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College Football Playoff Anytime Touchdown Scorer Predictions & Odds: Round 1

Gabe Henderson

Last Updated: December 20, 2024 3:34 PM EST • 4 min 27 sec read.

Indiana's Ty Son Lawton celebrates a touchdown as we make our College Football Playoff anytime touchdown scorer picks for Round 1.
Indiana's Ty Son Lawton (17) celebrates a touchdown. Photo by Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff kicks off tonight with Indiana and Notre Dame getting the festivities started from South Bend, Ind., at 8 p.m. ET (ABC). 

Our College Football Playoff anytime touchdown scorer predictions are focused on our favorite TD bets from all four games, while our Rob Paul makes his college bowl game picks for this week including every first-round playoff matchup.

The best college football betting sites list every host as at least a touchdown favorite in the first round. Can our touchdown scorer picks impact those results?

Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker has you covered with the latest opt-out news and the impact on the college bowl game odds. 

College Football Playoff anytime touchdown scorer predictions

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  • Indiana vs. Notre Dame touchdown prediction: Ty Son Lawton anytime touchdown scorer () ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • SMU vs. Penn State touchdown prediction: Kaytron Allen anytime touchdown scorer (-125 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Clemson vs. Texas touchdown prediction: Cade Klubnik anytime touchdown scorer () ⭐⭐
  • Tennessee vs. Ohio State touchdown prediction: Emeka Egbuka (+155 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐

Best Indiana vs. Notre Dame touchdown scorer pick

Ty Son Lawton anytime touchdown scorer ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +120 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 45.45%

Indiana's meteoric rise probably wouldn't have been possible if not for Lawton. The former James Madison running back has been sensational in his lone season with the Hoosiers, scoring 12 touchdowns in as many appearances.

Recently, Lawton found the end zone twice against Ohio State and once against Purdue. He's only failed to score in three games this year. As such, it's surprising to see his name next to plus-money odds at the best sports betting apps against an average Notre Dame rush defense.

BetMGM offers a +120 price on Lawton as an anytime touchdown scorer. A $10 winning wager would return $12 in profits.

We break down this matchup even further in our Indiana vs. Notre Dame prediction.

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Best SMU vs. Penn State touchdown scorer pick

Kaytron Allen anytime touchdown scorer ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -125 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 55.56%

Penn State's Allen and Nick Singleton combine to create one of the best one-two punches of any backfield in the country. Thus, when the latter returned to full fitness following an early-season injury, many expected the former's production to fall off a cliff. Spoiler alert: it has not.

Allen's registered double-digit carries in his last two games. His numbers against Oregon specifically popped off the page as he tallied 14 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. It was the eighth time this season he's found the end zone in 13 total appearances.

James Franklin has shown in recent weeks that he still values Allen as a key piece of the offensive puzzle. Therefore, we feel comfortable backing him to score knowing he'll likely get double-digit touches against SMU.

BetMGM is once again the best place to turn to for our college football picks. The sportsbook lists Allen at -125 to score a touchdown, which gives him a 55.56% implied probability.

Best Clemson vs. Texas touchdown scorer pick

Cade Klubnik anytime touchdown scorer ⭐⭐

Best odds: +290 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 25.64%

If Texas' loaded defense has one weakness, it's defending the run. Clemson averages over 180 yards per game on the ground, so this is a matchup the Tigers will look to exploit.

While Klubnik isn't the most dynamic dual-threat quarterback, he's underrated as a ball-carrier. Klubnik has over 450 yards on the ground, and he's second on the team in rushing scores with seven. Texas has surrendered a touchdown on the ground in over half its games this season, too.

Two opposing quarterbacks have scampered for scores against the Longhorns; can Klubik make it three on Saturday? FanDuel lists him at +290. The flier is worth taking, considering the odds carry an implied probability of 25.64%, and he's finding the end zone at a 38.46% clip this season across 13 starts.

Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams (+220 at BetMGM) also deserves a look, given his odds are inflated after failing to score against SMU in the ACC Championship Game.

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Best Tennessee vs. Ohio State touchdown scorer pick

Emeka Egbuka anytime touchdown scorer ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +155 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 39.22%

This contest in Columbus, Ohio, is perhaps the most interesting first-round matchup that the College Football Playoff has to offer. This is a showdown between two phenomenal teams with offensive-minded head coaches, yet our Rob Paul leans Under in his Tennessee vs. Ohio State early picks.

Many expect the Volunteers' defensive line - which is littered with star talent - to dictate the way the Buckeyes game plan offensively. One of the biggest keys to the game could be the experience within the hosts' ranks, and there's nobody better-suited to step up on the big stage than Egbuka.

The senior will be eager to put on a show in his last outing at The Horseshoe. Despite being second on the team in receiving scores, Egbuka is listed at +155 at BetMGM as an anytime touchdown scorer on Saturday. He's the hot hand in Ohio State's offense with three touchdowns in his last five outings.

We'll back Egbuka to score at plus-money odds and add to his nine touchdowns on the year.

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Written By:
Gabe Henderson
Gabe Henderson is a sports betting writer from Houston, Texas. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication. Gabe developed an interest in sports betting while in college due to its legalization in Louisiana. He turned his passion into a career shortly after, joining The Advocate/NOLA.com as a Sports Betting Content Coordinator, where he spent two years. Gabe wore many hats before graduating as he led FanSided's coverage of Chelsea FC as a Site Expert with "The Pride of London." He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the LSU Gumbo Yearbook for two years. Gabe became a part of the 520ccc.com team in late 2024. He brings with him an extensive knowledge of many sports, including — but not limited to — NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA, soccer, and UFC. Sports betting has not yet been legalized in Gabe's home state of Texas, so he frequently takes trips to Louisiana when he has the itch to place futures. Outside of work, Gabe considers himself an old head as he used an AOL email account until 2022 and still collects vinyl records.