Miami Hurricanes vs. Ole Miss Rebels

• Date and time: Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
• Location: Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona)
• Betting favorite: Miami -3.5
• Over/Under: 52.5
• Key players for Miami: QB Carson Beck, RB Mark Fletcher Jr., DE Rueben Bain Jr. (ACC Defensive Player of the Year)
• Key players for Ole Miss: QB Trinidad Chambliss, RB Kewan Lacy, S WydettWilliams Jr.

Oregon Ducks vs. Indiana Hoosiers

• Date and time: Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
• Location: Peach Bowl (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Betting favorite: Indiana -3.5
• Over/Under: 47.5
• Key players for Oregon: QB Dante Moore, WR Jamari Johnson, DE Matayo Uiagalelei
• Key players for Indiana: QB Fernando Mendoza, RB Kaelon Mack, DB Davan Boykin

How They Got Here

The Hurricanes enter the matchup after knocking off Ohio State 24-14. The stout Miami defense shut out the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes in the first half. Ole Miss staged a massive rally in the second half against No. 3-ranked Georgia for a 39-34 victory. Chambliss threw for 362 with 2 touchdown passes.

After a dominating season, the Hoosiers rolled over Alabama 38-3. Mendoza chalked up 192 yards passing with 3 TDs while Mack came up just short of 100 yards rushing. The Ducks shut out Texas Tech 23-0 and allowed the Red Raiders just 215 yards of offense, intercepted two passes, and recorded four sacks.