College Football Championship Odds: Can 'Bama & Michigan Fill Missing Pieces?

The Georgia Bulldogs are favored in the college football National Championship odds despite missing the CFP last season. 

The Michigan Wolverines took home their first title since 1997 with a 34-13 win over the Washington Huskies. Then, when celebrations settled down, realization hit. Jim Harbaugh is moving on to coach in the NFL and plenty of the dominant roster is going with him and declaring for the draft. 

Michigan now sits well outside the top five to reclaim the title next year. 

2024 College Football National Championship Odds

Odds as of March 27

College Football National Championship Betting Picks

We know it's early but with plenty of movement in the transfer portal, a brand-new CFP bracket and spring practices beginning -- we've got enough to go off of in terms of odds.

kirby smart's reputation keeps him on top

Despite going 32-2 over the last three seasons, the committee kept Georgia out of the postseason this year once its streak was snapped by Alabama. However, Kirby Smart's success of winning back-to-back championships the two seasons prior gives him automatic credit.

Also, don't forget that the 2024 season introduces an exciting 12-team format. Which makes the route through the playoffs a bit more flexible for notable programs. 

Luckily, QB Carson Beck will be returning to his Dawgs, too. That keeps a key position pretty stable on the field and we saw the steady signal-caller look steady as the season progressed.

Don’t let the Rose Bowl distract you from the fact that Carson Beck is leading the Dawgs in 2024👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/jOtzf99M26

— Dawg Football Weekly (@DogFootballWkly) January 1, 2024

is alabama in a rebuild?

Since first opening, Alabama's odds have dropped. The Tide, who initially sat in the oddsboard's top three, are now just outside of it.

This offseason, Alabama has a lot of noticeable cracks to fill. After 17 seasons, Nick Saban retired and first-year coach Kalen DeBoer has landed in Tuscaloosa hoping to continue the legacy. 

Jalen Milroe will be back on the field. The six-foot-two quarterback is +1400 to take home the Heisman Trophy. But, the wide receiver section is quite sparse after Isiah Bond's transfer and Jermaine Burton's graduation. 

Spring practices have brought attention to WR Kobe Prentice, who wrapped up his sophomore season with over 300 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Tide has changed freshman Caleb Odom from a TE to WR. 

The versatility and development talents of Alabama should make these major transitions a bit easier. But still, this is the first season in awhile where we just don't know what to expect from 'Bama until we see it.

texas makes itself known

A round of applause for Texas putting up a fight in the Sugar Bowl against Washington. The Longhorns ranked in the nation's top 15 on both sides of the ball, allowing just 18.9 PPG and piling up 35.8 PPG. 

Obviously, Texas' best feature is their quarterback tandem of a polished Quinn Ewers and up-and-coming Arch Manning. Ewers has taken on the leadership role exceptionally well, tossing over 3,400 yards and 29 total touchdowns. However, if it's not clicking, there's promising replacement in a Manning. Steve Sarkisian works magic with his offensive lineup nearly every season. The Longhorns are eager to become a dynasty.

Take a look at Texas QB Quinn Ewers stats since returning from injury ⬇️🤘

What will his stats look like vs Washington? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/rqo6J8mHcE

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 30, 2023

Last 10 College Football National Championship Winners

What Is A Futures Bet For College Football Teams?

When it comes to big events for any sport, you can bet months in advance. In this case, a futures bet is a wager made on which team will win the national championship. Each week, oddsmakers will update the odds to reflect how a squad is doing. If a team is plagued with injuries, their chances of making it to the final game slim down. A surging squad will see their odds skyrocket.

Understanding College Football Championship Odds

When you go to a college football sportsbook, you’ll see the betting lines laid out like this:

Georgia opens as the fave since the Bulldogs have the lowest odds. The Crimson Tide and Buckeyes are considered underdogs.

If you believe that Georgia has the best chance of winning the championship, and you bet $100 on them, you’d get a payout of $275 – your original $100 is returned along with your winnings of $175. On the other hand, if you’re looking at Ohio State and think they’re going to win it all, that same $100 would give you $450 – you get your $100 back, plus your prize of $350. Our odds calculating tool will show you how much you’d win based on the odds and amount bet.

When you see futures odds that you like, it’s best to jump on them early. As mentioned above, betting sites will adjust the odds as we get closer to bowl season and teams move up and down in the standings.