Editor’s note: This article was updated on August 17th, 2022
This is our fourth installment of the upcoming college football season as OddsTrader goes over the top 10 favorites at the best US licensed sportsbooks.
The updated national championship college football odds have not moved since our last installment, except for one team, with the Tide leading the way followed closely by the Buckeyes and the defending national champions from Georgia.
And before we analyze the preseason’s best, don’t forget to explore the many handicapping tools available to you with the free OddsTrader BetStation app. Whether it is our college football computer picks or our power rankings there is always something for everyone.
OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
• Michigan is the only team in FanDuel’s national championship top 10 whose odds have moved since our last instalment.
• Ohio State took another hit at the running back position after was redshirt freshman, Evan Pryor, suffered an injury.
• Head coach Jimbo Fisher declares there is an open competition between Haynes King, LSU transfer Max Johnson, and true freshman Conner Weigman for the QB position.
• Tyler Buchner was recently named Notre Dame’s starting quarterback.
Below you’ll find the odds for the Top 10 college football teams. All odds are courtesy of FanDuel as of August 17th, 2022.
| Team | Odds to Win National Championship |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +180 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +300 |
| Georgia Bulldogs | +350 |
| Clemson Tigers | +800 |
| USC Trojans | +2000 |
| Texas A&M Aggies | +2500 |
| Oklahoma Sooners | +5000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +5000 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | +6000 |
| Texas Longhorns | +8000 |
OddsTrader’s Preseason Top 10
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (+180)
- Last Year’s Record: 13-2
- Final Ranking: No. 2 – National Championship – Lost to Georgia
Nick Saban holds no grudges when it comes to his one objective – winning a national championship. We saw that first-hand when Georgia’s Jermaine Burton, the Bulldogs’ second-leading receiver with 497 yards and five touchdowns, decided to enter the transfer portal and was scooped shortly thereafter by Saban.
It didn’t matter that Burton celebrated a national championship with a victory over the Tide only a few weeks prior. Saban has also landed former Louisville wideout, Tyler Harrell, who amassed 523 yards and 6 touchdowns via 18 receptions giving him a stunning 29.1 yards per catch average.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (+300)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 6 – Rose Bowl – Defeated Utah
The Buckeyes running back depth chart had already taken a hit back in May when Marcus Crowley medically retired from football following a devastating season-ending knee injury.
And the latest to fall was redshirt freshman, Evan Pryor, who was expected to play behind the talented tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams.
True freshman Dallan Hayden will move one rung up the depth chart and take Pryor’s spot.
3. Georgia Bulldogs (+350)
- Last Year’s Record: 14-1
- Final Ranking: No. 1 – National Championship – Defeated Alabama
It doesn’t appear as though Kirby Smart is too concerned about the exodus of talent that left Athens last season. “We’ve got a lot of good players to replace, but we’ve got a lot of good players to replace them with,” said the Bulldogs’ head coach.
When asked who would play opposite senior standout, Christopher Smith, at safety, Smart replied, “We’re not looking to find the starter opposite him. We’re looking to find the best four safeties we can find.”
4. Clemson Tigers (+800)
- Last Year’s Record: 10-3
- Final Ranking: No. 14 – Cheez-It-Bowl – Defeated Iowa State
Defensive end, Xavier Thomas, a fifth-year senior who impressed as a freshman with 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss has been hobbled by injuries and hampered by illness over his college career but this, his final season, was the one that he was hoping would make him a high draft pick in April of next year.
However, the injury bug bit again at a recent practice as there are several reports of Thomas being carted off the field. He followed it up with a cryptic tweet, “Life really isn’t fair man. It really isn’t.”
5. USC Trojans (+2000)
- Last Year’s Record: 4-8
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl
Lincoln Riley was the big catch the USC football program landed in the offseason and the Big Tuna brought along his quarterback at Oklahoma, Caleb Williams, as well as a talented triumvirate of top-notch receivers in Mario Williams (Oklahoma), Jordan Addison (Pitt) and Brenden Rice (Colorado).
However, the new defensive coordinator, Alex Grinch, does not have the same abundance of talent on his side of the ball and if there is a reason to bet under 9 ½ wins on the season, that would be it. We should also note the Trojans are ranked 14th in the AP Preseason Poll.
6. Texas A&M Aggies (+2500)
- Last Year’s Record: 8-4
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl (Covid)
The quarterback competition rages in College Station after last year’s starter, Haynes King, went down with an injury and was replaced by Zach Calzada who transferred to Auburn after the season. And although many in the press believe King will be reinstalled as the starter, head coach Jimbo Fisher declares there is an open competition between King, LSU transfer Max Johnson, and true freshman Conner Weigman.
“And he’s (King) getting more reps with the [first team] someone said?” Fisher said. “I did hear somebody say [that]. Is Haynes [getting more snaps?] I said, ‘No, they’re taking exactly [the same number of snaps]. They rotate days and take exactly the same number.”
7. Oklahoma Sooners (+5000)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 10 – Valero Alamo Bowl – Defeated Oregon
There has been plenty of upheaval in Norman since the sudden departure of Lincoln Riley followed by the surprise resignation of assistant coach Cale Gundy who said he could no longer continue in his capacity after using a word that he called “hurtful and shameful”.
Riley’s successor, Brent Venables, spoke about the mood of the team when he arrived and how it has transitioned since then.
“So, yes, it was an emotional locker room, but what’s been exciting to me is the hunger and the edge they’ve shown since we’ve been here. It’s been incredible and been that way since January. The harder we’ve made it, the better they’ve responded,” said Venables.
8. Michigan Wolverines (+5000)
- Last Year’s Record: 12-2
- Final Ranking: No. 3 – CFP Semifinal – Lost to Georgia
Michigan is the only team in FanDuel’s national championship top 10 whose odds have moved in the weeks since we last updated. The Wolverines have dropped from +6000 to +5000 to win it all and head coach Jim Harbaugh believes another conference championship and a national title are well within his grasp.
Michigan thrashed Iowa, 42-3, in the Big Ten Championship last year and wound up as the No. 3 seed in the CFP before falling to Georgia.
“Our goals would be to beat Ohio State and Michigan State in the same year, win the Big Ten championship and win the national championship,” he said.
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+6000)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 5 – Fiesta Bowl – Lost to Oklahoma
Senior Avery Davis was not a focal point of the Irish offense last year but he was a solid contributor with 27 receptions for 387 yards and 4 touchdowns. His experience and leadership were going to be counted on this season until he tore his ACL last week, ending his collegiate career.
It comes at a time when Tyler Buchner was recently named Notre Dame’s starting quarterback. The absence of an experienced target like Davis will be hard to replace for this Irish offense.
10. Texas Longhorns (+8000)
- Last Year’s Record: 5-7
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl
Head coach Steve Sarkisian has had to deal with his share of injuries and the deluge continued.
Junior wideout Isaiah Neyor and redshirt senior offensive lineman Junior Angilau both suffered season-ending ACL tears which only exacerbated an already injury-plagued preseason with senior running back Roshon Johnson, freshman offensive lineman Cole Hutson, and junior defensive back Jahdae Barron sidelined as well.
“Football is the game and that’s why you’ve got to continue to build depth so you have other guys to step up and play,” Sarkisian said.
Third Look
Editor’s note: This article was updated on July 31st, 2022.
This is our third installment of the upcoming college football season as we provide a preview of the best teams in the nation. The updated NCAAF national championship odds reveal that the oddsmakers believe this to be a four-horse race with Alabama as the frontrunner.
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.
Let’s check out what the oddsmakers are cooking, and go over the updated preseason college football odds of the top teams in the nation.
OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
• The oddsmakers have not moved off of Alabama’s number at all so far this preseason.
• At odds of +350, Georgia is not being overlooked by any means but head coach Kirby Smart has lost his defensive guru, Dan Lanning.
• Clemson was one of the few programs that had a grand total of zero transfers.
• Redshirt freshman Quinn Ewers is gunning for the starting job in Texas and if his pedigree is any indication, he is likely to get it. Ewers has been called a generational talent.
Below you’ll find the betting odds for the top 10 college football teams. All odds are courtesy of FanDuel.
| Team | Odds to Win National Championship |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +180 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +300 |
| Georgia Bulldogs | +350 |
| Clemson Tigers | +800 |
| USC Trojans | +2000 |
| Texas A&M Aggies | +2500 |
| Oklahoma Sooners | +5000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +6000 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | +6000 |
| Texas Longhorns | +8000 |
OddsTrader’s Preseason Top 10
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (+180)
- Last Year’s Record: 13-2
- Final Ranking: No. 2 – National Championship – Lost to Georgia
While we can’t say it is prudent to bet a team to win the national championship at odds of less than 2-1, what we can say is that the oddsmakers have not moved off of this number one iota.
And if a team remains so chalky throughout the preseason without any of the sharps taking a big bite on the other options at higher odds then this could be the scariest iteration of the Tide we have seen under Nick Saban…and we’ve seen some good ones!
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (+300)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 6 – Rose Bowl – Defeated Utah
Accountability and leadership are the buzz words that have been ringing throughout the Buckeyes’ locker room since the team regrouped after an 11-2 season that saw them miss the CFP courtesy of a loss to their archrivals, Michigan, in the last regular season game of the year. Quarterback CJ Stroud has taken the loss personally but vows to do more this year.
“I don’t think we’ve accomplished anything, to be honest with you. The personal goals are cool, but at the end of the day, I want to be a legend at the school,” Stroud said. “I want to be one of the best quarterbacks to play here, and I don’t think I’m even close. I definitely think last year was a learning curve and that’s not good enough for our standards and we need to do better.”
3. Georgia Bulldogs (+350)
- Last Year’s Record: 14-1
- Final Ranking: No. 1 – National Championship – Defeated Alabama
Just because the Dawgs are the reigning national champs doesn’t mean they are the oddsmakers’ choice to do it all over again. However, at odds of +350, they’re not being overlooked by any means and if there is one thing that Georgia has done better than any team in the nation over the last three years it’s stopping teams from scoring.
However, head coach Kirby Smart has lost his defensive guru, Dan Lanning, who is now the head coach at Oregon. Even coming close to his accomplishments will take a yeoman’s effort which is why Smart named not one, but two DCs (Will Muschamp and Glenn Schumann), to try to maintain the same level of devastation and destruction Lanning built.
4. Clemson Tigers (+800)
- Last Year’s Record: 10-3
- Final Ranking: No. 14 – Cheez-It-Bowl – Defeated Iowa State
We have heard more about the transfer portal than ever before with college kids team-hopping at will for a variety of reasons. The rationale can be sound but it can also be misguided and when you have teenagers making decisions that will determine the course of their future, well, things don’t always work out as planned.
However, that is one issue Dabo Swinney doesn’t have to worry about, at least not this year, because his program was one of the few that had a grand total of zero transfers. Swinney was asked about this and stated, “I think that, of the Power 5, there were only four teams that did not have anybody leave during spring and after spring. So, we had 109 guys go through spring and they’re all still here.”
5. USC Trojans (+2000)
- Last Year’s Record: 4-8
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl
It’s not often that you see a team that was 4-8 the year before becoming a top five contender for a national title. But then again, it’s not every day one of the most highly-sought coaches decides to leave their cushy job and take the reins at another big-time program.
But that’s what happened at USC as Lincoln Riley is coming to town and is bringing some pretty high-priced talent with him. Will it all work out or will Riley’s previous employer, the University of Oklahoma, get the last laugh? This is a storyline we will read about all season long as well as USC’s decision to bail from the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten in 2024.
6. Texas A&M Aggies (+2500)
- Last Year’s Record: 8-4
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl (Covid)
Jimbo Fisher had what many believe is the highest-rated recruiting class in college football history. And whatever magic Fisher is conjuring it’s continuing to work as evidenced by the No. 1 rated linebacker in the class of 2023, Anthony Hill, committing to Texas A&M over:
- Texas
- Alabama
- Miami
- USCOklahoma
“[Hill is] one of the most dynamic defensive prospects in Texas and the country for his class,” according to 247Sports national recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks, and “projects as an impact high-major starter with long-term early-round NFL Draft potential.”
7. Oklahoma Sooners (+5000)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 10 – Valero Alamo Bowl – Defeated Oregon
Brent Venables has big shoes to fill after Lincoln Riley took the money and ran all the way to the West Coast to coach the Trojans. But he will have a solid foundation to work with and, despite the offseason upheaval, the Sooners are the favorites to win the Big 12. If we take a quick run through their schedule we can easily see them in the CFP conversation when the curtain closes on the regular season.
8. Michigan Wolverines (+6000)
- Last Year’s Record: 12-2
- Final Ranking: No. 3 – CFP Semifinal – Lost to Georgia
After a CFP appearance, Michigan fans want more. And they just might get it if the moon and stars align and the co-offensive coordinators, Sherrone Moore and Matt Weiss, can continue the work that Josh Gattis left behind after leaving for the OC job in Miami.
When Harbaugh was recently asked about who his starting quarterback will be, he said, “Both really good,” Harbaugh said of the two-man QB battle featuring senior Cade McNamara and sophomore J.J. McCarthy. “They ask sometimes at other positions who’s going to play? I mean, the best player is going to play.”
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+6000)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 5 – Fiesta Bowl – Lost to Oklahoma
When Brian Kelly shocked the world and left the venerable halls of Notre Dame for another “football is religion” destination in LSU, he did so with a parting shot that essentially implied that the Irish football program was stuck in the Dark Ages and unable to compete for a national championship.
Well, his successor has a different perspective and expressed it at a press conference earlier this month. When asked if Notre Dame was equipped to win a national title, new head coach Marcus Freeman said, “Absolutely, absolutely. We won’t make excuses for what we don’t have. We have everything we need to truly maximize our potential and compete against the best teams in the country.”
10. Texas Longhorns (+8000)
- Last Year’s Record: 5-7
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl
Make no mistake, there is a quarterback battle brewing and it’s not a controversy because junior Hudson Card’s status as the No. 1 man was hardly ensconced in his sophomore campaign despite nearly pushing last year’s starter, Casey Thompson – who subsequently transferred to Nebraska, out of the starting role towards the end of the season.
As a top 10 team, one would think the most important position would be sewn up but redshirt freshman Quinn Ewers is gunning for the job and if his pedigree is any indication, he is likely to get it. Ewers was the No. 1 recruit of the 2022 class before he was reclassified for the 2021 class and has been called a generational talent. We shall see.
Second Look
Editor’s note: This article was updated on July 6th, 2022.
The college football season is drawing closer and OddsTrader decided it would be the perfect time to provide an update on the college football odds to win the national championship.
Although Georgia is the reigning CFP champion, they are playing second fiddle to Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide as far as the oddsmakers are concerned.
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.
Now, let’s see what the oddsmakers are dealing, and check out the updated preseason college football odds on the top teams in the nation.
OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
• Alabama’s offense will be bolstered by transfer Jermaine Burton (Georgia) at wideout and tailback Jahmyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech), the nation’s active leader in all-purpose yards.
• Big things are expected of the USC Trojans after the arrival of Lincoln Riley despite posting a 4-8 regular-season mark and not even sniffing a bowl game.
• Texas A&M took full of advantage of the new pay-to-play paradigm in college football. According to some pundits, the Aggies had the highest-rated class in college football recruiting history.
• Notre Dame cracked the top 10 and their odds have fallen from +8000 to +6000 to win the national crown this season.
• There is a sudden influx of money on Texas to win the national championship at odds of +8000 from +10,000 a few months ago.
Here you’ll find the odds for the Top 10 college football teams. All odds are courtesy of FanDuel.
| Team | Odds to Win National Championship |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +180 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +300 |
| Georgia Bulldogs | +350 |
| Clemson Tigers | +800 |
| USC Trojans | +2000 |
| Texas A&M Aggies | +2500 |
| Oklahoma Sooners | +5000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +6000 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | +6000 |
| Texas Longhorns | +8000 |
OddsTrader’s Preseason Top 10
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (+180)
- Last Year’s Record: 13-2
- Final Ranking: No. 2 – National Championship – Lost to Georgia
It is not often when the reigning Heisman Trophy winner returns to take another crack at a national championship instead of declaring for the NFL Draft. But that’s exactly what Bama’s star under center, Bryce Young, has done.
He will be surrounded by a bevy of weapons like Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton at wideout or Georgia Tech’s tailback Jahmyr Gibbs, the nation’s active leader in all-purpose yards.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (+300)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 6 – Rose Bowl – Defeated Utah
Well, lookie here, the Buckeyes have inched their way from No. 3, at odds of +500, to No. 2 at +300 since our original preseason Top 10.
Despite twin terrors Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson departing for greener pastures in the NFL, the Buckeyes will welcome back the man pulling the trigger, C.J. Stroud, and running back TreVeyon Henderson.
Defensive wizard, Jim Knowles, was brought in from Oklahoma to tighten up the Buckeyes’ defense and things look promising in Columbus.
3. Georgia Bulldogs (+350)
- Last Year’s Record: 14-1
- Final Ranking: No. 1 – National Championship – Defeated Alabama
Ah, here they are, the reigning champs, falling to No. 3 in the rankings after the euphoria of winning a national title has somewhat abated.
Don’t worry about the Bulldogs, they have too much talent not to be considered a threat to repeat and will see the return of Stetson Bennett at quarterback and a restocked well of offensive pieces while keeping the bones of a tough-as-nails defense.
4. Clemson Tigers (+800)
- Last Year’s Record: 10-3
- Final Ranking: No. 14 – Cheez-It-Bowl – Defeated Iowa State
The college football odds have fallen slightly on the Tigers from the spring as they were +900 and have tumbled a notch to +800 at the beginning of July. Highly touted DJ Uiagalelei will return after an underwhelming season as the Tigers’ signal-caller.
Problem is that offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and defensive coordinator Brent Venables left the program to take the head coaching jobs at the University of Virginia and the University of Oklahoma, respectively.
5. USC Trojans (+2000)
- Last Year’s Record: 4-8
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl
Big things are expected of a team that posted a 4-8 regular-season mark and didn’t even sniff a bowl game. However, the Trojans’ immediate future is bright and Lincoln Riley is the rainbow-maker after walking away from Oklahoma and seizing the opportunity in sunny Los Angeles.
The pass/catch combo of Caleb Williams and Mario Williams will follow their coach and bring a whole new outlook to USC football. If you don’t think the hype is real then consider that some serious money moved this line from +4000 to +2000 from our last top 10 edition.
6. Texas A&M Aggies (+2500)
- Last Year’s Record: 8-4
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl (Covid)
The Aggies took full of advantage of the new pay-to-play paradigm in college football and Jimbo Fisher got into a heated verbal argument with Nick Saban because of it.
According to many, Fisher had the highest-rated class in college football recruiting history! Couple that with the pieces of last year’s puzzle that did stay and you can see why there is plenty to be excited about in College Station.
7. Oklahoma Sooners (+5000)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 10 – Valero Alamo Bowl – Defeated Oregon
If you believe the Sooners will do just fine without Lincoln Riley on the sidelines then you will also be pleasantly surprised at the odds floating from +4000 a few months ago to where it stands now at +5000.
The uncertainty surrounding the many new faces in Norman would give any bettor cause for pause but defensive architect Brent Venables should be able to put the program back on track despite the many losses and the new arrivals.
8. Michigan Wolverines (+6000)
- Last Year’s Record: 12-2
- Final Ranking: No. 3 – CFP Semifinal – Lost to Georgia
Jim Harbaugh finally came through in a big way for Michigan and led them to a Big Ten title, a No. 2 seed in the CFP but more importantly, a seismic victory over archrival, Ohio State. However, once in the CFP they were quickly dispatched by the eventual national champs from Georgia.
There were plenty of significant departures with the force-of-nature and Grade A chaos-maker Aidan Hutchinson selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft. Hutchinson’s teammate, linebacker David Ojabo, also left for the next level while offensive coordinator Josh Gattis fled to Miami. Harbaugh has his work cut out for him if he intends to contend for a CFP spot this season.
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+6000)
- Last Year’s Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 5 – Fiesta Bowl – Lost to Oklahoma
The Fighting Irish cracked the Top 10 and their odds have fallen from +8000 to +6000 to win the national crown this season. The Irish were on the outside looking in at the CFP last year and have had to collect themselves after head coach Brian Kelly took the money and ran to LSU.
However, Marcus Freeman was promoted to the top job after spending one year in South Bend as the defensive coordinator. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done and it’s tough to justify Notre Dame’s rise into the Top 10.
10. Texas Longhorns (+8000)
- Last Year’s Record: 5-7
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl
A case could be made for Utah to take the No. 10 spot with Wisconsin, Penn State, or even LSU as reasonable options. But the Horns get our vote, and the vote of the oddsmakers, as money talks and there is a sudden influx of it on Texas to win the national championship at odds of +8000 from +10,000 a few months ago.
Quinn Ewers will take command under center after leaving Ohio State and he will have an impressive arsenal of weapons surrounding him. At +8000, Texas is a good value bet here.
First Look
Editor’s note: This article was published on May 13th, 2022.
The Georgia Bulldogs defeated their SEC archrivals from Alabama in the college football championship last season and claimed their first national title since 1980. Yet, despite the Dawgs’ status as reigning champs, they are not the oddsmakers’ top choice to take home the hardware this season. That distinction belongs to – who else – Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide at preseason odds of +200, as they will seek a stunning seventh championship crown under his stewardship.
The Bulldogs are the second choice at odds of +350 and the rest of the top five includes Ohio State (+500), Clemson (+900), and Texas A&M (+3000). But should we get down on these very early prices or perhaps it might be better to wait to see what the rosters look like when September rolls around? Only you can make that choice.
Below OddsTrader will reveal the odds on the nation’s preseason favorites, courtesy of FanDuel, and will give a preview of the top 10 teams entering the 2022 season. Let’s take a good, hard look at the college football odds and analyze which teams could bring us moneymaking possibilities.
OddsTrader’s Betting Edge
• Bryce Young will return to Alabama for his junior season after tossing 47 touchdowns and over 4800 yards in his first year as a starter.
• The Ohio State Buckeyes watched two of the best wideouts in the business, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, get selected at No. 10 and No. 11, respectively, in the NFL Draft.
• Texas A&M had the top recruiting class in the nation with nine 5-star, 20 four-star, and one three-star recruit.
• USC will see Caleb Williams, a transfer from Oklahoma, pulling the trigger on the Trojans’ offense, reuniting with his former head coach at Oklahoma, Lincoln Riley.
• Oklahoma’s offensive will return three starters but the two that departed were the only offensive linemen to receive honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
Here you’ll find the odds for the Top 10 college football teams. All odds are courtesy of FanDuel.
| Team | Odds |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +200 |
| Georgia Bulldogs | +350 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +500 |
| Clemson Tigers | +900 |
| Texas A&M Aggies | +3000 |
| USC Trojans | +4000 |
| Oklahoma Sooners | +4000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +5000 |
| Florida Gators | +6000 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | +6000 |
OddsTrader’s Preseason Top 10
Alabama Crimson Tide (+200)
- 2021 Record: 13-2
- Final Ranking: No. 2 – National Championship – Lost to Georgia
As long as Nick Saban is in Tuscaloosa, the Tide will be one of the favorites to win a national title. Last season’s Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young, will return for his junior season after tossing 47 touchdowns and over 4800 yards in his first year as a starter.
Last year’s team ranked No. 6 in points scored, averaging 40.9 points per game, but the ferocious defense we have come to expect from Saban’s Bama boys was not nearly as intimidating. The Crimson Tide’s secondary was pedestrian at best last year but we suspect there will be a marked improvement in 2022.
Georgia Bulldogs (+350)
- Last Year’s Record: 14-1
- Final Ranking: No. 1 – National Championship – Defeated Alabama
The Bulldogs beat the Tide at their own game: defense. And it was a stone-cold, tough-as-nails D that stopped teams dead in their tracks. Georgia was ranked tops in points allowed (9.5 PPG) and No. 2 in total yards allowed, trailing only Wisconsin, but was not the offensive juggernaut we normally see in national champs.
Stetson Bennett returns under center and the offense should be in decent shape but there was a mass exodus from last year’s stellar defensive unit that will see only three starters returning. But if anyone can restock the shelves with top-notch talent, it is Georgia head coach, Kirby Smart.
Ohio State Buckeyes (+500)
- 2021 Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 6 – Rose Bowl – Defeated Utah
The Buckeyes were the architects of an aerial blitzkrieg throughout the 2021 season and CJ Stroud was their ace pilot. The 6’3” sophomore will try to duplicate his efforts this year when he led Ohio State to a nation’s best, 45.7 points per game.
But like all elite teams, OSU had its fair share of superb talent walk out the door as the Buckeyes watched two of the best wideouts in the business, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, get selected at No. 10 and No. 11, respectively, in the NFL Draft. However, replacing the seemingly irreplaceable is what great coaches do and the Buckeyes should be the cream of the Big 10 crop again this season.
Clemson Tigers (+900)
- 2021 Record: 10-3
- Final Ranking: No. 14 – Cheez-It-Bowl – Defeated Iowa State
The Tigers’ precipitous fall from grace last season was not completely unexpected after Trevor Lawrence vacated for the bright lights of the NFL. DJ Uiagalelei was underwhelming last season as Lawrence’s replacement but he will return to lead the Tigers’ offense again unless someone beats him out of the job.
However, Clemson does possess several speed merchants that will ignite what was a sluggish aerial attack last season. Meanwhile, running back Will Shipley will be a welcome sight returning to the backfield while the defense should be solid enough to contribute to an ACC title.
Texas A&M Aggies (+3000)
- Last Year’s Record: 8-4
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl (Covid)
Consistency will be the key for the Aggies, a team that slew a giant dragon in Alabama last year but wound up with a rather uninspiring 8-4 record. There will be an interesting quarterback competition in College Station as five-star recruit, Conner Weigman, last year’s backup Haynes King, and LSU transfer Max Johnson all battle for the honor.
Our bet to win the Texas A&M starting job is on Johnson who passed for over 2800 yards with 27 touchdown passes against just six picks on a lackluster LSU squad last season.
Texas A&M had the top recruiting class in the nation with nine 5-star, 20 four-star, and one three-star recruit. But the Aggies will have a target on their backs when they travel to Tuscaloosa on October 8th when they play a Bama team that will be hellbent on revenge.
USC Trojans (+4000)
- 2021 Record: 4-8
- Final Ranking: Unranked – No Bowl
Big things are expected from the Trojans this year after a dismal 4-8 season in 2021. USC will see Caleb Williams, a transfer from Oklahoma, pulling the trigger on the Trojans’ offense. Williams passed for 21 touchdowns and 1912 yards with only four picks in the eight games he started after replacing Spencer Rattler midway through the season.
Williams reunites at the Coliseum with his former head coach at Oklahoma, Lincoln Riley. The tandem will be joined by another Oklahoma transfer, wide receiver Mario Williams, all of whom will be tasked with elevating the Trojans to the top of the Pac-12 heap.
Oklahoma Sooners (+4000)
- 2021 Record: 11-2
- Final Ranking: No. 10 – Valero Alamo Bowl – Defeated Oregon
Brent Venables replaces Lincoln Riley in Norman this season and will see UCF transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel replacing Caleb Williams under center. The Sooners should be well prepared with nine starters returning and a stronger secondary is expected with transfer portal recruits CJ Coldon (CB), Kani Walker (CB), and Trey Morrison (safety) on the way.
Oklahoma’s offensive will return three starters but the two that departed, Marquis Hayes (left guard) and Tyrese Robinson (right tackle), were the only offensive linemen to receive honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
Michigan Wolverines (+5000)
- 2021 Record: 12-2
- Final Ranking: No. 3 – CFP Semifinal – Lost to Georgia
Michigan made it to the CFP last season, the first time under Jim Harbaugh’s coaching tenure in Ann Arbor, before bowing to the eventual national champs from Georgia. This year we will see quarterback Cade McNamara trying to retain his starting role but his subpar performance against an elite Georgia defense in the CFP semifinal game could open the door for former 5-star recruit J.J. McCarthy.
The biggest void in the Michigan defense will be trying to replace the irreplaceable Aidan Hutchinson, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. His departure, coupled with linebacker David Ojabo’s trip to the next level, will be a herculean challenge for Harbaugh.
Florida Gators (+6000)
- 2021 Record: 6-7
- Final Ranking: Unranked – Gasparilla Bowl – Lost to UCF
The Gators welcomed Billy Napier as their new head coach in the offseason and he will try to resurrect a program that lost six of its eight conference tilts last season on their way to an underwhelming 6-7 mark. Anthony Richardson is expected to supplant last year’s quarterback, Emory Jones, who transferred to Arizona State.
Montrell Johnson followed his coach from Louisiana to Florida and will likely get a strong look as the primary running back this year. Johnson ran for 838 yards and 12 touchdowns on 162 carries and will likely battle Nay’Quan Wright for the starting role.
Wisconsin Badgers (+6000)
- 2021 Record: 9-4
- Final Ranking: Unranked – Las Vegas Bowl – Defeated Arizona State
The Badgers still have the bitter taste of defeat on their lips after losing their last regular-season game to rival Minnesota as seven-point road favorites, preventing them from challenging for a Big Ten title. The biggest task for Wisconsin, this season, will be increasing their red zone touchdown percentage.
The Badgers ranked eighth in the Big 10 in that category, converting only 53 percent of its opportunities into the end zone.
Props and Bonuses
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Shop for Odds
If you want to compare the various college football odds then click on the link and you will see the point spreads, moneylines, and totals at all of the best books in the industry. Remember, it’s important to be able to compare and contrast lines at a glance so that you get the best odds for your betting buck.
College Football Power Rankings
Getting keen insight into how each of the playoff teams stacks up is easy when you check out the OddsTrader College Football Power Rankings page. Here you will see the average line, the power line suggested by OddsTrader’s AI algorithms, and the Bettor’s Edge which is the difference between the two.
College Football Computer Picks
If you go to the OddsTrader College Football Computer Picks section you can see what the OT algorithms project and how the results compare to those predictions.
College Football FAQ’s
Question: Where can I bet on the 2023 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.
