How to Bet on the CFP National Championship Game in California

California will host the biggest game in college football next Monday, as the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship Game will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

This would be a huge day for sports betting in California if that was legal. But it isn’t.

Californians will not be able to use DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM or any other well-known sportsbooks to place real-money bets on Georgia vs. TCU. However, there are different ways California residents can legally get some skin in the game.

Bet on the CFP Title Game Using Fliff Sportsbook

With the launch of California online sports betting delayed until 2025 at the earliest, folks in the state can look to Fliff Sportsbook to get their sports wagering fix. Even though it’s not a real-money sportsbook, Fliff allows bettors to win digital tokens they can redeem for real cash prizes, such as gift cards and cash.

Fliff currently has odds for the CFP National Championship game. As of Wednesday, Georgia is a 12.5-point favorite. It is the largest spread in CFP title game history.

The Bulldogs are coming off a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Ohio State in the Peach Bowl. They are the reigning national champions and have steamrolled most of their competition.

Meanwhile, TCU is the underdog in this David vs. Goliath matchup. The Horned Frogs have made a living this season winning games by the skin of their teeth. The spread seems fair on paper, but TCU is already 3-0 as an underdog this season. The Horned Frogs are +370 on the moneyline, according to Fliff.

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Enter CFP Championship Daily Fantasy Contests

The world of DFS in California is fully immersed in college football. With the championship on the horizon, all the biggest daily fantasy sports sites have loads of contests available for Californians to enter.

Whether it is DraftKings DFS, FanDuel DFS, Monkey Knife Fight, Jock MKT or any other DFS site, there are plenty of options for beginners and seasoned vets.

Most contests follow the traditional salary-cap-based model, where contest participants must build a roster of players from Georgia and TCU without exceeding a specific dollar figure. The DFS operator assigns each athlete a particular salary.

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There are guaranteed prize pools, tournaments, cash games, and head-to-head contests centered around the CFP National Championship game.

DraftKings is running its unique Showdown Captain Mode for the game. Results will be determined by the total points accumulated by each individual lineup entry. However, you will draft one player as your captain. That player will earn 1.5x the standard fantasy point value for each statistic.

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DFS Players to Watch in CFP Title Game

One might consider loading up their team with Georgia players.

However, the most expensive player on the board will likely be TCU QB Max Duggan. The runner-up for this season’s Heisman Trophy is the engine of a high-powered Horned Frogs offensive attack. According to DraftKings DFS, he averages 27.2 fantasy points per game. That is the most of any player in the national championship game.

Players may also be able to find a bargain with TCU backup running back Emari Demercado. Starting running back Kendre Miller is listed as questionable for the title game after suffering a knee injury in TCU’s Fiesta Bowl win over Michigan. Demercado played well in Miller’s absence and helped power the Horned Frogs to a victory. Even if Miller plays, expect Demercado to see a lot of snaps.

That being said, you can also rely on a slew of Georgia skill position players.

Brock Bowers was an unstoppable force during the Bulldogs’ championship run last season. It is also important to note that you can select both quarterbacks in many of these contests. Meaning, you can pair Duggan with Georiga QB Stenson Bennett on your team. Bennet is the unquestioned leader of Georgia and has consistently played well in the biggest games.

Even without legalized sports betting, Californians will have plenty of options to add a little extra excitement to the CFP title game Monday night.

FLIFF PARLAYS: Best Fliff Parlay Picks for NFL Week 18, CFP National Championship Game

About the Author

C.J. Pierre

C.J. Pierre is a Lead Writer at CA Casinos, currently residing in the Phoenix-Metro Area in Arizona. He has been covering news and sports for over a decade for both online and TV broadcasts. He was born and raised in Minneapolis and an alum of Minnesota State University: Moorhead. He recently dove into tribal casino news. He also covered the launch of sports betting in Arizona. C.J. has experience as a reporter and videographer and has covered high school, college and professional sports throughout his career. Most notably following Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Vikings and North Dakota State University football.