The College Football Playoff has been around since 2014, and since then, 13 different schools have appeared in at least one semifinal. However, only five schools have actually won national championships. Alabama has won three times, and Clemson has won it twice. The other three who have won it all are Ohio State (2014), LSU (2019) and Georgia (2021). Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia are at the top of the sports betting odds list to win it all this time around, while LSU knocked itself out with that loss to Florida State. Let’s look at the list of contenders to win it this year, with odds of +7500 or better, and go through thoughts about a few teams you might consider wagering on.
NCAA News: Updated Odds to Win the National Championship Entering Week 9
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +180 |
| Georgia Bulldogs | +190 |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +400 |
| Clemson Tigers | +1200 |
| Tennessee Volunteers, Michigan Wolverines | +1600 |
| TCU Horned Frogs, Oregon Ducks | +4000 |
| USC Trojans | +6000 |
| Oklahoma State Cowboys | +7500 |
Ohio State had questions to answer about their defense after last season, but new coordinator Jim Knowles has brought in a much better system. Against Iowa, Tanner McCalister picked off a pass on the first play, and the Buckeyes ended up snatching six takeaways and permitting just 158 yards to the Hawkeyes in a 54-10 shellacking. The offense struggled in the running game, but with Marvin Harrison Jr, Emeka Eguka and Julian Fleming running routes, the team has more than enough talent at wide receiver, even with Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the shelf.
Georgia has not had much to worry about so far this season, except for that near disaster at Missouri. Oregon went down without a fight, and South Carolina, Auburn and Vanderbilt also proved easy foes. The next two weeks will be crucial, though, as the Bulldogs face Florida in Jacksonville this week and welcome #3 Tennessee next week. Both of these opposing quarterbacks could challenge the Georgia defense.
Tennessee has not historically been a program associated with a high-octane offense, but tey have put up at least 34 points in each of their seven games this season after demolishing UT-Martin, 65-24, last week, a game that the Volunteers led, 52-7, at the half. Hendon Hooker has a new school record for throwing touchdown passes in 19 straight games, and the Volunteers gained 696 yards (although UT-Martin is an FCS team). Next week, the Volunteers have a much tougher test, with Kentucky coming to town.
Michigan beat Penn State two weeks ago, 41-17, and comes out of their bye week to welcome Michigan State on Saturday night. Against the Nittany Lions, Michigan put up 418 rushing yards and scored four times on the ground (twice each for Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards). Michigan State has not had a good season thus far, but they always enjoy a chance to spoil the Wolverines’ party.
Clemson saw D.J. Uiagalelei struggle for the first time this season, turning the ball over three times. Dabo Swinney went to the bench for reserve quarterback Cade Klubnik with the team down 11 points. While Klubnik only threw four passes, the Tiger offense got back to work and used the running game to deliver the comeback. The Tigers ran the ball 60 times for 293 yards, both season bests, and Clemson won with a -3 turnover differential for the first time in ten years. Next up is a bye week.
Alabama bounced back from that loss to Tennessee by thumping Mississippi State, 30-6. The Volunteers had torched the Alabama secondary, so the Tide responded by breaking up 15 passes and limiting Bulldog quarterback Will Rogers to a 50% completion rate and without a touchdown pass.
Oregon has played terrific ball since getting run out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium by Georgia in the opener. They dominated a previously unbeaten UCLA team, changing the momentum with a surprise onside kick in the second period, and Bo Nix had only one more incompletion (6) than he had touchdown passes (5). The Ducks’ offense looks unbeatable.
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