Ohio State and Michigan Both Rising Up 2020 CFP National Title Odds; Is This the Big Ten’s Year?

2020 CFP National Championship Odds: Big Ten Teams

It’s hard to justify the Buckeyes’ odds getting shorter at this point in the offseason; they lost key players to the NFL draft, including DE Nick Bosa, QB Dwayne Haskins, and much of their starting offense, and Ryan Day only has a handful of games under his belt as a head coach.

Yes, Ohio State has more than dominated the Wolverines recently, winning seven straight games and 14 of the last 15 meetings between the two, and Day, personally, doesn’t seem concerned about their chances against Michigan:

When asked whether he planned to make any changes from how Urban Meyer approached the Michigan game, Ryan Day answered without hesitation, “No. That worked.”

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) July 18, 2019

But I can’t cosign a team that is this untested at odds this short.

Michigan Offense Under New Management

There’s a decent amount of hype around the 2019 Wolverines based on their on-paper strength.

Big Ten football preseason poll from @clevelanddotcom: Michigan predicted to win the Big Ten in a vote of 34 writers from around the conference. Ohio State’s run as the preseason favorite ends. Nebraska picked win the West. https://t.co/B42Az2LskW

— Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) July 17, 2019

Of course, Harbaugh is still winless against OSU. Is there reason to expect that to change?

What is different this year (beyond Meyer’s departure from Columbus) is that Harbaugh is relinquishing control over the offensive system and putting it in new coordinator Josh Gattis’ hands. This is now a run-based offense instead of a ball-possession attack. That should prove more effective given their personnel.

If you are going to bet on any Big Ten team, Michigan is a better play than Ohio State. It’s all or nothing for Harbaugh. The Buckeyes obviously have the potential, as well, but don’t have as much riding on this.

But note that I said if you’re going to bet on a Big Ten team, which leaves open the question: should you bet on a Big Ten team?

I can answer that with a scant five letters: No. SEC.

SEC Continues to Be Annoying

Look, I’d love to say that the SEC era is over, but it’s not. I am an Alabama fan (don’t @ me) and I’m annoyed by the monotony, but Saban is coming in hot for the CFP Title.

Saban is mad and when Saban is mad, he can be unstoppable:

We had a lot of guys who wanted to be head coaches at different places. It takes a special person to stay focused on what they have to do now when they have a job somewhere else that’s awaiting them and they have a responsibility on staffs. – Nick Saban

Here is the bottom line: Saban will be on a laser-focused mission to avenge the team’s 2019 loss to Clemson. The battle for the title will be fought and won in the South. I’m not even proud of that, I’m bored.

Don’t bet on any Big Ten team to win, especially at the new, shortened odds. It’s a lovely thought that the 2020 title game won’t be another Tide-vs-Tiger battle, but if you want to waste some money, you can PayPal it to me instead.