12-team College Football Playoff first round: how to watch, odds, predictions

Game time, TV channel, point spread, and predictions for the first round of the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) hands the ball off to running back Jeremiyah Love (4) during a NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) hands the ball off to running back Jeremiyah Love (4) during a NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It's finally here. The first ever edition of the 12-team College Football Playoff starts this weekend. First round action starts on Friday night with in-state clash between a breakout Indiana squad and a hot Notre Dame team.

Then on Saturday, we have a full day of playoff games. SMU reached the playoff in their first ACC season and now goes on the road to face a Penn State program that's finally looking for a breakthrough. Clemson takes on Texas in Austin as both teams look to return to college football's mountaintop. And Tennessee is finally back in title contention against an on-edge Ohio State squad.

It should be an incredible slate of games, as fans of the FBS get their first taste of on-campus playoff football. Here's how you can watch all the action...

10 Indiana Hoosiers (11-1) at 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1)

Game Time: Friday 7:00 PM CT

TV Channel: ABC/ESPN

Where: Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

Point Spread: Notre Dame -7, Over/Under 50 (DraftKings as of Friday evening)

Prediction: This will be a grind, but we've seen what happens to the IU offense against powerful defenses. Notre Dame wins

11 SMU Mustangs (11-2) at 6 Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2)

Game Time: Saturday 11:00 AM CT

TV Channel: TNT/Max

Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA

Point Spread: Penn State -9, Over/Under 53 (DraftKings as of Friday evening)

Prediction: The Nittany Lions will have just enough answers to get the win at home. Penn State wins

12 Clemson Tigers (10-3) at 5 Texas Longhorns (11-2)

Game Time: Saturday 3:00 PM CT

TV Channel: TNT/Max

Where: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX

Point Spread: Texas -12.5, Over/Under 50.5 (DraftKings as of Friday evening)

Prediction: The Longhorn offense has had some issues lately, but the Clemson offense is going to have a hard time moving the ball at all in this one. Texas wins

9 Tennessee Volunteers (10-2) at 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2)

Game Time: Saturday 7:00 PM CT

TV Channel: ABC/ESPN

Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

Point Spread: Ohio State -7.5, Over/Under 46 (DraftKings as of Friday evening)

Prediction: Both defensive lines will dominate, but the Buckeye wideouts make enough plays to get the win. Ohio State wins