Texas football opens as 4.5-point favorite vs. Washington in CFP semifinal

After knocking off the No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowboys in decisive fashion in the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, on Dec. 2, Texas football made the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. The selection committee announced on Dec. 3 (selection Sunday) that the three-seed Texas will face the two-seed Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1.

This is a monumental accomplishment for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns after they already reached one of their goals this season by winning the Big 12 Championship. Texas (12-1, 8-1 Big 12) reached double-digit wins before the postseason and won the Big 12 title for the first time since the 2009 season.

Washington (13-0, 9-0 PAC-12) reached the College Football Playoff after downing the No. 5 Oregon Ducks in the PAC-12 title game on Dec. 1 by a score of 34-31. Head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Huskies were one of two undefeated Power Five conference champions to get into the College Football Playoff.

For the first time since the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014, we had an undefeated Power Five conference champion get left out of the four-team field. The No. 5 Florida State Seminoles were left out of the Playoff, despite going undefeated and winning the ACC title over the No. 14 Louisville Cardinals on Dec. 2.

Texas and Washington, meanwhile, will get a postseason rematch after these two teams met in the Alamo Bowl last season. Washington downed the Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl last year, while Texas was without star running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson (among other early entrants for the NFL Draft).

Here’s a look at the opening betting odds as No. 3 Texas faces No. 2 Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA, on Jan. 1, with the kickoff time set for 7:45 p.m. CT.

Texas football vs. Washington: Opening odds for College Football Playoff semifinals at the Sugar Bowl

Texas opens as a 4.5-point favorite over Washington in the CFP semifinal at the Sugar Bowl (per FanDuel). The over/under opens up at 63.5 points.

In the final College Football Power Index before the postseason, Texas ranks No. 7 and Washington is No. 13.

Texas is 7-5-1 against the spread this season. The Longhorns easily covered the -14.5 spread pre-game against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game this weekend. Texas has covered the spread in three straight games.

Washington is 6-6-1 against the spread this season. The Huskies covered the +10 spread pre-game against Oregon in the PAC-12 title game on Dec. 1. Washington has covered the spread in two of its last three contests.