The College Football Playoff quarterfinals kick off this week, and New Year's Day is absolutely stacked with games that matter.

Four games. Four classic bowl venues. Eight teams chasing a national championship. This is what the expanded playoff was built for, and the betting lines are already moving.

The Quick Hit

• What's happening: CFP Quarterfinals on December 31st and January 1st
• The venues: Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl
• The stakes: Winners advance to semifinals on January 8-9
• The championship: January 19th in Miami

The Full Quarterfinal Slate

Cotton Bowl — December 31st

Matchup TBD based on bracket

The Cotton Bowl in Arlington kicks off the quarterfinal round on New Year's Eve. This is Jerry World, 80,000 screaming fans, and the kind of atmosphere that decides games.

Orange Bowl — January 1st (Noon ET)

Texas Tech vs. Oregon

The Red Raiders earned their spot by running the gauntlet of the Big 12, and now they face an Oregon team that has been dominant all season. The Ducks were the Pac-12's final champion before the conference collapsed, and they're playing like a team with something to prove.

Early line movement: Oregon opened as favorites, but Texas Tech has covered in five straight. The Red Raiders play a physical brand of football that causes problems for finesse teams.

Rose Bowl — January 1st (4 PM ET)

Alabama vs. Indiana

The Granddaddy of Them All gets a CFP quarterfinal this year, and it's a fascinating matchup.

Indiana is the #1 seed and the biggest surprise of the 2025 season. Curt Cignetti took a program that had won nothing and turned them into a playoff contender in one year. They had a bye in the first round and are rested for their first playoff game.

Alabama is Alabama. They beat Oklahoma 34-24 in the first round and looked like the crimson machine we've seen for two decades. Kalen DeBoer has this team clicking at the right time.

The line: Indiana opened as slim favorites, which tells you everything about how the market views this matchup. The Hoosiers have been doubted all year. They keep winning anyway.

Sugar Bowl — January 1st (8 PM ET)

Ole Miss vs. Georgia

The Rebels and Bulldogs in New Orleans for a playoff game. SEC chaos at its finest.

Ole Miss demolished Tulane 41-10 in the first round, looking every bit like a team capable of winning it all. Lane Kiffin has this program humming.

Georgia is Georgia. The Bulldogs have won two of the last four national titles and Kirby Smart knows how to win in January. They got a bye as the #3 seed and will be ready for war.

The line: This is a pick'em in early markets. Both teams have elite offenses. Both teams can play defense when it matters. This might be the best game of the quarterfinal round.

Betting Themes to Watch

1. First-Round Performance Matters

Teams that looked sharp in Round 1 tend to carry that momentum forward. Alabama's offense was clicking against Oklahoma. Ole Miss looked unstoppable against Tulane. Fade teams that struggled in the first round.

2. The Bye Week Advantage

Indiana and Georgia both had byes while their opponents played. Extra rest typically helps, but it can also lead to rust. Watch the early drives of Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl closely.

3. Conference Familiarity

Ole Miss and Georgia know each other intimately from SEC play. There are no surprises in that matchup. But Indiana vs. Alabama is a culture clash — Big Ten grinding against SEC speed.

4. Weather and Venue

The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl are outdoor venues in January. The Orange Bowl is in Miami (nice). The Cotton Bowl is a dome. Weather shouldn't be a major factor, but check conditions before kickoff.

The Sharps' Early Leans

Here's where early money is going:

• Oregon is getting action in the Orange Bowl. Texas Tech is a fun story, but the Ducks have the talent edge.
• Alabama is getting contrarian money against Indiana. The "they haven't played anyone" narrative is alive and well.
• Georgia/Ole Miss under is a popular play. Both defenses are underrated, and neither team will want to take risks.
• Rose Bowl totals are volatile as the market tries to figure out if Indiana's offense is real.

The Bottom Line

New Year's Day is loaded. Four playoff games across three time slots, with the semifinals and national championship on the line.

Indiana is trying to prove the doubters wrong one more time. Alabama is trying to remind everyone that tradition matters. Georgia is trying to three-peat. Ole Miss is trying to break through.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has a betting line. And by January 2nd, half of these teams will be done.

Get your action in early. These lines are moving fast, and the quarterfinals are shaping up to be the best day of bowl season.