College football odds, picks, predictions for 2025 CFP: Model likes Over in Orange Bowl playoff semifinal

The 2024-25 college football bowl schedule began on Dec. 14 and continues with the College Football Playoff semifinals this week and the title game on Jan. 20. This year’s bowl schedule features the inaugural 12-team CFP bracket, with the CFP quarterfinals now complete. For the semifinals, No. 5 seed Texas will take on No. 8 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, while the Orange Bowl will host No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame. The latest College Football Playoff odds list Ohio State at -5.5 and Notre Dame at -1.5 in those matchups.

The winner of those games will meet in the College Football Playoff title game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta. Which teams should you back with your College Football Playoff bets? Before locking in any college football bowl or CFP picks, be sure to see the latest college football predictions from SportsLine’s proven model.

The model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a betting profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college spread football picks. It went 43-36 on top-rated college football picks in the 2024 season, and was a profitable 27-16 combined on money-line and over/under picks. It also called seven of the eight outright winners in the College Football Playoff bracket thus far. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen impressive returns.

Now, it has turned its attention to the latest college football odds and college football betting lines for the 2025 CFP. Head here to see every pick.

Top college football predictions for CFP semifinals

One of the college picks the model is high on during bowl season: It is going Over 45.5 in the Orange Bowl between Notre Dame and Penn State on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET. While both teams might be known for their strong defenses and rushing attacks, they have been piling up points at a high rate as well.

Notre Dame has scored at least 23 points in every game since its loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2 of the regular season, going over the 30-point mark on nine occasions. Veteran quarterback Riley Leonard has 2,383 passing yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 831 yards and 15 more scores. Running back Jeremiyah Love has added 1,076 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, giving the Fighting Irish a balanced attack that will be difficult for Penn State to slow down.

On the other side of the ball, Penn State scored a combined 69 points in its wins over SMU and Boise State to open the College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lions have scored at least 26 points in seven consecutive games, and they have gone Over the total in four of their last six games. Notre Dame has hit the Over in 13 of its last 20 games dating back to last season, and the model has the Over cashing in well over 50% of simulations. See the rest of its college football picks for bowl season here.

How to make college football picks for CFP semifinals

The model has also made the call on who wins and covers in the other College Football Playoff semifinal game between Ohio State and Texas. You can only get every pick for every game at SportsLine.

So what college football picks can you make with confidence? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams win and cover the spread, all from a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit since its inception, and find out.