It is the silly season for college football. The spring transfer portal is open to offer free agents, er, student-athletes the chance to renegotiate their contracts, er, NIL deals, and lawsuits also remain open between the ACC and Florida State, and Florida State and the ACC.
The good news is practices are in full swing, and big spring intrasquad games are about to draw large, loyal crowds – and their dollars – to get their first peeks at their beloved teams that will compete for the expanded College Football Playoffs this fall.
And that can only mean one thing: Now is as good a time as any to make a wager on college football futures at top-rated sportsbooks.
2024-25 NCAAF Championship Winner Odds
- Georgia +325
- Ohio State +425
- Texas +700
- Oregon +750
- Alabama +1400
- LSU +1600
- Ole Miss +1700
- Michigan +1800
- Florida State +2400
- Missouri +3000
- Notre Dame +3100
- Penn State +3300
- Oklahoma +3750
- Texas A&M +3750
- Clemson +4000
- Tennessee +4250
- USC +4750
- Washington +5500
- Miami (FL) +6000
- Kansas State +6750
- Utah +7500
The ‘Smart’ Money is on Georgia
Now that Nick Saban is gone from the Alabama scene, will the SEC specifically, and college football in general turn into an autumn playground for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs?
Well, it seems that way for 2024 according to the top sportsbooks. Georgia is at the top of the chalk board as the favorite to win the 2025 CFP Trophy, and getting chalkier by the moment at +325 after opening +400.
Georgia has Carson Beck back at QB, and beefed up the receiver corps through the transfer portal. The Bulldogs will play one of the most daunting schedules of the 2024 season, opening with a neutral-site contest against Clemson, plus facing road dates at Alabama and Texas.
And the Rest of the SEC
Much of the country was upset when two teams from the SEC made the College Football Playoffs in the previous CFP setup, so they should be plenty mad when four or more make the grade now that 12 teams are in the mix.
One of those should be Texas, a newcomer to the SEC after moving over from the Big 12. The Longhorns are priced +700 at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review) to win it all after opening +950 following a trip to the CFP last season.
Texas will challenge Georgia in the tough schedule department, making a Week 2 trip to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan, playing Oklahoma a week before hosting Georgia and closing with a renewal of the rivalry with Texas A&M at College Station.
Alabama’s first season sans Saban should be interesting, to say the least. New head coach Kalen DeBoer is already facing controversy from his days at Washington, and he’ll be under increasing pressure with the Crimson Tide +1400 to win the CFP crown, up from +575 at the opener.
Also among the top 10 favorites are LSU (+1600) and Ole Miss (+1700). Missouri (+3000), Oklahoma (+3750) and Texas A&M (+3750) trail the conference frontrunners.
Tigers & ‘Noles Top ACC Hopefuls
Things are getting nasty in the ACC, and the outcomes of the lawsuits that the conference and Florida State are embroiled in will eventually determine if the league can hold on to present Power 4 status.
Trust me when I say it would be a nightmare for the ACC if Florida State won the conference crown this year, which is exactly what they’re favored to do at +250 on the league futures, right alongside Clemson.
While the Tigers and Seminoles share status as favorites to win the ACC, Florida State is heavier chalk on the NCAAF odds boards to win its first National Championship since 2013. The Seminoles are +2400 in that column while Clemson is a more distant +4000.
Can Utes Win Big 12 in 1st Season?
Even with the loss of Texas and Oklahoma, the Big 12 will remain the best college football conference in the country. However, the league will take a step behind the SEC, Big Ten and ACC on the gridiron.
Utah is slightly favored over Kansas State to take home league honors in 2024. It’s the Utes’ first season after the demise of the Pac-12, but both of them (+7500) and the Wildcats (+6600) are well back on the College Football Playoff odds.
Ohio State 2nd Behind Georgia on CFP Odds
Another team set to challenge for a conference crown in its first season with a new league is Oregon. The Ducks are +225 to win the Big Ten, and a respectable +700 for the National Championship. They are fourth in the current pecking order.
It’s Ohio State, however, carrying the chalkiest number to win the Big Ten at +125. The Buckeyes are running second to Georgia on CFP odds at +400.
It’s going to take some time getting used to seeing Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington in the Big Ten. Still, maybe that Week 7 meeting in Eugene between the Ducks and Buckeyes will help us all get used to the changes.
Other B1G games that are sure to be popular for college football picks include a Week 6 matchup in Seattle between Washington and Michigan, a rematch of last season’s title tilt and the first-ever USC-UCLA clash as Big Ten rivals a week before Thanksgiving.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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