Boise State’s path toward the College Football Playoff cleared considerably following a weekend of upsets across the national rankings. DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Broncos at +148 to reach the 12-team playoff entering last week, sitting just ahead of James Madison at +190. That margin shifted sharply after the Dukes suffered an overtime road loss at Appalachian State while Boise State secured a 31-10 road victory over Washington State.
As of Wednesday morning, No. 20 Boise State stands at 6-1 overall and 3-0 in Pac-12 play, with betting odds tightening to +105 to make its second playoff appearance in three seasons. The Broncos hold the 12th-best odds nationally to reach the CFP, positioning them as the frontrunner for the automatic bid reserved for the highest-ranked Group of Six team in the final rankings.
National Projections and the Race for the Automatic Bid
National writers tracking the postseason picture have increasingly slotted Boise State into the 12-team field. ESPN analysts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach both project the Broncos to secure the Group of Six automatic berth, with Bonagura slating them to face Georgia and Schlabach projecting a matchup against UCLA. Additional projections from On3’s Brett McMurphy, Sports Illustrated’s Bryan Fischer, and CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford similarly place the Broncos in the playoff field against Utah, LSU, and UCLA, respectively. Athlon Sports analyst Steven Lassan projects Boise State to match up against Indiana.
Behind the Broncos, the Mountain West favorite New Mexico sits at +250 among Group of Six contenders. UTSA follows at +600, while Oregon State holds odds of +750. James Madison dropped significantly to +1100 following the road defeat.
Boise State and Oregon State Prepare for Key Matchups
The race for postseason positioning remains fluid with several high-stakes contests ahead. Boise State returns home to host Texas State (4-3, 2-1) at 8 p.m. Mountain time on Saturday at Albertsons Stadium.
Meanwhile, Oregon State (5-2, 3-0) travels to face Fresno State (4-3, 1-2) this weekend. Boise State and Oregon State will face off on Nov. 14.
| Team | Record | Conference Record | CFP Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 20 Boise State | 6-1 | 3-0 | +105 |
| New Mexico | — | — | +250 |
| UTSA | — | — | +600 |
| Oregon State | 5-2 | 3-0 | +750 |
| James Madison | — | — | +1100 |
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. Anyone seeking help with a gambling problem can contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
