Georgia Still Top Dawg; Saban-Less ’Bama Dips in National Title Odds

Carson Beck and his targets got some work in during UGA’s maymester break and let some cameras in on the action

Beck’s release rolling left looks pretty effortless in some of these shots by @MarcelASJax pic.twitter.com/CNKEQHJPBM

— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) May 28, 2024

Other contenders include Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns (+700), but Texas will be adjusting to their inaugural season in the SEC. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has Vegas bullish on the Ducks at +900.

Here’s an early look at the college football title contenders.

Alabama Offers Bettors a Non-Saban Discount

You may have noticed we have yet to mention Alabama. That’s because ’Bama has taken a bit of a dip in the odds, assuredly due to the retirement of Nick Saban.

Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide is tied for fifth in the title odds at the sportsbook at +1400. Most teams would love to be listed as a top-five title contender, but Alabama is not most teams.

Nick Saban played his part in 5⭐️ WR Ryan Williams re-committing to Alabama 👀 pic.twitter.com/f4c5Yq3AS4

— Rivals (@Rivals) February 8, 2024

DeBoer, in his first season at Alabama after leading Washington to the national title game, has the benefit of having a seasoned quarterback in Jalen Milroe. The playmaker had an up and down 2023, but the Crimson Tide did enough to make the College Football Playoff.

All that to say it is a bit surprising to look at the NCAA odds to see a sizable gap between Bama and teams like Georgia.

How Will the Expanded CFP Impact the Eventual Champion?

It is easy to forget that this postseason will look a lot different this year as the old four-team playoff is no more. Instead, we will see the initial version of the 12-team playoff.

Popular pundits are assuming this will still lead to the usual suspects eventually fighting for a national championship. Yet, we do not know this for sure.

There are crazier things to imagine than one of the lower seeds going on a two- or three-game hot streak. This reality makes some of the teams with longer odds more intriguing than most years, given the number of schools that will now make the playoff.

Do Longshots Have Better Chance to Win National Title?

It is still hard to imagine a team with crazy long odds hoisting the championship trophy. Yet, there are a few programs to watch listed at +2000 odds or greater.

Fresh off getting their CFP snub, Florida State sits at +2000 with Oregon State transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Clemson will look to survive Dabo Swinney’s anti-transfer portal stance with +3000 odds.

Former 5⭐️ DJ Uiagalelei is a BIG QB 👀💪

What are your expectations for him at Florida State?

(via X/@LogansTwitty) pic.twitter.com/UspmTnXfiI

— Rivals (@Rivals) March 30, 2024

Both teams may have a leg up on the competition with a cleaner path to making the College Football Playoff by playing in the ACC. Swinney has weirdly attempted to defend Clemson’s lack of aggression in the transfer portal by saying freshman players are technically transfers.

“Honestly, every player is technically a transfer,” Swinney said, per CBS Sports. “We just signed a whole class of guys transferring from high school.”

Dabo Swinney explained his approach to the transfer portal 👀

Clemson has added zero transfers in the 2024 cycle.

(via ACC Network) pic.twitter.com/MEWoSg1Hde

— Rivals (@Rivals) May 15, 2024

Not technically in the ACC, but Notre Dame is also a team to watch at +2800.

Critics of the expanded postseason have argued that we are heading into a watered-down postseason following a regular season that will not have an every-week playoff feel to it. Yet, it feels like this college football season is more anticipated than anything we’ve had since the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014.

More teams means more fan bases are going to be caring in November and December. This should lead to even more meaningful games late in the season. The question at sportsbooks is whether that is going to lead to a different national championship.

Questions of the Day