Comparing AP Rankings vs Odds: NCAA College Football Week 1

College football season is officially here as the Associated Press released its first poll of the season Monday. As one of the most prestigious preseason polls released every year, the AP poll plays a major roll in measuring expectations and anticipation for early season matchups.
The AP Top 25 is for many the great barometer for much of the season until the highly anticipated College Football Rankings are unveiled. The rankings are compiled via a weekly vote made by esteemed college football writers around the country. The website gets into further detail:
The AP Top 25 is determined by a simple points system based on how each voter ranks college football's best teams. A team receives 25 points for each first place vote, 24 for second place and so on through to the 25th team, which receives one point. The rankings are set by listing the teams' point totals from highest to lowest. The mathematical formula is the same as the one used for the AP Pro 32 rankings and the AP Top 25 rankings for men's and women's basketball.
Below we have the AP Top 25 listed next to outright future championship odds provided by some of our favorite sportsbooks. This table shows exactly how perceptions from the AP and oddsmakers may differ and hopefully it serves as an excellent guide for both those experienced and novice in college football betting.
AP Top 25 Week 1 vs CFP Championship Odds
Team | AP Ranking | Favourite Ranking | 888sport Odds | Coral Odds | Karamba Odds | RedZoneSports Odds | EnergyBet Odds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 1 | 1 | +240 | 11/5 | +220 | +275 | 9/4 |
Clemson | 2 | 2 | +500 | 6/1 | +700 | +500 | 6/1 |
Georgia | 3 | 4 | +900 | 8/1 | +800 | +800 | 8/1 |
Wisconsin | 4 | 6 | +2000 | 20/1 | +2200 | +2200 | 25/1 |
Ohio State | 5 | 3 | +750 | 6/1 | +700 | +800 | 7/1 |
Washington | 6 | 7 | +2500 | 33/1 | +2500 | +1800 | 20/1 |
Oklahoma | 7 | 8 | +2200 | 25/1 | +2200 | +2200 | 22/1 |
Miami | 8 | 9 | +2200 | 20/1 | +2500 | +2800 | 25/1 |
Auburn | 9 | 10 | +2200 | 28/1 | +2200 | +2000 | 25/1 |
Penn State | 10 | 5 | +1400 | 16/1 | +1400 | +1800 | 14/1 |
Michigan State | 11 | 14 | +3300 | 40/1 | +3000 | +2800 | 28/1 |
Notre Dame | 12 | 16 | +4000 | 50/1 | +4000 | +4000 | 33/1 |
Stanford | 13 | 17 | +5000 | 50/1 | +4000 | +4000 | 33/1 |
Michigan | 14 | 4 | +1400 | 14/1 | +1400 | +1500 | 11/1 |
USC | 15 | 15 | +3300 | 40/1 | +4000 | +4000 | 40/1 |
TCU | 16 | 20 | +5000 | 66/1 | +6600 | +6600 | 66/1 |
West Virginia | 17 | 18 | +5000 | 50/1 | +4000 | +5000 | 50/1 |
Mississippi State | 18 | 25 | +12500 | N/A | +12500 | +12500 | 100/1 |
Florida State | 19 | 13 | +3300 | 25/1 | +2800 | +2800 | 33/1 |
Virginia Tech | 20 | 19 | +5000 | 50/1 | +4000 | +5000 | 40/1 |
UCF | 21 | 23 | +10000 | 66/1 | +10000 | +10000 | 125/1 |
Boise State | 22 | 24 | +12500 | 100/1 | +12500 | +12500 | 100/1 |
Texas | 23 | 11 | +2500 | 25/1 | +2500 | +2200 | 25/1 |
Oregon | 24 | 21 | +5000 | 80/1 | +6600 | +6600 | 66/1 |
LSU | 25 | 12 | +3000 | 33/1 | +2800 | +4000 | 25/1 |
Discrepancies Could be Revealing Value
As can plainly be seen, there are quite a few discrepancies between each school’s offered odds of winning a national title and their actual ranking.
Alabama is predictably the unanimous number one and has the best odds of repeating their championship, while Clemson is ranked second and picked by most sportsbooks as the best team after Bama.
After those two teams, however, there’s relative chaos and a few bets that are worth considering due to their value based on the rankings comparison alone.
Three teams in particular will have Heisman-level quarterbacks that can at least get them to the college football playoff and their odds are tantalizing should they break through and lead their schools to glory.
Redzonesports.bet offers West Virginia, led by Will Grier, at +5000 odds of winning it all, Coral gives the Oregon Ducks and Justin Herbert just an 80/1 shot and Washington led by Jake Browning a 33/1 chance.
Recommended Betting Sites
- 1
100% Welcome Bonus up to £50 Promo Code: TONY50
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply In order to activate this bonus on the personal TonyBet account, please, enter the bonus code TONY50 when a deposit is made and wager your deposit 10 times on betting markets with odds of at least 1.65 within 30 days. This offer is available to new players who made the first deposit. All players must be 18+ years old and of a required legal age to gamble. Odd/even, no action (bets made on both sides of the same bet), cancelled bets, replicated bets and bets that have had their odds equated to 1 are not included into the bonus wagering. - 2
Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus Promo Code: 30FB
Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30FB - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager bonus amount x40 within 14 days • Wagering req. vary by game • Withdrawal restrictions and Full T&C’s apply - Full Terms Apply - 3
Bet £10, Get £10 in Free Bets
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+. New UK customers only. Min bet £10 to receive £10 Free Bet (placed and settled 35 days from registration). Min odds of 3/5. Free Bet credited at qualifying bet settlement and placed within 35 days. T&C's apply. Please gamble responsibly, www.begambleaware.org - Full Terms Apply - 4
Get up to £100 in Free Bets + up to 100% in Boosts
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+, New customers only. Deposit + bet £20-£100. Must Deposit £50 and opt in for marketing preferences for Boosts. Boosts credited 24 hours after deposit. Full T&Cs apply. Begambleware.org - 5
Open Account Offer - Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365
Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. 18+. New players only. www.begambleaware.org - Full Terms Apply - 6
Bet £10, Get £10
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. Full T&Cs apply. - 7
EXCLUSIVE: Bet £10, Get £10
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply - 8
Bet £200, Get £100 in Free Bets Promo Code: FBWELS
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+ New UK customers only; 6x wager requirement with 90 day expiry; Only sports bets contribute to wagering; Min. 2 selections at 1.4 min odds per selection; Max £100 per bet. 18+. T&C's Apply. Please bet responsibly. begambleaware.org - 9
Bet £20, Get £10
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+ New Customers Only. Minimum Deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Free Bet is £20. Customers who deposit using Neteller, Paysafe, Skrill or Skril 1-Tap will not be eligible for any free bet offer.BeGambleaware.org - 10
Bet £10, Get £20 in Free Bets
Stay In The Loop With Free Bets, Insider Tips & More!
Live Betting. Sports Promos. Sent Weekly.