College football national championship odds are starting to percolate, now that there’s two weeks’ worth of College Football Playoff rankings to ponder. Per usual, the SEC will have a big say in who hoists the trophy Jan. 10.
Unbeaten Georgia and one-loss Alabama are 1-2 in the latest CFP rankings. Not surprisingly, the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are 1-2 on the odds board, as well.
WynnBet trader Sawyer Johnson helps Props.com dive into College Football Playoff national championship odds and current action.
2021-22 College Football National Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
| Georgia | -125 |
| Alabama | +350 |
| Ohio State | +800 |
| Oklahoma | +800 |
| Oregon | +2,000 |
| Michigan | +6,000 |
| Cincinnati | +8,000 |
| Michigan State | +8,000 |
| Texas A&M | +10,000 |
| Notre Dame | +30,000 |
| Oklahoma State | +30,000 |
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 3 p.m. ET Nov. 11
Moving On Up
Georgia’s odds upgrade over the course of the 2021 season doesn’t necessarily look huge. But that upgrade is worth noting, if for no other reason than someone other than Alabama or Clemson is atop the college football championship odds board. Back in late August, the Bulldogs could be had for +525; now, they’re -125, with everyone else in plus-money territory.
While going from +525 to -125 is certainly noteworthy, it doesn’t mean sportsbooks have a ton of liability on Georgia (0-9 SU, 6-3 ATS). In fact, WynnBet is a winner if the Dawgs win it all.
“They are currently in a good spot for us, as we have been Georgia believers the entire season,” Johnson said.
Michigan State’s national championship odds move has been far more significant than Georgia’s, with potential to be far better for bettors and far worse for those behind the counter. But a Week 10 road loss to Purdue dropped the Spartans (8-1 SU, 6-1-2 ATS) from third and in the four-team playoff rankings to seventh and (for the moment) out of the event.
“Michigan State opened at +30,000 (300/1) and is now at +8,000,” Johnson said. “We have not been the highest on the Spartans this season, so our liability reflects it. If they win it all, it wouldn’t be great for us.”
Oregon (8-1 SU, 3-6 ATS) is another noteworthy climber on the CFP championship odds board, despite its bad loss at Stanford in Week 5. Helping the Ducks, who are currently No. 3 in the CFP rankings: their impressive Week 2 win at Ohio State.
“Oregon opened at +8,000 and is currently at +2,000,” Johnson said of the fifth choice on WynnBet’s board. “This is another team that we don’t have too much confidence in and will lose to if they win the national championship.
“Their best win came against an Ohio State team that is in a down year. We don’t have too much respect for the football that is being played in the Pac-12.”
Going The Wrong Way
Much like Georgia, SEC peer Alabama’s odds move this season isn’t a big one. But WynnBet’s risk room pointed to it as noteworthy simply because the Crimson Tide (8-1 SU, 5-4 ATS) slid backward, thanks largely to their Week 6 loss at Texas A&M. But WynnBet wouldn’t mind seeing Nick Saban lift another trophy.
“Alabama opened at +185 and is currently at +350,” Johnson said of the preseason favorite. “We win to the Crimson Tide. Even though they haven’t looked as dominant as usual, they still have a very good chance to win it all.”
Notre Dame is 8-1 SU (6-3 ATS) and currently No. 9 in the CFP rankings. But here’s a reminder that rankings and polls are a helluva lot different than odds: Of the 11 teams on WynnBet’s college football championship futures board, Notre Dame is tied for the longest odds.
“Notre Dame opened at +5,000 and is now at +30,000,” Johnson said, noting WynnBet isn’t too concerned, despite big liability. “We lose a significant amount to the Fighting Irish. We believe that like most years, this program is valued because of its name and history, not because of the football talent.”
Texas A&M’s Week 6 win over Alabama could’ve had the Aggies (7-2 SU, 6-3 ATS) firmly in the CFP championship odds conversation — if not for the two weeks that preceded the upset. The Aggies lost to Arkansas and Mississippi State prior to the ‘Bama victory. So while A&M is still on the board, it’s not getting any attention.
“Texas A&M opened at +3,000 and is now at +10,000,” Johnson said. “We win to the Aggies, as we haven’t seen many A&M backers this season. It didn’t help their cause that they opened the season as bad as they did.”
At 11th in the CFP, the Aggies are the lowest-ranked team that one can still wager on at WynnBet. Oklahoma State (8-1 SU, 7-2 ATS) is 10th in the CFP rankings and is tied with Notre Dame at +30,000 to win the title.
Ticket Takers And (Maybe) Money Makers
Ohio State (8-1 SU, 4-4-1 ATS) is currently fourth in the CFP rankings and is the +800 co-third choice on WynnBet’s odds board, along with Oklahoma. Which is interesting, because the Sooners (9-0 SU, 4-5 ATS) are eighth in the rankings and clearly need some help to get into the top four. The Buckeyes are taking the most tickets to win the national championship.
Alabama is seeing the second-most championship tickets at WynnBet, followed by Cincinnati. The Bearcats (9-0 SU, 5-4 ATS) have a quality road win over Notre Dame, but at fifth in the rankings, they are still on the outside looking in to even play in the CFP semifinals, let alone compete for the title.
And Cincy’s strength of schedule isn’t helping, which is why WynnBet currently has the Bearcats — who began the season at +15,000 (150/1) — as a +8,000 long shot. In fact, despite being next-in-line to get into the CFP party, Cincinnati’s title odds have fallen off sharply from its season-best +3,000 price in mid-October.
The top three teams in money at WynnBet are Alabama, Ohio State, and Georgia. As Johnson noted above, WynnBet is just fine with a ‘Bama or Georgia championship. And he doesn’t think the Buckeyes, who opened the season +800, have the goods.
“We lose to the Buckeyes, [but] we think this is a down Ohio State team that is being overvalued because of its name,” Johnson said.
