Boise State’s push toward the College Football Playoff picked up real momentum in Week 8, and the betting market noticed.
The Broncos entered last week at +148 at DraftKings Sportsbook to make the CFP, sitting just ahead of James Madison at +190. Then Boise State took care of business with a 31-10 road win over Washington State, while the Dukes were stunned in overtime on the road at Appalachian State. That swing sent Boise State’s number climbing in a hurry.
As of Wednesday morning, No. 20 Boise State is down to +105 to reach the playoff, a sharp rise in its chances to make its second CFP appearance in three seasons.
The Broncos are 6-1 overall and 3-0 in Pac-12 play, and they’ll be back home Saturday night against Texas State. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
Mountain time.
Boise State now owns the 12th-best odds in the country to get to the playoff. Among other Group of Six hopefuls, New Mexico is next at +250, followed by UTSA at +600 and Oregon State at +750. James Madison, meanwhile, slid all the way to +1100 after its loss at Appalachian State.
That matters because the highest-ranked Group of Six team in the final CFP rankings gets an automatic spot in the 12-team field.
Boise State and Oregon State are scheduled to meet at Albertsons Stadium on Nov. 14, while the Beavers, who are 5-2 and 3-0, visit Fresno State this weekend.
For now, Boise State remains the clear favorite to represent the Group of Six in the CFP.
In Other News...
Oregon State Suddenly Has Real Stakes In A CFP Fairness Fight
The reported College Football Playoff expansion has put Oregon State in the middle of a conversation that reaches well beyond the Pac-12s rebuilt future. According to reports, an agreement with ESPN would grow the field, though nothing is official yet, and that alone has coaches and administrators across the sport sizing up what the next version of access could look like. For Oregon State, it is one more reminder that the rules of inclusion in college football are still being written.
JaMarcus Shephard has already framed the issue in terms the Beavers can appreciate: if the playoff is going to change, it should do more than simply create additional openings for the sports biggest power centers. He wants the expansion to improve access for everyone, not just make room for the Big Ten and SEC to collect more of the available spots. Until the plan is finalized, that tension remains at the heart of a fairness fight Oregon State will be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Heads Into Iowa State With A Clear Edge At Quarterback
The quarterback matchup is shaping up as one of the clearer storylines when Oregon State heads to Iowa State, and Drew Mestemaker has given the Beavers a real advantage there. Mestemaker has piled up multiple games with at least 300 passing yards, giving Oregon State a more settled and productive passing game as it prepares for a road test against a Big 12 opponent still trying to find its offensive rhythm.
Jaylen Raynor is expected to be back under center for Iowa State after the Cyclones turned to him again last week, but the broader picture around that offense has been shaky. Sustaining drives has been a problem, and the third-down work has been especially uneven, which makes this a matchup where Oregon State will look to press its edge early and put Raynor in a difficult position to keep up. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has Two Names In A Heisman Race To Watch
Robert Griffin IIIs latest Heisman watch list put Oregon State squarely in the conversation, even if the national spotlight is still shining brightest elsewhere. The former winner and current analyst had Jeremiah Smith at the top of his Week 8 rankings, but the Beavers also showed up twice among his five names, a sign that their season has produced more than just regional attention.
Jesse Legree and Braden Atkinson have both pushed themselves into the broader award picture by carrying major weight for Oregon States offense, with Griffin tying his list to individual production and each players role in the national championship chase. For the Beavers, it is the kind of recognition that can change how the rest of the country sees them, even if the real test is whether either player can keep that momentum going when the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]