College football playoff odds, picks, bets

The betting market already accounts for every single piece of information. It is almost impossible to have a bet angle that is not already known. The only difference is how much a player weighs a particular nugget or story.

For me, the point spread result in Wednesday’s CFP Quarterfinals/Peach Bowl will be decided by Arizona State coach Ken Dillingham, who agreed to a five-year contract extension late Tuesday night. I am confident that the sports world will eventually label him an “offensive genius.” I’ve read two books on Bill Belichick, and while that’s high praise, Dillingham reminds me of the legendary coach.

The question is whether the 34-year-old has the skills to deliver right now with the Sun Devils as 12.5 point underdogs to Texas.

The media has mostly focused on the history of Dillingham’s hometown. He grew up in Scottsdale and attended ASU games his entire life as his family was religiously aligned. He then attended ASU and eventually landed his dream job coaching his beloved Sun Devils.

While that’s certainly a cool backstory, I’m more impressed with his career path and commitment. The guy tore his ACL during his senior year of high school and used it as an opportunity to coach the junior varsity team.

That passion continued as an ASU student who served as the offensive coordinator at powerhouse Chaparral High School and captured a state championship. Instead of embracing a well-documented party scene, the college kid dissected video.

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It allowed him to strengthen his contacts with college coaches, who eagerly pursued him for their own staffs. After graduation, Dillingham quickly found himself in the SEC, coaching — and thriving — before serving as Oregon’s offensive coordinator.

At age 32, Dillingham took over an ASU program that finished 1-9, but now has it in the playoffs two years later with an 11-2 record, despite a freshman quarterback. He also has a stud in running back Cam Skattebo, who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Bet on college football?

The Sun Devils last played on December 7th. With over three weeks to scout Texas, Dillingham should have the antidote to the Longhorns’ stout defense. Honestly, Clemson found plenty of vulnerabilities in its first round loss, so I definitely believe Dillingham can put together a strong game plan.

I’ll take ASU +12.5, but my favorite play is the team total over 18.5 points. Skattebo is a different animal. Add that weapon to Dillingham’s brain, and I think ASU has a potent combination that the betting market has yet to accurately assess.

Why Trust New York Post Bets

Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who currently serves as Chief Content Officer for Only Players, a sports betting media company. Doug has over two decades of experience in the betting industry, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare individual with a proven track record of success – 14th place in the 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37,000), two top-10 finishes in the 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58,000) and also grabbed headlines with a $297,000 victory at the 2021 NFL Draft.