National Championship odds: Betting favorites to win College Football Playoff after Week 14

With Tuesday night’s release of the penultimate College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings, and Selection Day this upcoming Sunday, the race to claim college football’s 2024 National Championship is on.

Based on CFP committee chairman Warde Manuel‘s comments Tuesday evening, the Playoff’s 12-team field appears mostly set, with only a couple of spots legitimately up for grabs. Given that reality, college football’s true national championship contenders are already taking their place in the starting blocks, and Las Vegas oddsmakers clearly favor multiple Big Ten and SEC teams to 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 following the final week of the regular season:

Oregon +350

As college football’s lone undefeated program at the conclusion of the regular season, the No. 1-ranked Ducks (12-0) overtake Ohio State as the odds-on favorite to hoist the CFP national championship trophy when all is said and done.

Oregon will now look to remain undefeated and earn the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff with a win over Penn State in Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game. And given the way the Ducks have performed to this point, bettors appear confident they will get it done and keep winning throughout the Playoffs.

Texas +380

Much like Oregon, the No. 2 Longhorns (11-1) have been a quick study during their rookie season in a new league, advancing to the SEC Championship Game against No. 5 Georgia on Saturday in Atlanta.

It’s an opportunity for revenge after the Bulldogs (10-2) handed Texas a 30-15 loss inside DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in mid-October. The Longhorns secured their trip to Atlanta after escaping College Station with a 17-7 rivalry win over Texas A&M in Week 14. With that win, Texas actually overtook Georgia as the SEC’s favorite to win the national title.

Ohio State +400

The uber-talented Buckeyes have routinely been considered the favorites to win this season’s national championship based on betting odds throughout the regular season. But that all changed after Week 14’s inexplicable 13-0 home loss to unranked Michigan in The Game.

Still, oddsmakers aren’t ready to sell the ship on Ohio State just yet, only dropping from +260 last week to +400, FanDuel’s third-best odds entering Championship Weekend. Given their No. 6 ranking in the penultimate CFP Top 25, the Buckeyes (10-2) are a lock for the 12-team field and could even host a first-round Playoff game if the Ducks handle business against Penn State in Indianapolis, potentially pushing a two-loss Nittany Lions squad behind the Buckeyes on Selection Day.

Georgia +550

The Bulldogs saw their national championship odds drop slightly from second-best at +350 last week to fourth this week after needing eight overtimes to hold off unranked rival Georgia Tech with a 44-42 Week 14 win in Athens.

While troubling, Vegas oddsmakers remain high on Georgia’s chances to win its third national championship in the last four years. Of course, the fifth-ranked Bulldogs (10-2) can go along way to strengthening their championship odds with a win over No. 2 Texas in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

Notre Dame +800

Winners of 10 straight since a Week 2 loss to Northern illinois, the independent Fighting Irish (11-1) have already punched their ticket into the 12-team Playoff field with a likely first-round home game under the watchful eye of Touchdown Jesus.

Given its strong finish to the regular season, No. 4 Notre Dame saw its championship odds nearly cut in half from +1400 last week. Clearly bettors and oddsmakers are finally taking notice of the Irish as a legitimate national championship contender.

Penn State +1000

The Nittany Lions backed into the Big Ten Championship Game against No. 1 Oregon thanks to Ohio State and Ryan Day once again laying an egg against rival Michigan.

But while oddsmakers remain more confident in the Buckeyes, No. 3 Penn State (11-1) can improve its case with bettors by sending shockwaves through the college football world with a win over the Ducks the Big Ten Championship on Saturday. Of course, outside of a lopsided loss, the Nittany Lions remain in great position to potentially host a first-round home game in mid-December.

Alabama +1300

The Crimson Tide were the real winners of the penultimate CFP Top 25 rankings, landing at No. 11 to temporarily secure the Playoff’s final at-large bid in its 12-team field if the standings hold in front of them. While controversial, especially among Miami and ACC fans, oddsmakers and bettors are once again believers in No. 11 Alabama (9-3), whose odds jumped from +4000 to +1300 in a week.

Of course, the Tide still needs SMU to hold serve and knock off Clemson in Saturday’s ACC championship game to formally earn a CFP bid. But, while this isn’t the same Alabama team that won three CFP titles and appeared in six championship games through the first decade of the College Football Playoff, it’s clear the Crimson Tide still hold a special place in the hearts of bettors everywhere.

Tennessee +2000

This is were the national championship odds take a big leap, as the seventh-ranked Volunteers (10-2) land in the College Football Playoff field without even having to play for the SEC title. Tennessee earned its way into the CFP by winning six of its last seven games, with the ony loss a 31-17 road defeat at Georgia.

That said, Vegas oddsmakers clearly aren’t as sold on the Vols as the 13-member CFP selection committee, only slightly improving their odds from +2100 last week. Of course, should Tennessee secure a first-round home game in Knoxville as a Top-8 seed, expect those odds to get another bump next week.

SMU +2000

The Mustangs’ storybook run through its first season in the ACC has led SMU (11-1) to new heights and a potential first-round bye in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Of course, that would require a victory over No. 17 Clemson (9-3) in Saturday’s ACC Championship Game in Charlotte.

Vegas oddsmakers cut the Mustangs’ odds in half from +4000 last week but still aren’t buying them as a serious national championship contender despite closing out the regular season on a nine-game win streak. Of course, that could change next week if SMU makes a definitive case as ACC champs.

Others Receiving National Championship Odds

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

Indiana +4000
Clemson +6000
Arizona State +8000
Iowa State +10000
Boise State +10000
UNLV +25000