Smart bettors are usually looking to fade the public — and to tail sharp money. Although not every sportsbook makes their ticket and handle shares public, some do, and bettors should do their due diligence by digging into those numbers before every bet. Here are the public betting splits and sides for this weekend’s college football action, including the Georgia-Ohio State Peach Bowl.
College Football Public Betting Splits | New Year’s Six
Orange Bowl Public Betting Splits: Sharps on the Under
This year’s Orange Bowl will feature Tennessee and Clemson — but both teams will make a change at quarterback. The Volunteers lost star Hendon Hooker to an ACL tear, and the Tigers lost D.J. Uiagalelei to the transfer portal. They’ll turn to their respective backups, Joe Milton and Cade Klubnik, and the sharps are backing the under.
The total opened at 63 but has been bid down to 60.5. According to VSiN, which indexes bets placed at DraftKings Sportsbook, 62% of the handle has come in on the under on only 40% of the tickets. Pregame reports that 61% of the cash has come in on the under on 41% of the tickets. With 60% of bets placed on the over, betting against both offenses by playing the under is a good way to fade the public in the Orange Bowl.
Tail the Sharps: Tennessee-Clemson Under 60.5 (-110) at DraftKings
Sugar Bowl Public Betting Splits: Public Wants Bama
The Alabama Crimson Tide will get star pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. and quarterback Bryce Young back for this year’s Sugar Bowl. Although the Tide will lose a number of players to the transfer portal this offseason, all are expected to suit up. They’ll face the Big 12 champions, the Kansas State Wildcats, in the Caesars Superdome down in the Big Easy.
Sharps bid Alabama up from the opening line of -2.5 to -6.5 following the news about Anderson and Young. According to VSiN, the Tide have drawn 73% of the handle on 78% of the bets. Pregame reports that the Tide have attracted only 53% of the cash and 78% of the bets. Getting Kansas State at +7 or greater is a solid way to fade late public action.
Bettors looking for another play should check out the total, which still sits at the opening number of 56. VSiN reports that 86% of the handle at DraftKings has come in on the over on only 76% of the bets. Pregame reports 90% of the handle is on the over on 80% of the tickets. While it’s concerning that the books haven’t adjusted the number following that action, bettors eager to tail big money should play the over.
Fade the Public: Kansas State +7 (-110) at DraftKings
Fiesta Bowl Public Betting Splits: Public Loves Michigan
One of this year’s college football playoff semifinals, this year’s Fiesta Bowl features TCU and Michigan. The Wolverines are 7.5-point favorites for Saturday’s action and have drawn plenty of support from the public. Considering the Wolverines are only 1-5 against the spread in bowls under Jim Harbaugh, it’s no surprise to see that big-money bettors haven’t backed Michigan.
According to VSiN, 61% of the bets placed on the Fiesta Bowl spread have come in on the Wolverines. A whopping 84% of the moneyline bets at DraftKings are on Michigan as well, but only 53% of the handle on the spread and 71% of the handle on the moneyline is backing Michigan. Pregame’s numbers agree – they report that 69% of bets are on Michigan but only 40% of the handle.
Fade the Public: TCU +7.5 (-110) at DraftKings
Peach Bowl Public Betting Splits: Ohio State Upset Possible
The other college football playoff semifinal, the Peach Bowl, will see the SEC champion Georgia Bulldogs take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State struggled in its final regular-season game against Michigan and failed to make smart adjustments for a pass-happy Wolverine game plan. Unsurprisingly, big money has come in on Georgia at DraftKings.
According to VSiN, the Bulldogs have attracted 86% of the handle at DraftKings on only 79% of the tickets. However, Pregame lists Georgia as having drawn 63% of the cash on 72% of the tickets. Interestingly, 35% of the handle on the moneyline has come in on Ohio State — and on only 19% of the bets. Backing Georgia to cover a spread that DraftKings hasn’t moved despite big money feels risky, but a small-unit wager on a long Ohio State moneyline could be a sharp play. Bettors yet to register at DraftKings Sportsbooks can turn a $5 moneyline bet into $150 in free bets!
Tail the Sharps: Ohio State Moneyline +200 at DraftKings
Cotton Bowl Public Betting Splits: Public Likes USC
This year’s Cotton Bowl features the best Group of Five program, the Tulane Green Wave, and the Pac-12 runners-up, the USC Trojans. Star quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to play in Monday afternoon’s battle, and the Trojans are narrowly favored for the matchup.
Unsurprisingly, plenty of bettors have backed USC. Pregame reports that 74% of the tickets are on the Trojans, and VSiN reports that 82% of the bets at DraftKings are on them. However, Pregame also reports that only 22% of the handle is on USC. VSiN has that number at 72%, but the trend remains clear — public bettors are all over USC to cover in the Cotton Bowl.
Fade the Public: Tulane +2 (-110) at DraftKings
Rose Bowl Public Betting Splits: No Clear Sharp Play
Although the public betting splits for most other New Year’s Six bowl games point to clear value, the same can’t be said of Monday night’s Rose Bowl. The Utah Utes and Penn State Nittany Lions will meet in the historic matchup, which used to pit the Pac-12 and Big Ten champions against each other, as bowl season comes to a close.
The Utes have drawn 53% of the cash on 58% of the tickets, according to Pregame. They have attracted 62% of the handle on exactly 62% of the bets at DraftKings, per VSiN. Bettors eager to get exposure on Monday night’s game should check out OddsShopper’s other articles and college football betting tools to find an angle.
