Editor’s note: The article and odds were updated on September 18th, 2023
This is our fourth installment of the upcoming 2023 college football season as we provide an inside look at the top teams in the nation. Week 0 came and went with Notre Dame and USC winning their respective games.
However, not a lot has changed regarding the NCAAF futures to win the National Championship.
The college football odds, courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook, reveal that the reigning national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs, remain the favorites at +240 to reclaim the title, while there is action coming in on Clemson, as the Tigers have climbed up the odds ladder from +2000 in our last edition to +1800 as of this writing.
And before we analyze the current Top 10 favorites, don’t forget to explore the many handicapping tools available to you right here at OddsTrader. Whether it is our college football computer picks or our power rankings, there is always something for everyone.
OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
- The last time the Georgia Bulldogs lost a regular season game the COVID-19 pandemic was in full throttle. The date was November 7th, 2020 when the Dawgs would suffer a 44-28 blowout to the 8th-ranked Florida Gators.
- Although returning senior, Jase McClellan, is in line as the Tide’s No. 1 running back, five-star recruit, and incoming freshman, Justice Haynes, boasts an elite skillset that could make him a superstar in his debut season at Alabama.
- Despite C.J. Stroud exiting Columbus for the fame and fortune of the NFL, Kyle McCord is a solid replacement and will have returning stars Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as lethal receiving targets accompanied by a dynamic duo in the backfield consisting of Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson.
- Unanimous All-American and First-team All-Big-Ten running back, Blake Corum, will look to replicate his stunning 2022 season in which he scored 18 touchdowns on 1463 yards delivering a 5.9 yards per carry average. Couple that with another rushing sledgehammer, last year’s Big Ten Football Championship Game MVP, Donovan Edwards, and Michigan will be a nightmare on the ground for opposing run-stop units.
- If there is a relative dark horse to consider in capturing the national title this season, USC could be it. The Trojans have a returning Heisman Trophy winner in Caleb Williams returning while his team was ranked the No. 1 recruiting class of 2023, encompassing both high school and transfer portal recruits.
| Team | Odds to Win National Championship |
|---|---|
| Georgia Bulldogs | +230 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +400 |
| Texas Longhorns | +1000 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +1000 |
| Florida State Seminoles | +1000 |
| USC Trojans | +1400 |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | +1600 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | +1600 |
| LSU Tigers | +2800 |
| Oregon Ducks | +3000 |
1. Georgia Bulldogs (+230)
- Last Year’s Record: 15-0
- Final Ranking: No. 1 – National Championship – Defeated TCU
The last time the Georgia Bulldogs lost a regular season game, the COVID-19 pandemic was in full throttle. The date was November 7th, 2020 when the Dawgs would suffer a 44-28 blowout to the 8th-ranked Florida Gators.
Despite losing Stetson Bennett, the Bulldogs will have a suitable replacement under center, as the upper-echelon teams always do, with Carson Beck the likely candidate. But equally as critical is the talent on both sides of the ball that will be returning, and that includes Mackey Award-winning tight end, Brock Bowers.
However, don’t overlook Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett, who averaged over 15 yards per reception last season, only the fifth receiver since 1993 to average over 15 yards per reception on 50 or more receptions in the Tigers’ football program history.
He will stretch the field for a dynamic offense whose lone weak link was getting the ball deep last season. Through the air, Georgia ranked 28th for 30+ yard passing plays, 76th for 40+ yard plays, and 37th for 50+ yard plays.
2. Michigan Wolverines (+400)
- Last Year’s Record: 13-1
- Final Ranking: No. 3 – CFP Semifinal – Lost to TCU
The Wolverines have the luxury of returning their starting quarterback, JJ McCarthy, to guide this potent offense for another season. Cornelius Johnson will likely be McCord’s primary target, while much is expected of tight-end twin-set Colston Loveland and a transfer who was a captain on last year’s Indiana squad, AJ Barner.
Unanimous All-American and First-team All-Big-Ten running back, Blake Corum, will look to replicate his stunning 2022 season in which he scored 18 touchdowns on 1463 yards delivering a 5.9 yards per carry average. Couple that with another rushing sledgehammer, last year’s Big Ten Football Championship Game MVP, Donovan Edwards, and Michigan will be a nightmare on the ground for opposing run-stop units.
But ESPN college football pundit, Greg McElroy, is also excited about this year’s Michigan‘s defense, stating, “I love the depth of this defense. I love the edge this defense plays with and it seems like every year it’s like man, I wonder what Michigan is going to roll out Week 1 with what they have on the edge? It’s like one year after another it’s like every year, here comes another all-American defensive end. Take your pick this year, there’s plenty of options to choose from. I love this Michigan group from top to bottom, this should be one of the nation’s very best.”
4. Ohio State Buckeyes (+1000)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 4 – CFP Semifinal – Lost to Georgia
Ryan Day has had an impressive tenure in his first four seasons as the Buckeyes’ head coach, as evidenced by his 45-6 record. However, his inability to win the big games has dogged him, especially after losing to archrival, Michigan, two years running in The Game, and failing to win a national title with Ohio State.
At most programs, Day would be recognized as a local hero, but expectations run high in Columbus, and he understands that coming up short, especially to the Wolverines, could be his ticket out of town which is why this year could be a make-it-or-break-it season.
Despite C.J. Stroud exiting Columbus for the fame and fortune of the NFL, Kyle McCord is a solid replacement and will have returning stars Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as lethal receiving targets accompanied by a dynamic duo in the backfield consisting of Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson.
6. USC Trojans (+1400)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-3
- Final Ranking: No. 12 – Cotton Bowl – Lost to Tulane
If there is a relative dark horse to consider in capturing the national title this season, USC could be it. The Trojans have a returning Heisman Trophy winner in Caleb Williams returning, while his team was ranked the No. 1 recruiting class of 2023, encompassing both high school and transfer portal recruits.
Anything short of a Pac-12 championship would be a glaring disappointment, and a trip to the CFP is almost expected when a talented team such as USC gets the luxury of a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback returning for another season.
Of course, Williams’ top target, Jordan Addison, has left for the greener grass in the NFL, where he was selected as the No. 23 overall pick by the Vikings, but there is still plenty of offensive talent to make the Trojans a national title contender.
13. Alabama Crimson Tide (+5000)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 5 – Sugar Bowl – Defeated Kansas State
Alabama has the unique challenge of entering the season with brand-new offensive and defensive coordinators as well as an inexperienced quarterback. The Crimson Tide failed to reach the SEC Championship Game last year for the first time since 2019, and Nick Saban will be hell-bent on making things right in Tuscaloosa.
Jalen Milroe has the inside track on the quarterback job, but redshirt freshman Ty Simpson and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner are still very much in the running. Nevertheless, replacing Bryce Young will be a tall task, which is why many believe Bama’s stable of tailbacks will be leaned on to do more than ever.
Although returning senior Jase McClellan is in line as the Tide’s No. 1 running back, five-star recruit, and incoming freshman, Justice Haynes, boasts an elite skillset that could make him a superstar in his debut season at Alabama.
College Football FAQs
Question: Where can I bet on the 2024 College Football National Championship?
Answer: The best online sportsbooks are the safest online sportsbooks, which are those licensed in jurisdictions where online sports betting is legal in the United States. The top-rated books are BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, PointsBet, Bet365, Unibet, SugarHouse, BetRivers, SBK, MaximBet, and DraftKings. All offer a wide variety of NCAAF props, futures, and point spreads.
Question: What types of bets are popular with college football?
Answer: The most popular bet is the point spread bet where the underdog is getting points or the favorite is giving points. However, moneylines, where no point spread is involved have grown increasingly popular, as have over/under, or total bets, where bettors can wager over or under on the combined total of the two teams in that game.
Question: Do I have to bet a lot?
Answer: No, the minimum bet is as low as $1 and accounts can be funded with as little as $10 at many of the books across the nation.
