College Football Playoff Odds: Ranking the betting favorites to make 12-team CFP field
With the College Football Playoff set to expand to 12 teams in 2024, FanDuel has released odds for every team in the country to make it. Ohio State comes in with the best odds at -650 and is following closely by Georgia at -600.
Six of the top 12 teams are from the SEC with another four being from the Big Ten, meaning those conferences make up 10 of the top 12. However, not all those teams will be able to make it in reality with five automatic bids reserved for the highest ranked conference champions.
You can view the full list of College Football Playoff odds for 2024 below.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (-650)
Ohio State missed last year’s College Football Playoff but enters 2024 with the best odds of any team to make the 12-team field. The Buckeyes have what could be the most talented roster in the country thanks to the transfer portal additions of DB Caleb Downs, RB Quinshon Judkins, QB Will Howard and more.
They also bring back key pieces such as RB TreVeyon Henderson, DL Jack Sawyer and DB Denzel Burke. Ohio State should be elite on both sides of the ball as it aims for its first national title under coach Ryan Day.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (-600)
Georgia won 29 consecutive games, including back-to-back national championships, from 2021 through 2023 before falling in the SEC Championship Game this past season. That dropped it from No. 1 to No. 6 in the final College Football Playoff rankings as it failed to make the field of four.
Don’t expect the Bulldogs to miss out again, especially with the bracket expanding to 12 teams. Quarterback Carson Beck returns to lead the offense after throwing for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns with six interceptions. The defense should also remain an elite unit under the direction of Kirby Smart.
3. Oregon Ducks (-300)
Oregon was a Pac-12 Championship win away from making the four-team Playoff in 2023 and once again figures to compete for a spot this season. The Ducks lose quarterback Bo Nix, who finished third in the Heisman voting this past season, but bring in transfer Dillon Gabriel to replace him.
Gabriel threw for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns to six interceptions this past season at Oklahoma to help the Sooners finish as a top 10 passing offense. He will have 1,000-yard receiver Tez Johnson and Texas A&M transfer Evan Stewart as his top two weapons in what should be an explosive aerial attack.
4. Texas Longhorns (-200)
Texas had its best season in more than a decade in 2023 to finish 12-2, exit the Big 12 as conference champions and advance to the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns fell in the Sugar Bowl by a score of 37-31 to Washington and now enter the SEC as a favorite to make it back.
They return several key pieces from that team, including starting quarterback Quinn Ewers and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. Ewers will also have an elite group of transfer receivers to work with headlined by former Alabama star Isaiah Bond.
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-165)
Notre Dame saw steady progression last season under Marcus Freeman to finish with 10 wins. Now as the coach prepares to enter his third year at the helm, expectations are rising.
The Fighting Irish brought in Duke transfer Riley Leonard to replace Sam Hartman at quarterback. He showed dual-threat ability to rush for 1,224 yards and 19 touchdowns in three seasons with the Blue Devils. Notre Dame also has a fairly manageable schedule with Florida State, Texas A&M and Louisville among its toughest opponents.
6. Penn State Nittany Lions (-145)
Penn State has finished with double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons but still found itself in the shadow of Ohio State and Michigan. However, Vegas likes the Nittany Lions to make a push for the playoffs in 2024.
They’ll have one of the best backfield tandems in the country with Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen both capable of finishing with 1,000-yard seasons. On top of that, Drew Allar is settling in for his second season as starting quarterback and should have much more command of the offense.
7. Ole Miss Rebels (-130)
The Rebels should have no problem putting points on the board this season, as per usual under Lane Kiffin. Quarterback Jaxson Dart returns for his third year as starter after guiding the team to 11 wins while recording 3,364 yards passing and tossing 23 touchdowns.
He’ll have a slew of talented receivers at his disposal with Tre Harris back and the addition of Juice Wells from South Carolina. It will be tough for the Rebels to make it out of the SEC, but they could still get in with an at-large berth if they play like last season.
8. Alabama Crimson Tide (+100)
Alabama was no stranger to the four-team College Football Playoff and its odds to get in this year are still pretty good. Even with the retirement of Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide look primed to contend for a spot in their first year under Kalen DeBoer.
Many players from last year transferred following Saban’s exit, but a few crucial pieces return such as starting quarterback Jalen Milroe and left tackle Kadyn Proctor. DeBoer also brought some of his players with him from Washington as he hopes to carry on the winning tradition that Saban instilled.
9. LSU Tigers (+125)
LSU has high hopes entering its third season under coach Brian Kelly, but is also the fifth SEC team on this list. That seems like an awfully high number of bids for any conference to get even with expansion, so the Tigers will likely have to outplay some of the teams ranked ahead of them to get there.
For that to happen they’ll need to improve on defense after ranking 82nd in points allowed per game. The offense also had some question marks with Jayden Daniels gone to the NFL, though there is plenty of confidence in Garrett Nussmeier to step in as starting quarterback.
10. Michigan Wolverines (+150)
The defending national champions lose almost all of the key pieces that helped them get there, including head coach Jim Harbaugh. However, Vegas still believes they stand a shot to earn another Playoff berth in Year 1 under Sherrone Moore.
Moore coached the Wolverines to three victories with Harbaugh serving a suspension at the end of last season and now takes over hoping to carry on the momentum of three straight Big Ten titles. There’s a ton of talent teams in the conference, though, and getting there won’t be an easy road.
Additional College Football Playoff odds
Florida State Seminoles (+160)
Missouri Tigers (+180)
Tennessee Volunteers (+195)
Clemson Tigers (+200)
Miami Hurricanes (+210)
Texas A&M Aggies (+240)
Utah Utes (+240)
Kansas State Wildcats (+280)
Boise State Broncos (+400)
Liberty Flames (+440)
USC Trojans (+440)
NC State Wolfpack (+470)
Oklahoma Sooners (+490)
Louisville Cardinals (+500)
Memphis Tigers (+550)
Auburn Tigers (+700)
Oklahoma State Cowboys (+700)
Kansas Jayhawks (+700)
UCF Knights (+700)
Iowa Hawkeyes (+750)
Iowa State Cyclones (+850)
Virginia Tech Hokies (+950)
Wisconsin Badgers (+1000)
Nebraska Cornhuskers (+1000)