I usually completely ignore all the bowl games, because it doesn’t work with a weekly pick format. I have enjoyed the College Football Playoff and it works with what I do.
We have some fun match-ups in FBS conference championship games. I personally can’t wait to watch Indiana and Ohio State face off in Indianapolis. I grew up in Indiana and spent nearly a decade in Columbus, Ohio.
Can either of these non-Power Four teams upset their opponent in the first round?
We at ‘America’s White Boy’ pick every college football game in the first round of the College Football Playoff the 2025-26 NCAA Football season (December 19th & 20th, 2025).
Alabama Crimson Tide at Oklahoma Sooners (-1.5) – My pick is Oklahoma Sooners -1.5
The Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3, 7-4-2 ATS) are coming off a 28-7 loss in the SEC Championship game against Georgia, and lost against the +1 spread.
The Oklahoma Sooners (10-2, 6-5-1 ATS) are coming off a 17-13 home win against LSU way back in late-November.
These teams met about a month ago, and the Sooners won at Alabama 23-21. I was impressed with Alabama QB Ty Simpson midseason, but he really hit a wall in the final month of the season. The Sooners will need QB John Mateer to be smart with the ball, and be able to run the ball as his go-to weapon. He hasn’t thrown the ball well since injuring it early this season. I think this game will be close, but I’m taking the Sooners to cover.
Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Texas A&M Aggies (-3.5) – My pick is Miami Hurricanes +3.5
The Miami Hurricanes (10-2, 7-5 ATS) are coming off a 38-7 road win over Pitt, way back in late-November.
The Texas A&M Aggies (11-1, 5-7 ATS) are coming off a 27-17 loss against Texas, way back in late-November.
Miami has enough talent to make a run in this tournament. They come in with a chip on their shoulder. Many thought Notre Dame was playing better, even though Miami beat them in their season opener. I think the Hurricanes are better than the Aggies, so I’m taking the points.
Tulane Green Wave at Mississippi Rebels (-17.5) – My pick is Ole Miss Rebels -17.5
The Tulane Green Wave (11-2, 7-6 ATS) are coming off a 34-21 win against North Texas in the American Athletic Conference Championship game, which was a win against the +1 spread.
The Ole Miss Rebels (11-1, 7-4-1 ATS) are coming off a 38-19 win against Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl rivalry game, and covered the -7 spread.
Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall will coach them in the CFP, even though he took the Florida coaching job earlier this month. I think this could be the most lopsided outcome in the first round of the College Football Playoff. I really like Ole Miss, who will not have Lane Kiffin as head coach, as he took the LSU job a day after beating Mississippi State. I still think Ole Miss has a lot of motivation to show that they are title contenders. I’m taking Ole Miss to cover in this one.
James Madison Dukes vs Oregon Ducks (-20.5) – My pick is James Madison Dukes +20.5
The James Madison Dukes (12-1, 8-5 ATS) are coming off a 31-14 win over Troy in the Sun Belt Conference Championship game, and covered the -24.5 spread.
The Oregon Ducks (11-1, 7-4-1 ATS) are coming off a 26-14 road win against Washington back back in late-November.
I hope one of these smaller schools perform well and shut up all the hate from fans of the Power Four conferences. James Madison will have Bob Chesney coaching for them in the CFP, even though he took the UCLA job earlier this month. This year’s Oregon team might be the least-talented squad they’ve had in a few years. The Ducks are still very good, but I think this line is a tad bloated. I’m taking the points in this game.
Sweetbob’s college football picks against the spread record in previous seasons:
2013: 134-79-8
2014: 148-118-4
2015: 149-118-3
2016: 196-145-6
2017: 183-159-13
2018: 177-157-6
2019: 187-141-8
2020: 170-160-5
2021: 167-151-8
2022: 185-150-5
2023: 155-144-10
2024: 183-164-11
2025: 177-154-4
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About the Author…
Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks, Guyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on X at @Sweetbob