The quest for a national title this season in college football is filled with a number of highly talented teams in what should be a great race all the way to this year’s four-team playoff and championship game in January of 2018. When it comes to betting on which team does end up at the top of the list it all comes down to the value in the numbers.
Top College Football Favorite
When you have already won four national titles in the past eight seasons it stands to reason that you would start this season at the top of the list. Alabama’s futures odds to avenge last season’s stunning loss to Clemson in the title game with a run to this year’s championship have been set at +300.
The early report out of Tuscaloosa is that this year’s team might be even better that last year’s squad, which is a scary thought for the rest of the nation. The offense is led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, who remains a duel threat throwing and running ball and the Tide’s defense is once again stacked with blue chippers. Throw in the added motivation from last year’s season-ending loss following 14 wins in a row and Alabama should be as formidable as ever.
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Top College Football Contender
Both Ohio State (Big Ten) and USC (Pac-12) have been opened as +750 second-favorites to win the 2017 national title and while either team is more than capable of paying off on that bet, my top contender to win this year’s CFP Championship would be the ACC’s Florida State Seminoles at +800 betting odds. Clemson (+2500) should take a small step backwards this season with Deshaun Watson playing his football on Sundays for the Houston Texans and Florida State is poised to take the Tigers’ place by reclaiming its spot at the top of this conference.
The Seminoles’ defense is highlighted by one of the best secondaries in the nation and quarterback Deondre Francois is poised for bigger and better things after taking over the reins last year as a freshman. Assuming that Florida State does not have any really bad losses on its resume, a run to the ACC title should be good enough to land one of the four playoff spots. Anything can happen from there and Clemson’s stunning upset last year actually adds value to the Seminoles’ odds to win it all in 2017.
The betting odds for a few more teams in the contender category have the Big 12’s Oklahoma Sooners at +1000 despite the loss of Bob Stoops as head coach and the Big Ten’s Michigan Wolverines, with head coach Jim Harbaugh still at the helm at +1400.
Top College Football Longshot
Given the level of talent on the teams at the top of this list, it becomes hard to imagine any second-tier team rising up to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the history of college football, but if you still want to take a flyer on a longshot my top play would be the Wisconsin Badgers out of the Big Ten at +5000 betting odds. They automatically benefit from Ohio State and Michigan having to battle it out for the East Division title in that conference. Assuming they take care of business in the West, the Badgers should earn a playoff spot with a victory in Big Ten title game.
When you can play defense at a very high level, you automatically have a chance to win the majority of your games. When you can also run the ball down team’s throats, you now have a chance to win it all. The reason why I like Wisconsin as a longshot is its ability to do both.
2017 CFP Championship Future Odds
Team | Odds |
---|---|
Alabama | 300 |
Florida State | 800 |
Oklahoma | 1000 |
Ohio State | 750 |
USC | 750 |
Louisville | 3300 |
Michigan | 1400 |
LSU | 1600 |
Clemson | 2500 |
Texas | 3600 |
Auburn | 2800 |
Penn State | 2000 |
Oklahoma State | 2800 |
Georgia | 3300 |
Virginia Tech | 6600 |
Washington | 2800 |
UCLA | 10000 |
Florida | 3300 |
Kansas State | 6600 |
Tennessee | 8000 |
Miami Florida | 6600 |
Wisconsin | 5000 |
Notre Dame | 6600 |
West Virginia | 12500 |
Oregon | 8000 |
Stanford | 8000 |
TCU | 8000 |
Washington State | 10000 |
Michigan State | 25000 |
Colorado | 20000 |
NC State | 15000 |
Nebraska | 15000 |
Boise State | 30000 |
Iowa | 20000 |
Texas A&M | 5000 |