College Football National Championship Betting Odds 2019

David Caraviello

December 27th, 2018

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2019 College Football Title Game Futures Betting Tips

Alabama is the top seed and the overall favorite to win the College Football Playoff, but the other three teams have all of one loss between them and some superstar players capable of making their marks.

So for college football betting fans looking to wager on an overall winner of the playoff, is the Crimson Tide the best bet?

Well — maybe. College football bowl betting can be tricky, and there are eight ways the playoff could break down, with some of those scenarios presenting more value than others, even if they potentially stretch the boundaries of reality.

Trying to keep things realistic while hunting for value at the same time, here’s a ranking of the eight futures on the CFP ahead of Alabama facing Oklahoma and Clemson battling Notre Dame in Saturday’s national semifinals.

1. Alabama defeats Notre Dame (+500 with 888Sport)

The Tigers may be 12.5-point favorites, but they’re dealing with the wrong kind of drama given Dexter Lawrence’s positive drug test, and suddenly seem a tad vulnerable against Notre Dame’s strong defense and accurate quarterback.

If either underdog is going to spring the upset, the Irish seem the most likely. A nice payday even with the Tide winning the title, combining value and reality all in one.

2. Clemson defeats Alabama (+375)

The most likely matchup in the championship game, pitting the two favorites. At full strength, given the pressure that Clemson defensive front can bring on Tide quarterback Tua Tagovialoa, the Tigers are very capable of pulling the upset.

3. Notre Dame defeats Alabama (+2500)

Unlikely to be sure given that the Irish would have to pull two substantial upsets. But the Irish are solid on both sides of the ball, and it’s hard to overlook that value.

4. Alabama defeats Clemson (-134)

The chalk pick. It’s safe, but it’s no fun, and it doesn’t bring a whole lot in return.

5. Clemson defeats Oklahoma (+700)

This payoff should probably be larger, given that even setting up this championship game would require Oklahoma to upset a 14-point favorite. The Sooners present an atrocious defense, and anything with them in the final feels like a reach.

6. Oklahoma defeats Clemson (+2000)

A detour into Crazytown. No question, Kyler Murray is an outstanding quarterback capable of putting up a lot of points. But beating both Alabama and Clemson would require a level of performance from the Sooners’ defense that we simply have not seen to this point.

7. Notre Dame defeats Oklahoma (+5000)

In the four-year history of the College Football Playoff to this point, we’ve had exactly two seeded upsets in the semifinals, so it’s hard to imagine as many occurring over one Saturday. But if you want to get totally nutty and bet on the two underdogs causing chaos, the Irish are the more complete team.

8. Oklahoma defeats Notre Dame (+3300)

Let me guess — you’re from Tulsa and you named your dog Boomer, right?