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Alabama & Clemson Heavily Favored to Return to 2020 CFP

Ryan Bolta

by Ryan Bolta in College Football

Updated May 14, 2020 · 2:47 PM PDT

Dabo Swinney
Can the Clemson Tigers go undefeated for a second straight season? Photo by LambeauLeap80 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Clemson won the 2019 College Football National Championship
  • They were joined in the playoff by Alabama, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma
  • The Tigers and Crimson Tide are the only two teams favored to return to the CFP

The debate for which four teams will reach the College Football Playoff has already begun and odds to make the college football playoffs have been released.

Here’s where I’m putting my money when it comes to the top 5 teams on the board.

Odds Clemson Will Make the 4 Team Playoff

Will the Clemson Tigers Make the 4 Team Playoff? Odds
Yes -250
No +190

*All odds taken 03/12/19

My favorite bet on the board starts with the Clemson Tigers. Is Dabo Swinney still the Head Coach? Yes. Is Trevor Lawrence still under center? Yes.  Those two answers are enough for me to pay the -250 and consider this more of an investment and less of a gamble.  Don’t bother reading articles on who went to the draft and which coaches went where, the fact those two pieces are still in place are more than enough to believe the Tigers will be back in the College Football playoff yet again.

Odds Alabama Will Make the 4 Team Playoff

Will the Alabama Crimson Tide Make the 4 Team Playoff? Odds
Yes -250
No +190

Let’s use a similar formula with Alabama that we used with Clemson. Nick Saban and Tua Tagovailoa are still in Tuscaloosa so the answer here is an overwhelming yes.

The only reason I’d rank the Tigers bet as more of a sure thing is that Alabama does have the threat of Georgia in the SEC. Clemson doesn’t have an equal of anything close in the ACC, but the Bulldogs could threaten the Crimson Tide. Even still, I’m paying the -250 and assuming Alabama is headed right back to the CFP.

Odds Georgia Will Make the 4 Team Playoff

Will the Georgia Bulldogs Make the 4 Team Playoff? Odds
Yes +110
No -140

The reasons to fade Georgia are plenty. It’s happened before, but it’s never a good bet to think a conference will get two teams in the college football playoff. Assuming you’re like me and you favor Alabama in the SEC, it’s tough to find value in Georgia as well.

In addition to the tough path in the conference, they also have a date with Notre Dame on September 21st that could cause a problem. With the odds stacked against them, paying -140 isn’t an overly high price to bet on the Bulldogs finishing on the outside looking in.

Odds Oklahoma Will Make the 4 Team Playoff

Will the Oklahoma Sooners Make the 4 Team Playoff? Odds
Yes +145
No -175

Baker Mayfield went 1st overall to the Cleveland Browns. Kyler Murray might go 1st overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Now, Jalen Hurts might not have that kind of career trajectory, but he’s certainly a solid replacement after transferring from Alabama.

Expect Head Coach Lincoln Riley to navigate the not-so-tough Big 12 with his new Quarterback and get the Sooners in position to make the playoff. The fact you’re getting +145 to take the “Yes” make the likely answer an incredible value play.

Odds Ohio State Will Make the 4 Team Playoff

Will the Ohio State Buckeyes Make the 4 Team Playoff? Odds
Yes +160
No -200

Ryan Day is the new head coach at Ohio State after the retirement of Urban Meyer, but he’s in great position to continue the programs recent success. With Dwayne Haskins headed to the NFL Draft the Buckeyes reeled in Justin Fields as a transfer from Georgia, and he’s been ruled eligible to play this year.  Fields is an incredible talent and was ranked behind only Trevor Lawrence as a QB coming out of high school.

JK Dobbins returns as the star running back, as do receivers KJ Hill, Binjimen Victor, and Chris Olave. Ohio State should have more than enough to win the Big 10 and earn a birth in the CFP this year.

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