College Football Rankings vs National Title Odds
With the exception of the Pac-12, all the major college football programs are playing weekly games. The lone major conference on the West Coast is expected to return to action on Nov. 7. A full 12-game schedule is out of reach for every team. Yet, the race to the four-team college football playoff is firmly in place.
There are two ways to look at the balance of power in this year’s college football season. The first is national rankings. Between the AP Top 25 and the Coaches Poll, you can get a pretty good feel for the top contenders.
The other way to gauge power rankings is BetOnline’s NCAAF futures odds to win a national title. These rankings are also impacted by a team’s play on the field. They are also impacted by the amount of money bet on that team to win it all.
By comparing the national rankings against the updated betting odds, you can find a few good value plays on this futures bet.
College Football Rankings vs National Title Odds No. 1 Clemson Tigers +175
This entire exercise starts with the ACC’s Clemson Tigers. Since college football switched to a four-team playoff in 2014, Clemson has won a pair of national titles. It has also played in the championship game four times in six years.
As the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation this season, it stands to reason the Tigers are +175 favorites. Those odds are at plus money are rather attractive. They will probably drop lower over the course of the season. Clemson (6-0) is well on its way to another ACC title and a playoff berth. Betting them now could offer the best value of the year.
No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide +350
With the Tide’s convincing 41-24 victory against Georgia a few weeks back, this is the top-valued play on the board. The rest of the SEC is not that strong. Alabama should be able to run the table to the conference championship game.
Even with a loss to Georgia in that game (as the likely opponent), the Tide should secure a playoff berth. After missing the chance to play for a national championship last season, this year’s motivation will be sky-high.
No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes +225
The one team that could throw a wrench into another Clemson vs. Alabama championship showdown is Ohio State. The Big Ten got off to a late start this season, so the Buckeyes will have an easier path to the conference championship. Wisconsin appears to be their toughest competition out of the West Division.
It would be hard to see Ohio State out of the playoff picture. That would create a very tough obstacle for Clemson or Alabama’s title run. I still see the Buckeyes as a wait and see team with just one game under their belt.
The next five teams near the top US Sportsbooks NCAAF futures list include:
- No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs +1800
- Number 10 Florida Gators +2800
- No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers +3300
- Number 13 Michigan Wolverines +3300
- No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish +4000
