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2019 College Football Playoff: Alabama at Almost Even Odds?

Alex Kilpatrick

by Alex Kilpatrick in College Football

Updated Dec 19, 2022 · 10:08 AM PST

Nick Saban
Nick Saban, whose Alabama Crimson Tide have participated in every edition of the College Football Playoff, is favored to win (another) national title. Photo by Carol Highsmith (Wiki Commons) [CCLicense]
  • Alabama is currently the heavy favorite to win the 2019 College Football Playoff
  • Who else made the top 10?
  • Read below to find out who else could be making the playoff to challenge the Crimson Tide

The 2019 College Football Playoff will decide the champion of the college football season played in the end of 2018. Currently, Alabama is favored heavily to win their six national title under head coach Nick Saban.

They’re followed closely on the odds sheet by 2017 champions Clemson and 2015 champions Ohio State, with 2018 runners-up Georgia just a half-step behind.

2019 College Football Playoff Winner Odds

Team Odds
Alabama +175
Clemson +650
Ohio State +700
Georgia +850
Michigan +2000
Washington +2200
Wisconsin +2500
Oklahoma +2500
Penn State +2500
Auburn +3000

*odds from 7/11/2018

No surprise to see Alabama as the favorite, but +175 is probably pushing it. This is still a team that made the playoff by the skin of their teeth last year, and won the title on the last play of the game. A backup quarterback threw a deep ball to a true freshman. I need a little more than +175.

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There are those that believe college football is a two or three-team sport, and accordingly Ohio State and Clemson round out the top three at +700 and +650, respectively. They both bring unbelievably talented rosters to this season, and Ohio State just had one of its best recruiting classes ever and returns almost everyone.

It’s a little surprising to see Georgia outside the top three at +850, but I guess that’s by virtue of being fairly new to playoff contention, and sharing a conference with the sports’ ultimate juggernaut.

2019 College Football Playoff Tracker

This tracks the average odds available for each team as they evolve.

The biggest change you can see is Michigan making huge gains, with Shea Patterson’s transfer and (eventually succesful) appeal to the NCAA for eligibility in his first year. With Patterson in Ann Arbor, the betting market has decided that Michigan is a genuine contender.

You can also see Oklahoma lose some ground after bettors realized that Baker Mayfield was both very good and leaving for the NFL Draft. Kyler Murray is indeed very good, but he’s also been drafted by the Oakland A’s, so there was some uncertainty whether or not he would even play. Filling Mayfield’s shoes will be next to impossible, and doing so while worrying about a promising career in professional baseball could not be more difficult.

For more college football futures trackers, see our Win Totals tracker.

How 2019 Favorites Finished in 2018’s Final Rankings

Team Odds 2018 AP Ranking
Alabama +175 1
Clemson +650 4
Ohio State +700 5
Georgia +850 2
Michigan +2000 Not Ranked
Washington +2200 16
Wisconsin +2500 7
Oklahoma +2500 3
Penn State +2500 8
Auburn +3000 10

You can see that the betting market expects Michigan, who finished last year unranked, to make huge strides this season. Fitting Shea Patterson into the roster will definitely help, but Michigan’s problems haven’t all been under centre.

The next lowest ranked-team to make the top ten on the odds sheet, who struggled with depth, injuries, and a tough schedule last season. If they can avoid getting beat up in Arizona, Washington could certainly make its second trip to the playoff.

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