Expanded college football playoff field provides more opportunities for bettors

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Missouri and Tennessee typically aren't confused for Georgia and Ohio State when it comes to college football's powers.

Those teams still might not be, but they're more in the conversation thanks to the expansion of the College Football Playoff field from four to 12 teams. That has given hope to more teams to be in the running for the national championship.

Jay Kornegay, Westgate executive vice president for race and sports operations, said such schools are attracting noticeable attention as bettors search for value wagers.

“If it was just a four-team playoff, you would just see your usual suspects getting most of the attention and at cheap prices,” Kornegay said. “Now because of the expanded playoffs, some of these other teams have a chance to make the playoffs and possibly make a run. I know that the cream of the crop usually rises in these things, but you never know in a single game what can happen.”