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Oddsmakers work tirelessly to adjust to where the public is betting their money, and odds will fluctuate throughout the week as we get closer and closer to game time. Whether it’s injuries, coaching decisions or simply a large volume of the handle going on a particular side, line movement is a significant part of the sports betting game. Especially in football with games spread so far apart, there can be big swings in the point spread, creating tremendous value for those who got in early or are waiting to get the best possible number.
We look at how the line swing for the College Football Playoff Title game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Ohio State from the moment the opening lines came out to where the spread stands now.
CFP Championship: Alabama vs. Ohio State
Opening line: Alabama -6.5
Current line: Alabama -9
The betting public is backing the Tide, with 55 percent of handle and 53 percent of bets on the point spread over the past ten days. However, that’s not what has moved this line. The Buckeyes are dealing with a host of health issues, most notably their quarterback Justin Fields. DraftKings Sportsbook oddsmaker Johnny Avello noted how Fields said last week that “I’ll be good by Monday night” with his rib injury and that suggests he was not good at the time the question was asked.
Additionally, many of the health issues are with many of them related to COVID-19. College teams do not have to provide specific information like we see in the NFL, so we are left to wait until closer to game time for reports on who will or won’t play. In the meantime, speculation will continue to rule the day.
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