Sportsbooks Giving Clemson a Shot vs Alabama in the CFP National Championship
- Clemson remains undefeated following 30-3 rout of Notre Dame in Cotton Bowl
- Tigers just one of two teams to defeat Alabama since September 2015
- Clemson claimed 2017 CFP national championship with 35-31 upset victory over Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide continued their march toward a second straight College Football Playoff National Championship title on Saturday by disposing of the Oklahoma Sooners with a 45-34 victory as 14.5-point chalk in this year’s Orange Bowl.
Not surprisingly, the defending champions have subsequently opened as betting favorites against Clemson in this season’s CFP national championship betting matchup at Levi’s Stadium on January 7.
However, the underdog Tigers aren’t being written off by online sports betting sites the way Oklahoma was.
Clemson is looking to claim their second National Championship in three years following their 30-3 rout of Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl, pegged as a +185 wager.
With Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, another national title is well within grasp for Clemson. https://t.co/azg7e3M2Kd
— Orange and White (@orangeandwhite) December 30, 2018
Odds to Win College Football Playoff National Championship
| Team | Moneyline Odds at Sportsbook 1 | Moneyline Odds at Sportsbook 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide | -225 | -235 |
| Clemson Tigers | +185 | +190 |
Odds taken 12/30.
Tigers Have Thrived in Shadow of Top Ranked Alabama
While the Crimson Tide have been perched at the top of both the national rankings and the CFP National Championship odds since the beginning of the campaign, it has been a slow steady climb up the college football futures for Clemson since the squad opened as a lengthy +600 wager.
The Tigers have helped their own cause considerably with dominant play on both sides of the ball.
With their crushing victory over the Fighting Irish as 10.5-point chalk on Saturday, Clemson has held opponents to 10 or fewer points on nine occasions, while racking up a perfect 14-0 SU record this season.
Notre Dame-Clemson: Irish offensive line readies for nasty Tigers defensive front https://t.co/r0yywWXYfl pic.twitter.com/at9K8Ko2bU
— College Football (@holidayhqteam) December 24, 2018
The Clemson offense has also done its part, piling up a fourth-best 44.3 points per game this season, and covering the spread in eight of the Tigers’ past 11 outings.
But perhaps the most important factor to consider in the Tigers’ bid for a second CFP National Championship is their past performance on the gridiron against Alabama.
Clemson Looks for History to Repeat
The Tigers are one of just two teams to hand the Crimson Tide a defeat since September 2015.
That victory came two years ago, when Clemson stunned the Tide with a 35-31 victory in the 2017 CFP National Championship while sporting the same +185 odds currently available at Sportsbook 1.
Here's how Clemson won the College Football Playoff Championship https://t.co/m0EcExrxqi pic.twitter.com/6GGtfoKdm8
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 10, 2017
The oddsmakers at Sportsbook 2 are offering even more attractive odds on a Clemson CFP victory, with the Tigers pegged as 6.5-point underdogs and a +190 moneyline wager after opening at +200.
But loyal sports bettors confident in the Tide’s ability to extend their current SU win streak to 17 games will currently find their best wagering options at Sportsbook 1, where the Tide are pegged as 6-point chalk and will pay out on short -225 odds with an outright victory.
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
