As the college football regular season enters its final weeks, the race for the College Football Playoff is heating up. Tuesday night’s CFP rankings release saw the top 5 remain unchanged, but a deeper dive into the betting odds reveals some intriguing storylines to watch heading into Week 13.
Ohio State, Oregon Lead Title Odds
Despite sitting at No. 2 in the CFP rankings, the Ohio State Buckeyes (+300) are the betting favorites to win the national championship according to the latest odds. Right behind them is No. 1 ranked Oregon (+450), fresh off a nail-biting victory over Wisconsin last weekend.
Rounding out the top title contenders are No. 3 Texas (+500), No. 10 Georgia (+500), and No. 7 Alabama (+800). The Crimson Tide in particular face a critical road test this week at Oklahoma, where a third loss would likely end their playoff hopes.
Big Ten Boasts Three of Top Five
The Big Ten conference flexed its muscle in the latest rankings, placing three teams in the top 5 with Ohio State, No. 4 Penn State (20-1 title odds), and No. 5 Indiana (25-1). The Hoosiers have been the surprise story of the season, but face their toughest test yet in traveling to Columbus to take on the mighty Buckeyes this Saturday.
This shapes up to be a statement game for Indiana. A win would validate everything they’ve accomplished so far. On the flip side, an Ohio State victory could start their march to another Big Ten crown.
– Anonymous Big Ten Coach
Big 12 on the Outside Looking In?
With Oklahoma State’s loss last week, the Big 12’s playoff chances are on thin ice. No. 14 BYU has the best odds at 250-1, followed by No. 16 Colorado at 40-1. Those two face off in a critical game this weekend that will go a long way in determining the Big 12 championship race. But even a 12-1 champion could get left out of the top 4 entirely, based on the current landscape.
Potential Chaos Looms
Of course, it wouldn’t be college football without some late-season chaos. No. 12 Boise State (100-1) and No. 13 SMU (50-1) are both undefeated looking to crash the Power 5 party. The ACC still has No. 8 Miami (40-1) and No. 17 Clemson (50-1) in the mix. And sleeping giants like No. 18 South Carolina (400-1) and No. 19 Army (500-1) can’t be counted out just yet.
The Road Ahead
With rivalry week on deck and the conference championships looming, expect the unexpected. Teams will rise and fall, and the betting odds are sure to shift dramatically. But as things stand entering Week 13, here are the playoff odds, conference title odds, and national title odds for each top 25 CFP team:
- No. 1 Oregon: Playoff Lock | Conference -115 | Title +450
- No. 2 Ohio State: Playoff -8000 | Conference -115 | Title +300
- No. 3 Texas: Playoff -1400 | Conference +150 | Title +500
- No. 4 Penn State: Playoff -900 | Conference 35-1 | Title 20-1
- No. 5 Indiana: Playoff -350 | Conference +850 | Title 25-1
Buckle up for what promises to be a wild ride to the finish line. In this unprecedented 2024 season, one thing is for certain – anything can happen. Who will rise to the occasion and secure their spot in the 2024 College Football Playoff? We’ll find out soon enough.
