National Championship Odds: Betting favorites to win College Football Playoff after Week 13

With just one weekend remaining in the 2024 college football regular season, the historic debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff field is beginning to take shape.

The race to secure one of those coveted 12 seeds in the expanded College Football Playoff remains up for grabs for many around the country, even if there are multiple Big Ten and SEC teams that Las Vegas oddsmakers believe are favorites to not only make the field but also end the season hoisting the national championship trophy inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in early January.

Here’s how FanDuel Sportsbooks’ odds have evolved entering the final week of the regular season:

Ohio State +260

While still at No. 2 nationally according to all the latest polls, the Buckeyes (10-1, 7-1 B1G) remain the odds-on favorite to win the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship, and even received a nice boost from oddsmakers following Saturday’s 38-15 win over previously-undefeated Indiana in Columbus.

Of course, to keep those odds, it’ll require Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day finally exorcising their demons in The Game, and snapping a three-game losing streak to Michigan. A victory Saturday over the rival Wolverines will secure the Buckeyes a rematch vs. No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship game next week, which Vegas oddsmakers clearly expect Ohio State to win given the current odds.

Georgia +350

Vegas oddsmakers are clearly also all-in on the two-loss Bulldogs (9-2, 7-2 SEC) as true National Championship contenders after they leapfrogged the Ducks for the nation’s second-best odds to win it all. While avoiding conference play in Week 13, Georgia locked up a berth in the upcoming SEC championship game next week in Atlanta after both Alabama and Ole Miss — the lone teams to beat them this season — suffered shocking losses to Oklahoma and Florida, respectively.

After early-season struggles with inconsistency, the Bulldogs are rounding into form on both sides of the ball after back-to-back routs of Tennessee and UMass, and Vegas has taken notice. Georgia faces upstart Georgia Tech in the latest edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate on Saturday, but will have one eye on College Station awaiting the winner between Texas–Texas A&M to learn who it’ll play in Atlanta.

Oregon +390

Despite dropping to third in the eyes of Vegas oddsmakers, the top-ranked and undefeated Ducks (11-0, 8-0 B1G) still saw their national champinship odds improve coming out of their final bye week. Oregon will now look to snap a three-game losing streak to former Pac-12 rival Washington on Saturday.

The Ducks already locked up a spot in next week’s Big Ten championship game, and will prepare to play either Ohio State or Penn State depending on the result of The Game in Columbus. But, regardless of what happens in Indianapolis, it’s clear oddsmakers are confident in Oregon’s place in the 12-team field.

Texas +450

Vegas oddsmakers also appear to be high on the Longhorns’ chances of making the 12-team Playoff field, improving Texas’ odds ahead of the revival of its in-state rivalry series against Texas A&M. While the Longhorns’ pending berth in the upcoming SEC championship game still requires a win over the hated Aggies on Saturday, Vegas is confident the Texas will still secure at least an at-large CFP bid regardless of what happens the next two weeks.

Of course, for the Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 SEC), the only thing that matters this week is what happens in College Station, especially with a trip to Atlanta on the line. Saturday will be the first meeting between the bitter Lonestar State rivals since 2011, the season before Texas A&M formally entered the SEC.

Notre Dame +1400

This is where the Vegas oddsmakers begin to hedge their bets with the Fighting Irish, who saw their odds improve from +2000 last week but remain a big of a longshot to win the national championship despite its standing as a near-certainty to make the 12-team Playoff field.

After two more undefeateds went down Saturday, Notre Dame (10-1) remains one of college football’s hottest teams having won nine straight since a Week 2 upset to Northern Illinois, including lopsided wins over ranked Navy and Army squads. With only a struggling USC remaining on the schedule, and no conference championship to contend with, the Irish are among several CFP contenders in prime position to lock up a coveted at-large bid and first-round home game.

Penn State +1600

The Nittany Lions still have an outside shot at making the Big Ten championship game should Michigan’s voodoo over Ohio State continue in The Game on Saturday in Columbus. But even Penn State knows that’s unlikely given what has already transpired this season, and those in Happy Valley are likely fine with idling next week and securing an at-large bid and first-round bye in the Playoff without breaking a sweat.

The Nittany Lions (10-1, 7-1 B1G) barely escaped Minneapolis with a 26-25 win over Minnesota, but a close 20-13 loss to the Buckeyes remains the only blemish on their schedule. In the meantime, Penn State sits in perfect position to hold serve in the season-finale against Maryland (4-7, 1-7) and still host a first-round Playoff game in the middle of December.

Tennessee +2100

The Volunteers (9-2, 6-2 SEC) proved to be the biggest beneficiaries of the SEC’s Week 13 cannibalization, leapfrogging three-loss Alabama and Ole Miss after both were upset Saturday while Tennessee blew out UTEP 56-0. And Las Vegas took notice, improving the Vols’ odds to win it all by nearly half — up from +4000 last week.

While the SEC’s chances of getting four or more teams into the 12-team field took a serious hit Saturday, Tennessee remains in perfect position to earn an at-large bid and a potential home Playoff game without having to face the Bulldogs again in Atlanta. Consider that a win-win for the Vols.

Miami +2500

The Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 ACC) responded nicely to their first loss of the season two weeks ago against Georgia Tech and downed Wake Forest 42-14 on Saturday. It was the sort of effort bettors have come to expect from Miami this season and oddsmakers responded in kind, significantly improving their odds to win it all.

That said, while a Playoff bid appears a strong likelihood, especially if the ‘Canes face off against SMU in the ACC championship game as expected, a weak strength of schedule could create some discussion in the CFP committee room should the upstart Mustangs continue their own Cinderella run and win the league outright in their inaugural ACC season.

Alabama +4000

Could a three-loss Crimson Tide really win it all? Las Vegas is saying there’s a chance. Despite an embarrassing 24-3 loss on the road at Oklahoma in Week 13, Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) still has the SEC’s fourth-best odds to hoist the CFP national championship trophy, according to oddsmakers.

The loss to the Sooners saw the Tide’s odds drop from +800 to +4000, meaning the road is certainly muddy, but not unpassable. Of course, that would require Alabama sending a clear message to the CFP committee in Saturday’s Iron Bowl, and then hoping for more chaos over the next two weeks.

SMU +4000

The aforementioned Mustangs (10-1, 7-0 ACC) have already clinched a berth in next week’s ACC championship game and will face either Clemson or Miami, the latter of which remains the betting favorite to win the league. Of course, SMU hasn’t paid much attention to odds during its surprise first season in the ACC, rolling through league play with relative ease.

Still, outside of a 34-27 win over Louisville, the Mustangs have avoided playing either of the ACC’s other top teams and boasts a woeful 77th strength of schedule according to ESPN’s FPI ranking. Should the ‘Canes or Tigers bring a convincing end to SMU’s Cinderella run next week in Charlotte, the CFP committee could derail the Pony Express’ Playoff hopes before they ever get started.

Others Receiving National Championship Odds

Below are the rest of the odds for teams to win the national championship, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook:

Indiana +5000
Clemson +6000
Arizona State +8000
Ole Miss +10000
Boise State +13000
Texas A&M +15000
South Carolina +15000
Iowa State +17000
Tulane +20000
Colorado +20000
BYU +25000
UNLV +60000
Army +100000
Kansas State +100000