National Championship Odds: Betting favorites to win College Football Playoff after Week 9
The College Football Playoff race is beginning to take shape following the Week 9 college football slate. The odds have shifted, too.
After what proved to be a pivotal week within the CFP bubble, four teams have appeared to separate themselves from the rest of the pack heading into Week 10. Here’s how FanDuel Sportsbooks’ odds have taken shape entering the week.
Georgia +360
It’s not a surprise Georgia is the odds-on favorite to win the College Football Playoff given the fact that the Bulldogs have two of the most impressive wins in the country — a neutral site win vs. Clemson and a road win against a then-ranked No. 1 Texas team.
The Bulldogs still have ranked matchups against Ole Miss on the road and against Tennessee in consecutive weeks coming up, but it appears that Georgia is well on its way to Atlanta, and in turn, at least an at-large bid into the initial 12-team playoff.
Ohio State +400
Some may be surprised to see the Buckeyes trump the Oregon Ducks for the second-best odds to win the national championship. Still, it seems the Buckeyes are still more attractive to bettors to make it the whole way despite losing the Oregon on the road.
The Buckeyes have one of the most complete teams in the country, and if they’re able to beat Penn State on the road in Week 10, they could be considered for the top spot this time next week.
Oregon +450
Oregon is the No. 1 team in the latest AP Top 25 Poll but has the third-best odds to run the table at the College Football Playoff.
They’ve looked every part of their No. 1 ranking since beating the Buckeyes in Week 7. In the two weeks since the win, Oregon has played both Purdue and a ranked Illinois team and outscored them 73-9. They won’t play another ranked team during the regular season and are expected to be favored in every game leading up to the Big Ten Championship game.
Texas +650
Texas’ 27-24 win over Vanderbilt was too close for comfort for the Longhorns coming off the Week 8 loss to Georgia. Steve Sarkisian and company have the chance to regroup in Week 10 with a bye week before they take on Florida on Nov. 9.
Still, the Longhorns are in a prime position to play themselves into an SEC Championship game if they can run the table before the season finale against Texas A&M. The Aggies would be the only thing standing between Texas and Atlanta, and in turn, an auto-bid into the College Football Playoff.
Penn State +1200
Penn State’s odds might increase by a substantial margin if they’re able to beat Ohio State at home on Saturday. However, they haven’t defeated the Buckeyes since 2016 and are 1-11 against their Big Ten rival since 2012.
The Nittany Lions are still undefeated this season and if the season ended today, they would be in the conference title game with Indiana. Despite this, the Buckeyes opened as 3.5-point favorites on the road against Penn State.
Clemson +1400
Clemson did not have the chance to improve its odds in Week 9 as they were off on their bye. However, despite having a six-game win streak and entering November undefeated in ACC play — the Tigers don’t have a win over a quality opponent this season.
Luckily for Clemson, their three matchups are against Louisville, Virginia Tech and Pitt — all of which have records at or above .500. If they can finish the regular season with one loss, they’re guaranteed a spot in the conference title game.
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Tennessee +1400
Tennessee re-entered the national championship picture after defeating Alabama 24-17 in Knoxville. They have another test on Nov. 16 on the road against Georgia, and a victory there would not only put the Vols back at the front of the SEC standings but in the conversation for a first-round bye as well.
They have Kentucky and Mississippi State — the two lowest-ranked teams in the SEC after Week 9 — leading up to their trip to Athens, so it’s likely Tennessee will be a one-loss team against the Bulldogs.
Miami +1600
As exciting as Miami’s offense has been behind Heisman Trophy contender Cam Ward, Miami will not play a ranked team until the ACC Championship game.
While that appears to be playing a major role in the Hurricanes’ not-so-favorable odds, it doesn’t help that Miami’s defense allowed 34 or more points in each of its first three ACC games. They appeared to have corrected things, only allowed two touchdowns against Florida State in Week 9. They’re 20-point favorites against Duke in Week 10.
Alabama +1800
Alabama let people know that they’re not finished yet, and while the College Football Playoff rankings and AP Poll don’t always align, the Crimson Tide’s No. 14 ranking ahead of Saturday’s matchup against No. 16 LSU is a perfect opportunity to shoehorn Alabama back into the top 12 conversations.
With the trip to Death Valley appearing to be the toughest test left on Alabama’s schedule, the Crimson Tide’s odds aren’t great — but you can never count them out.
Texas A&M +2500
The Aggies are alone atop the SEC as the only remaining undefeated team in conference play. Still, they appear to be a sleeper pick for a lot of bettors heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
With convincing wins over Missouri and LSU and coming in at No. 10 in the latest AP Poll, Texas A&M is expected to be favored in every game leading up to its regular-season finale against No. 6 Texas. However, the Aggies do not play Georgia, Alabama or Tennessee during the regular season, likely keeping their odds lower than the other SEC teams on this list.
Remaining Odds:
Notre Dame +3000
Indiana +5000
Ole Miss +5000
Iowa State +6000
LSU +6000
Kansas State +8500
SMU +10000
Boise State +13000
BYU +15000
Colorado +15000
Pitt +17000
Tulane +50000
Army +60000
Virginia Tech +80000