Ohio State, Cincinnati See Title Odds Improve After Week 12; Oregon, Michigan State Fade

• Ohio State and Cincinnati both earned big victories in Week 12 of college football
• Oregon and Michigan State both had their CFP dreams crushed due to blowout losses
• Read below to see how Week 12’s results impacted the CFP National Championship odds

The CFP National Championship odds experienced major shakeup following a wild Week 12 of college football. The College Football Playoff picture is coming into focus after a defining weekend of action.

Ohio State is closing the gap on No. 1 Georgia after a big win over Michigan State, while Cincinnati’s title odds improved significantly after dominating SMU and witnessing No. 3 Oregon lose to Utah.

The table below shows the updated CFP National Championship odds after Week 12.

National Championship Odds

Odds as of November 21st at DraftKings.

Ohio State Makes Statement

Ohio State saw its National Title odds improve from +400 to +300 after blowing out Michigan State in Week 12. CJ Stroud threw six touchdown passes as the Buckeyes routed the Spartans 56-7. Ryan Day’s team scored on all seven first-half possessions to put the game away early.

🔔 Ring Those Victory Bells 🔔

You know what week it is now. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Ic2EnxHhgr

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 20, 2021

This was a statement win by Ohio State, who entered the game as 19-point home favorites. The Buckeyes have been rolling ever-since their Week 2 loss against Oregon, winning nine consecutive games and scoring 50-plus points in six of those contests. OSU faces another must-win game at Michigan next week.

It’s hard to see any defense slowing down this OSU offense, which is why the Buckeyes are gaining ground on UGA in the Title odds. Chris Olave, Garett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are all NFL-calibre receivers who had 100-plus yards against the Spartans. Stroud, meanwhile is the new favorite in the Heisman odds as he continues to ball out in his freshman season.

Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson put up video game numbers in the first half 🤯

Olave: 7 catches for 140 yards, 2 TDs
Wilson: 7 catches for 126 yards, 2 TDs

Ohio State up 49-0 on Michigan State pic.twitter.com/MYURdT79Pt

— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) November 20, 2021

Ohio State’s offense is the best in the country, but it’s also notable their defense held MSU star running back Kenneth Walker III to just 25 yards on six carries Saturday. The Buckeyes’ defense has made significant progress since getting torched by CJ Verdell and the Ducks in Week 2, allowing only 20 points per game.

Spartans, Ducks Fade

Michigan State and Oregon both saw their CFP National Championship odds fade drastically after suffering their second losses of the season in Week 12. The Spartans were blown out by Ohio State, while Oregon lost 38-7 to Utah in Salt Lake City. No two-loss team has ever made the CFP.

UTAH TAKES DOWN OREGON IN DOMINANT FASHION pic.twitter.com/LGFiyUIRnC

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 21, 2021

Oregon’s loss to Utah has a major impact on the CFP picture, as the Ducks were ranked No. 3 entering Week 12. Oregon was torched on the ground by Tavion Thomas and the Utes’ run game, which racked up 208 rushing yards. Oregon’s offense, meanwhile, failed to move the chains on Utah’s defense, finishing with 294 total yards.

With Oregon already having a loss to Stanford and Michigan State falling to Purdue, these two programs are basically eliminated from the College Football Playoff conversation. MSU’s odds faded the most, as their loss to OSU is going to keep them out of the Big 10 Championship game.

Bearcats Make Big Leap

Cincinnati saw it’s National Title odds improve from +5000 to +3500 after dominating SMU 48-14 in Week 12. Desmond Ridder passed for 274 yards and three TDs in his senior day, while UC’s defense held the Mustangs’ high-powered offense to 199 total yards. Luke Fickell’s team entered the game as 11.5-point favorites.

Senior night…
But make it ✨stylish.✨

Final from Nippert Stadium.#Bearcats pic.twitter.com/pDVCsvoHxK

— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) November 21, 2021

Oregon’s loss to Utah really benefits Cincinnati, as the Bearcats are likely to become the first Group of 5 school to occupy a spot in the top-four CFP rankings. Cincinnati is undefeated and holds a head-to-head win over Notre Dame. The Bearcats close out their regular season against East Carolina (7-4) on Nov. 26.

Cincinnati will make the CFP as long as they win out. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State faceoff in a pivotal Big 12 clash in Week 13, but that game is unlikely to impact the Bearcats. If Alabama loses to Georgia in the SEC Title Game, the CFP committee will have determine whether they want a two-loss Alabama, a one-loss Big 12 champ or a one-loss UND in the other CFP spot.

I know I'm really jumping the gun here, but what the hell? Say Oregon loses. Georgia beats Alabama, OSU wins the Big Ten and UC wins out. Who's the fourth CFP team? Notre Dame?

— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) November 21, 2021

Ohio State and Michigan faceoff at the Big House in another Week 13 matchup with College Football Playoff implications. Michigan will move into the top-four with a victory, while Ohio State will be eliminated from the CFP with a loss. The Buckeyes have won eight straight games against the Wolverines.