College Football National Championship Odds: Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama Biggest Liabilities
Aaron Thornton/Getty. Pictured: Michigan football players.
After three weeks of college football, National Championship odds haven't shifted in a massive way.
The opening favorites have remained at the top of the odds table while no longshots have made remarkably major pushes thus far, and bettors are looking to get ahead of those opportunities.
In particular, the Michigan Wolverines have attracted serious love from bettors, and they're the biggest liability in the market for BetMGM.
Michigan opened the year at +3500, and heavy action has taken the Wolverines down to +2500, but they haven't accomplished that much on the year thus far.
Wins against UConn, Hawaii and Colorado State aren't going to carry Michigan into the College Football Playoff picture, but last year's Playoff participants are currently ranked fourth in the AP Poll.
With 10.6% of the tickets and 7.7% of the handle at such a long price, it's easy to understand how the Wolverines present a liability for sportsbooks.
The second biggest liability in the market? The Ohio State Buckeyes.
While an Ohio State-Michigan National Championship would be a dream from an entertainment perspective, it's far more likely we see Ohio State in that position, according to the odds.
The Buckeyes are +300 to win the National Championship, down from their opening price of +600.
Though Ohio State struggled against Notre Dame, it is 3-0 with wins over the Fighting Irish, Toledo and Arkansas State. The latter two victories aren't the most inspiring, but the win over Notre Dame was an important one, as Ohio State trailed in the third quarter.
15.7% of the betting tickets and 27.6% of the money is on Ohio State.
As you would expect, the final biggest liability to the books is Alabama, who has also had some shaky moments but is 3-0.
The Crimson Tide have tracked 17.5% of the betting tickets and 26.4% of the handle at +200, the same number that Alabama opened at.
USC is the biggest mover thus far, moving from an opening price of +3500 to +1200 after three comfortable victories over Rice, Stanford and Fresno State.
The Trojans have amassed 5.3% of the tickets and 4.0% of the money.
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