If there’s one thing I’ve learned about sports and gambling it’s that Vegas is right way more often than not. This is something Alabama fans can hang their hat on. According to BetOnline.ag and VegasInsider.com, Alabama is a 4/1 favorite to win the title. 4/1 means for every $1 you wager, you win $4. So, a $10 bet would win you $40, and you would collect $50 ($10 you bet & $40 you won). Despite losing the Iron Bowl, Vegas still thinks Alabama is one of the top teams in the country and is capable of taking home a national title. Along with the Tide are Clemson and Oklahoma at 4/1 odds as well. Next up is the Auburn Tigers at 9/2, then the Georgia Bulldogs at 7/1. Several teams follow, and UCF is the long shot at 300/1. Check out the chart below for all of the odds:
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Odds to win 2017 College Football Championship Game (1/8/18)
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There is a lot of football to be played, and the conference championships will change these odds. There are 4 separate matchups from the list above (Auburn vs Georgia, Clemson vs Miami, Oklahoma vs TCU, and Ohio State vs Wisconsin.)
Placing wagers on some of these teams would be as useful as throwing your money out the window. It is almost impossible for TCU, USC, or UCF to make the playoffs, and betting on Wisconsin would be just about as useful as the other three.
It’s unlikely that Ohio State will make the playoff, even with a win this weekend.
Alabama and Miami need some things to happen in order for them to make it, so bettors should be cautious. I do see some value on the Tide though because a few weeks ago they were around even money (1/1 or +100 odds). Miami would need to beat Clemson and have TCU beat Oklahoma to have the best chance to get in.
Auburn is showing some value as Vegas is still placing them under other teams. They have really turned it on late in the season, and they are playing great football. They just need a win Saturday and they’re in.
Like Auburn, Georgia needs a win on Saturday to be in. This one is 50/50 for me. It would be hard for me to take Georgia in this spot after Auburn hammered them 40-17 two weeks ago. At the same time, this could be a bounce back/revenge game for the Dawgs. The matchup in Atlanta will be one for the books.
Clemson and Oklahoma are shared favorites for a reason. They have shown to be two of the best teams in the country all year and deserve to be in the top spots. Both teams control their own destiny and would not be a bad choice. I would lean more towards Oklahoma if I had to choose. Their offense is so powerful that they could roll over anyone in the country.
Things are going to get interesting in the last couple weeks of football. I can’t wait to see what the committee decides and if Baker Mayfield will do anything else to make me laugh. Whoever you choose, best of luck.