As we are getting excited for the start of the college football season, bettors are getting ready to pick their national champions already. You can find some value in picking second or third best teams since the top-seeded team only won the national championship twice in the eight years of the four-team College Football Playoff (CFP) system.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: August 17th, 12:00 P.M. (EST)
We open this discussion with the favorites to win the national championship in the Alabama Crimson Tide. As of today, the Crimson Tide are +200 at online bookie BetOnline to win the championship game. Unsurprisingly, the historic football program is still in the mix to win the big game this January thanks to a great mix of players on both sides of the ball and one of the greatest college coaches ever in Nick Saban. Being in a tough conference, the Crimson Tide will be allowed to lose a game and still make the CFP. However, the loss should not come from a lesser team such as Vanderbilt or Utah State.
Staying in the SEC, Georgia (+475) has the third best odds of winning the championship after winning it last season. Although they lost several starters on both sides of the ball, Georgia still boasts one of the top D-line (again) in the nation. For the moment, they only play two ranked teams in Oregon and Kentucky. It is up to the Bulldogs to not let one game slip away, but an experienced coach and a great defense should once again help propel the Bulldogs to the national championship.
Ohio State (+350) opens the season as the second favorite to win the National Championship in January. Having a Heisman candidate at QB in CJ Stroud, a premier running back in TreVeyon Henderson, and a star receiver in Jaxson Smith-Nijgba certainly boosts your chances of winning. They have a big test early as they face No. 5 Notre Dame to open the season, but they should be heavily favored in the majority of their other games. The Buckeyes also have the third most appearances in the CFP and are the Big Ten team with the most appearances.
Down in South Carolina, Clemson (+800) has the fourth best odds to win the championship game. After having a disappointing year in 2021 where quarterback DJ Uiagalelei did not meet expectations, look for the Tigers to have an improved offense. On the other side of the ball, the defense should once again be one of the top in the nation after having the No. 2 scoring defense last season. Two late meetings against Notre Dame and Miami should determine the Tigers’ fate for the upcoming playoffs.
Once again, the only Big 12 team that has a shot at winning the national championship according to the oddsmakers is Oklahoma at +5000. Historically, only Oklahoma has made it to the CFP from the Big 12 conference since 2014, and this does not look like it’s gonna change anytime soon. Rallying behind first-year head coach Brent Venables and former UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the Sooners will look to have a perfect regular season along with a little bit of luck to have a shot at making the playoffs.
The fifth choice in preseason betting is none other than the University of Southern California (+1400). After a strong off-season where they added former Sooners Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams along with Pitt star receiver Jordan Addison, the Trojans will look to make their first playoff appearance since the four-team format was chosen in 2014. Their only tough game comes when they meet Notre Dame in their regular season finale. Having all season to gel as a team, the Trojans should have the chemistry in place by then to put on a good performance against the Fightin’ Irish in what may have major playoff implications.
