College Football Futures Odds & Picks: Why to Bet Ohio State to Win 2023 National Championship
Emilee Chinn/Getty Images. Pictured: CJ Stroud (7) and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
College Football 2023 National Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +200 |
| Georgia Bulldogs | +250 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +800 |
| Clemson Tigers | +1000 |
| Texas A&M Aggies | +4000 |
| Oklahoma Sooners | +4000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +4000 |
| Oregon Ducks | +4200 |
| USC Trojans | +5000 |
| Florida Gators | +5000 |
| Miami Hurricanes | +6000 |
| Tennessee Volunteers | +8000 |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | +8000 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | +8000 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | +8000 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | +10000 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | +10000 |
| Texas Longhorns | +10000 |
| Washington Huskies | +10000 |
| Odds as of Jan. 11 and via FanDuel. | |
On the heels of a breakthrough National Championship for Georgia, there’s no time to waste getting down on futures for the 2023 College Football Playoff.
The win for the Bulldogs was monumental for a sport that has been dominated by a short list of FBS teams. Georgia is proof that the crown in college football requires blue-chip recruiting, an all-star coaching staff and a few heartbreaking losses.
Cincinnati and Michigan followed in a long line for semifinal teams not covering big spreads. Because the transfer portal has been a boon for the best teams in the nation, there is a large gap between the proven brands and 40-1 bubble teams.
Teams with new head coaches generally struggle in the initial year with new coordinators and schemes. Miami, Oregon, Oklahoma, USC and Florida all fit the profile of teams that are on the playoff bubble while going through transition.
Clemson is sure to draw plenty of interest, but heavy turnover in the coaching staff and questions about quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei persist.
After a breakout performance against Notre Dame in relief of Trevor Lawrence in 2020, Uiagalelei finished the 2021 campaign with more interceptions than touchdowns. Unless Clemson can get a Caleb Williams from the transfer portal, the Tigers do not have a case to beat the two best offenses in college football.
Alabama is properly priced at +200, as 2021 was a rebound year in player turnover. Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young will return with an endless amount of weapons. Head coach Nick Saban spoke often of the youth on the roster, a primary factor in bottom-10 ranking in penalties.
The portal continues to be kind for Alabama, with former LSU cornerback Eli Ricks and Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs arriving in Tuscaloosa.
If there’s a team that fits the blue-chip recruiting profile with an all-star coaching staff, Ohio State provides every element an investor could want in January.
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back TreVeyon Henderson may be the most explosive duo in college football, which is great news for Heisman contender quarterback CJ Stroud.
The soon-to-be sophomore mirrored Young’s Heisman numbers while posting one of the lowest pressure-to-sack rates in the nation.
The biggest acquisition in all of college football is new Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. With Knowles leading the defense, Oklahoma State posted the best three-and-out defensive percentage in the nation, led by a defensive line generating constant Havoc.
Ohio State, with a defense that plays to Oklahoma State’s 2021 level, will be favored over every other team in FBS besides Alabama.
The schedule is a challenge with an opener against Notre Dame. Conference road trips to Penn State and Michigan State will be challenges, and hosting Wisconsin and Michigan makes this one of the tougher schedules in 2022.
The addition of Knowles is the difference-maker in a market that’s offering +800 odds.
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