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2024 College Football National Championship Futures Odds with Expert Betting Predictions

by Mike Allen - 12/10/2024

College football National Championship odds and predictions Ashton Jeanty Boise State Broncos

The college football regular season has more or less come to a close. We still have the Army-Navy game this weekend, but make no mistake. Whether you're a fan of the new transfer portal and the semi-pro nature of the sport, you must love the new 12-team College Football Playoff format.

At the beginning of the season just a few months ago, we had betting odds on every team to make the playoffs. We avoided the usual suspects as their betting odds were already out of reach.

These were teams like the Big Ten Champion Oregon Ducks, the SEC Champion and defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Texas Longhorns, who were all (-220) and above to make the CFP.

We paid a little bit of juice for Penn State and Notre Dame but got Clemson at betting odds of 2-1.

We also had a couple of sleepers, Boise State at (+460) and SMU at a whopping 10-1. Now that you have a bit more cushion to your bankroll, we can place some bets on the 1st round matchups and predict a 12-team College Football Playoff winner.

Suppose you still need to become familiar with the format. In that case, Arizona State and Boise State are seeded higher than Ohio State or Texas because the four highest-ranked conference champions take the top 4 seeds in the playoffs.

First-round games will be played at the stadium of the higher seed. The quarterfinals will be played at the Sugar, Rose, Fiesta, and Peach Bowls. The semifinals will be played at the Cotton and Orange Bowls, and the college football championship will be decided inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Let's look at the betting odds to win it all and touch on this week's games against the spread.

Doc’s Sports offers college football expert picks for every game on our college football predictions page.

Betting Odds to Win the College Football Championship

Georgia: +360

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has been ruled out for the season after a Longhorn hooked his shoulder from behind on a throw. Many pundits use this as a reason to jump off the Bulldog train.

The sportsbooks, however, realize that Beck may not be as important to his team as once thought and feel good about Georgia potentially three-peating for another College Football Championship.

Texas: +365

Even though the Bulldogs hold a 2-0 season series lead over the Longhorns, we see them with nearly identical betting odds. Athens may not be the only place we're seeing a shake-up at quarterback. The media, along with man fans down there in Austin, seem to like Arch Manning better than Quinn Ewers.

Unlike uncles Eli and Peyton, Arch is quite mobile. That, along with the grass-appearing-greener-effect, has led to calls to replace the slower Ewers. It isn't the best way to start the postseason, but I suppose having two star QBs is better than just one.

Oregon: +390

What must the Oregon Ducks do to get some respect around here? They're the only undefeated team in the nation, and the teams above them have QB issues, yet they aren't betting favorites to win the CFB Championship.

Not only did the Ducks get the shaft from the sportsbooks, but the selection committee gave them the more difficult road to the finals.

Ohio State: +550

We buy low and sell high. Now is 100% the time to buy low on the Buckeyes. Their sputtering offense may not get going. However, their roster is as talented and deep as any other team, and their defense may be the best in the playoffs.

Penn State: +700

Penn State is strong, but their head coach finds a way to lose big games. James Franklin is 3-17 against top ten teams. How can you get behind that in a top-12 tournament?

Notre Dame: +1000

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish may have the best rushing attack in the nation, and that doesn't even include their quarterback, Riley Leonard, who may have the best legs of anyone at his position in the playoffs.

Defense and running games travel well at this time of the year.

Tennessee: +2500

Dropping off significantly are the betting odds on Tennessee here. The Vols are as dangerous as anyone, and their QB, Nico lamaleave, is incredibly talented, but the 20-year-old has been consistently inconsistent down the stretch this year.

SMU: +4000

After joining the ACC, it's been a dream season for the Southern Methodist Mustangs. Some will tell you they're more dangerous than Boise State, but I like the Broncos much more to make a run in the cold weather.

Arizona State: +4000

Winners of six straight, including a drubbing of Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship, the Arizona State Sun Devils are a very dangerous offensive team. This team isn’t prepared for the winter elements, and it’ll show.

Indiana: +4000

The Indiana Hoosiers have had a Cinderella season so far. That is until the Buckeyes returned them to earth a few weeks ago. The defense is better than you think, but we are talking about four more wins. That's quite the stretch. We could look their way if they're still there after the first round.

Boise State: +4000

Boise State has the #1 running back in the nation with Ashton Jeanty. The junior has rushed for nearly 2,500 yards on more than 7/carry. A cold-weather team that can run the ball could be a big problem.

Clemson: +5000

The Clemson Tigers somehow made it to the playoffs and, believe it or not, are the most popular upset pick of the 1st round.

Teams with 1st Round Byes

1, Oregon

2. Georgia

3. Arizona State

4. Boise State

1st Round College Football Playoff Games

No. 10 Indiana (+7.5) at No. 7 Notre Dame Odds (-7.5) Total: 50.5

(12/20 at 8 PM South Bend, IN)

The spread is wider than a touchdown for a reason. I like the Fighting Irish to win the seldom-played intra-state rivalry game.

No. 11 SMU (+8.5) at No. 6 Penn State Odds (-8.5) Total: 53.5

(12/21 at 12 PM Happy Valley, PA)

The cold weather will likely play a role here, but SMU has zero quit. I would hesitate before I took the Nittany Lions to cover the (-8.5).

No. 12 Clemson (+11) at No. 5 Texas Odds (-11) Total: 51

(12/21 at 4 PM Austin, TX)

The Longhorns better not look past Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers. Their quarterback is better with his legs than his arm, which isn't ideal, but it may work for this time of year. The Tigers have plenty of 5-star recruits on both sides of the ball and a defense that can hang.

The 11 points seem excessive against a team so well-coached and recruited.

No. 9 Tennessee (+7.5) at No. 8 Ohio State (-7.5) Total: 47

(12/21 at 8 PM Columbus, OH)

Whoever wins the turnover battle may come out ahead in this one. The Vols have a much more explosive offense. And if their quarterback can protect the ball, look out! I still like the Buckeyes to find a way to win. Head coach Ryan Day had better hope so after yet another loss to Michigan.

Quarterfinals

Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs Penn State/SMU Winner

(Dec 31st at 7:30 PM Glendale, AZ)

Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs Texas/Clemson

(Jan 1st at 1 PM Atlanta, GA)

Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs Ohio State/Tennessee  Winner

(Jan 1st at 4 PM Pasadena, CA)

Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs Indiana/Notre Dame Winner

(Jan 1st at 8 PM New Orleans, LA)

Semifinals

Orange Bowl (Jan 9th at 7:45 on ESPN in Miami Gardens, FL)

Cotton Bowl (Jan 10th at 7:45 on ESPN in Fair Park, TX)

College Football National Championship

(Jan 20th at 7:30 PM on ESPN in Atlanta, GA)

Predictions to Win the College Football Playoff

Ohio State: +550

The Ohio State Buckeyes were the betting favorites to win it this year before the season started, and we can't let recency bias rule our little minds. So, they couldn't beat Michigan again.

If the Buckeyes handle business at home on Saturday against the Vols, you’ll see this number drop a bit, so bet them now while their market value is the lowest.

Notre Dame: +1000

Notre Dame had their "What the heck" loss early in the season to Northern Illinois and built themselves up from there. The combination of elite defense, coaching, and a three-headed monster running the ball down your throat, is a problem for playoff teams.

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