Multiple sportsbooks reported betting on Ohio from professional bettors on Friday, with the line moving from -6.5 to -6 in Georgia across betting markets. On Saturday morning the line dropped to Georgia -5.5.
In another CFP semifinal, Michigan held as the 7.5-point favorite over TCU.
The game between Ohio State and Georgia was drawing double the stakes for TCU Michigan at Caesars Sportsbook. The line started as high as Georgia -7 when the matchup was announced in early December, but quickly dropped to -6.5 and continued through Friday.
Early betting action was skewed against the undefeated Bulldogs, who had amassed over 80% of Caesars Sportsbook’s point spread bets as of Saturday morning.
The Buckeyes’ sharp action, including a $55,000 bet at Caesars Sportsbook, was respected enough to move the line, even though the bulk of the betting was on Georgia.
“There’s a perceived value in Ohio,” Joey Feisel, chief college football trader at Caesars Sportsbook, told ESPN. “Sharp seemed to be waiting to see if the line returned to his 7 and when it didn’t he started taking 6.5 seconds.”
Fiesel said the sportsbook still needs Ohio State “big,” noting that the majority of the action takes place on game days in Georgia.
“In a normal college football game, half a point isn’t that big of a deal.