College Football Playoff Favorites
- College Football Playoff Favorites 2020
- College Football Playoff Picks
- College Football Playoff Prediction
- College Football Playoff Picks Against The Spread
The College Football Playoff pairings will be unveiled Sunday, but Sporting News is putting out its best guess now as to how those final pairings will look. The 2020-21 College Football Playoff field is set. Alabama, the No. 1 team in the country, will take on No. 4 Notre Dame at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on New Year’s Day.
College Football Playoff
Betting Resources
The 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship is scheduled to take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Monday, January 11, 2021.
- College Football Playoff
- Date: Monday, Jan. 11, 2021
- Venue: Hard Rock Stadium
- Location: Miami Gardens, Florida
The College Football Playoff began in 2014 and is a four-team postseason tournament for NCAA FBS schools. A playoff committee selects four schools to compete in semifinals with the winners meeting in the title game. All three of the games are played on neutral fields and the venues are rotated on an annual basis.
The semifinal matchups for the College Football Playoff Championship will take place on Friday, Jan. 1, 2020 from two neutral venues:
- Rose Bowl
- Date: Friday, Jan. 1, 2021
- Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rose Bowl
- Location: Pasadena, California
- Sugar Bowl
- Date: Friday, Jan. 1, 2021
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Odds to Win 2021 College Football
Playoff Championship
Bettors can place early wagers on who will win the 2021 College Football Playoff at Hard Rock Stadium from Miami Gardens, Florida next January. FanDuel has great sign-up deals for new users in states that offer legal online betting. If you are located in a different state, click here to check other options for betting on the College Football Playoff in other states.
Top 10 Contenders
Per FanDuel Oddsmakers
| Team |
|---|
| Clemson Tigers |
| Ohio State Buckeyes |
| Alabama Crimson Tide |
| Georgia Bulldogs |
| Florida Gators |
| LSU Tigers |
| Texas Longhorns |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| Oklahoma Sooners |
| Penn State Nittany Lions |
Odds Subject to Change - Provided by FanDuel
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2020 College Football
Contenders Analysis
By Brian Edwards
Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State were easy choices in the top three of our Preseason Power Rankings. The order was difficult, though, as there is very little separation between the three. I think Alabama has the best overall roster, but I give Clemson the edge based on having the best QB. Yes, Justin Fields was nothing short of sensational last season, but the Buckeyes lost all four starters on their defensive line and a pair of outstanding offensive linemen. Therefore, I gave the Crimson Tide the slight edge on Ryan Day's squad.
Until somebody unseats Lincoln Riley's Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12, there's no reason to think that redshirt freshman QB and former five -star recruit Spencer Rattler won't duplicate the success we've seen from Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts in Norman. Indeed, I'm that big of a believer in Riley even though we've seen nothing out of Rattler at the collegiate level yet.
Then we have Florida and Georgia at No.'s 5 and 6, respectively. Unlike the previous three seasons when UGA has bested UF, I'm of the belief that the Gators will have the better QB this year. That's not a shot at Wake Forest grad transfer Jamie Newman, who is a talent dual-threat signal caller that'll take over for Jake Fromm. It's more of a hat tip to both Fromm and UF's Kyle Trask.
The other most dangerous threats to crash the College Football Playoff are Penn State, Oregon, LSU and Texas, who round out our Top 10 in that order. The Nittany Lions get Ohio State in Happy Valley, and they bring back a ton of talent from last season's 11-win team. With the demise of USC in recent years, Stanford's 2019 collapse (and a surge of players exiting the program this past spring) and Chris Petersen's stunning retirement at Washington, Mario Cristobal's Oregon program is clearly the team to beat in the Pac-12 until further notice.
However, the Ducks have to break in a new quarterback, so they weren't worthy of a top-five slot. LSU wasn't either, although the Tigers still have a talent galore on their roster. It remains to be seen how much of an impact the losses of Joe Brady and Dave Aranda will have on the coaching staff, and we just need to see QB Myles Brennan in action before having too much faith in the defending champs.
Finally, there's Texas, which is dealing with a heap of off-the-field issues in recent weeks. If Tom Herman can get his players on the same page by August, the Longhorns have a chance to be really good. Sam Ehlinger appears poised for a monster senior season.
2020 College Football
Sleeper Teams
One sleeper of note is No. 16 North Carolina. The Tar Heels only went 7-6 last year, but all six defeats were one-possession games. Three losses came by six combined points. As a true freshman in 2019, QB Sam Howell threw for 3,6141 yards with a 38/7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. I think UNC will be favored in at least nine games and get a rematch with Clemson (which won 21-20 in Chapel Hill last year) at the ACC Championship Game.
I think Cincinnati (No. 18) will be the nation's top Power Five team in 2020. The Bearcats add several four-star recruits, in addition to transfers from Notre Dame and Alabama. They return eight starters from a defense that gave up only 20.1 points per game, and this unit gets All-American candidate James Wiggins back. The safety tore his ACL last August.
2020 College Football
Top 25 Preseason Rankings
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2020 College Football
Top 25 Conference Rankings
The SEC (6), Big 10 (5) and Big 12 (4) have 15 of the Top 25 teams in the VegasInsider.com Top 25 Preseason Rankings. After the top trio, both the ACC and Pac-12 place three schools in the rankings. The American Athletic Conference boasts two schools in Cincinnati and Memphis, while Notre Dame and Boise State represent the Independent schools and Mountain West Conference respectively.
| VegasInsider.com Top 25 College Football Conference Rankings | ||||||||||||||||||
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College Football Playoff Championship Predictions
2021 College Football Playoff
Semifinal Picks
Rose Bowl: 2) Clemson beats 3) Florida
Sugar Bowl: 1) Ohio State beats 4) Oklahoma
With Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne leading the way, Clemson will take out Florida, the winner of its first SEC Championship Game since 2008, in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. The Tigers will then meet Ohio State in the finals. In a rematch of last year's semifinal win for Dabo Swinney's team, Clemson will once again get the best of the Buckeyes by a narrow margin in a 60-minute slugfest.
The Gators will make their first appearance in the CFP thanks to a stellar season from QB Kyle Trask and one of the nation's premier defenses. Justin Fields will once again produce Heisman-like numbers in leading Ohio State to a Big Ten title. Oklahoma will get back to the CFP because that's just what Lincoln Riley does year in and year out. However, the Sooners won't advance again, with Fields outplaying his counterpart Spencer Rattler.
2021 College Football Playoff
Championship Pick
Clemson beats Ohio State
College Football Playoff
Betting History
The College Football Playoff Championship has watched favorites go 3-3 straight up (SU) in the first six installments but underdogs have managed to go 5-1 against the spread (ATS) for bettors taking the points. LSU was the first favorite to win and cover as it rolled Clemson 42-25 in the 2020 title game. Total bettors have watched the 'over' go 5-1 and we've seen an average combined score of 64.8 points per game.
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The field for the College Football Playoffs is set, with four proud programs ready to contend for the national championship.
No Michigan team is among them, of course, but in a year of trials and tribulations, an NCAA football playoff is a welcome sight. But which of the four teams will come through and emerge with the title?
Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Notre Dame. All good teams, but only one will be crowned champion.
Here’s a look at the odds to capture the title, as well as a look at the College Football Playoff odds for each of the semifinal matchups. But first, let’s answer a simple question: When are the bowl games?
When are the College Football Playoffs?
| Bowl | Teams | Date | Time | Where | Watch | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Bowl | No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Notre Dame | Jan. 1 | 4 p.m. ET | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | ESPN | Limited |
| Sugar Bowl | No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Ohio State | Jan. 1 | 8 p.m. ET | Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans | ESPN | Limited |
| CFP National Championship | Winner of Rose Bowl vs. Winner of Sugar Bowl | Jan. 11 | 8 p.m. ET | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | ESPN | Limited |
2021 College Football Playoffs: Odds soundly behind Alabama
The College Football Playoffs features top-ranked Alabama taking on No. 4 Notre Dame, while No. 2 Clemson will battle with No. 3 Ohio State.
| Odds to win the College Football Playoffs | BetMGM | DraftKings | FanDuel | PointsBet | William Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Alabama | -155 | -167 | -160 | -200 | -175 |
| No. 2 Clemson | +270 | +175 | +270 | +250 | +280 |
| No. 3 Ohio State | +525 | +800 | +500 | +800 | +500 |
| No. 4 Notre Dame | +2000 | +3300 | +2200 | +2500 | +2000 |
Oddsmakers across the board are expecting Alabama to come away with the title. The Crimson Tide are receiving odds ranging from -155 to -200 depending on the sportsbook.
Clemson is next in the odds line. The Tigers range from +175 to +280. Ohio State is listed anywhere from +500 to +800. Notre Dame is the distant underdog with odds from +2000 to +3300.
Semifinals feature lofty point spreads for Alabama, Clemson
College Football Playoff Favorites 2020
Alabama and Notre Dame will meet in the Rose Bowl, but this year’s game will actually be played from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to allow for some fan attendance. Clemson and Ohio State will collide in the Sugar Bowl.
| College Football Playoff Semifinals | BetMGM | DraftKings | FanDuel | PointsBet | William Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama vs. Notre Dame | ALA -1200 ND +725 O/U 65.5 | ALA -1250 ND +600 O/U 65.5 (-106/-114) | ALA -1050 ND +630 O/U 65.5 | ALA -1125 ND +730 O/U 65.5 (-115/-105) | ALA -1100 ND +700 O/U 65.5 |
| Clemson vs. Ohio State | CLE -300 OH +240 O/U 65 (-110/-105) | CLE -286 OH +210 O/U 65.5 (-105/-117) | CLE -265 OH +210 O/U 65.5 (-106/-114) | CLE -320 OH +250 O/U 65.5 | CLE -290 OH +235 O/U 65.5 |
Oddsmakers see Alabama as an overwhelming favorite, double digits in fact. Most sportsbooks have Alabama as a 19.5-point favorite against the Fighting Irish. The over/under is listed at 65.5 points.
Oddsmakers have Clemson as a 7.5-point favorite against the Buckeyes. The over/under is also listed at 65.5 points.
Numbers tell a clear story on underdogs and clear favorites, but let’s take a closer look at each of the four teams.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide: Bama seeks third playoff title
Since the College Football Playoffs began in 2014, Alabama has secured the title on two occasions. Both times came when the Tide were a No. 2 seed.
Alabama has been the top seed on three occasions but never managed to win the championship as the No. 1 team.
Bama is 11-0 on the season with an 8-3 record against the spread.
The Tide have been led by their dominant offense. Alabama averages 49.7 points and 543.9 yards per game, both of which rank in the top five in the nation.
Quarterback Mac Jones ranks second in the country with 3,739 passing yards. He also has 32 touchdowns with just four interceptions.
Jones has the nation’s top receiver in DeVonta Smith, who has 98 receptions for 1,511 yards and 17 scores. Rusher Najee Harris has added 1,262 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.
But there is one concern for Bama entering the playoffs: defense. Unlike most Nick Saban units, this defense ranks outside the top 20 nationally. The Tide have allowed at least 24 points in four games and at least 46 in two of them.
2. Clemson Tigers: Looking to reclaim the championship
Clemson is making a sixth straight playoff appearance. The Tigers won in the playoffs in the 2018-19 and 2016-17 seasons, while falling in the championship last year to the LSU Tigers.
The Tigers went 10-1 this season, with the lone loss coming against Notre Dame when Trevor Lawrence was unavailable due to COVID-19. Over its 11 games, Clemson was just 5-6 against the spread.
Clemson has been dominant on both sides of the ball, ranking fourth in offense (44.9. points per game) and 11th in defense (17.5 points per game).
Despite missing some action, Lawrence still threw for 2,753 yards and 22 touchdowns this season.
Travis Etienne led the ground attack with 882 yards and 13 scores, while Amari Rodgers was the top receiver with 69 catches for 966 yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensively, Clemson constantly is applying pressure. The unit racked up 44 sacks while creating 26 turnovers.
College Football Playoff Picks
Do the Tigers have a soft spot? Yes, their run defense ranks 65th nationally, allowing 163.8 yards per game.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes: An undeserving playoff contender?
Ohio State is making a fourth playoff appearance this year. The Buckeyes won the very first College Football Playoffs as a No. 4 seed.
This year, there’s been a lot of debate about Ohio State making the playoffs, as the Buckeyes played just six games this season due to COVID-19 issues within its program and around the Big Ten Conference. All that aside, the Buckeyes were 6-0 while going 3-3 against the spread.
Ohio State once again has a powerful offense that is averaging 42.5 points and 529.2 yards per game.
Justin Fields has thrown for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 274 yards and five scores. The Ohio State offense is putting up 275.7 rushing yards per game.
Defensively, Ohio State has been suspect against the pass. The Buckeyes are allowing 260.8 passing yards per game through the air, which doesn’t bode well against Lawrence.
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Coming off a Clemson beatdown
Notre Dame is making its second College Football Playoff appearance. The first was in the 2018-19 season where it suffered a 30-3 semifinal loss to Clemson.
The Fighting Irish went 10-0 this season before running into a full-strength Clemson in the ACC Championship last weekend. ND was outgained 541-263 in total yards in the loss, soundly beaten in every aspect of the game.
College Football Playoff Prediction
Despite that, Notre Dame managed to hang on for the final playoff spot. The Irish are just 5-6 against the spread on the season.
For the season, the Irish were giving up just 18.6 points and 335.1 yards per game. On offense, ND is averaging 35.2 points and 455.1 yards per game.
Brian Kelly has been able to rely on Ian Book to run the offense. Book has thrown for 2,601 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for 430 yards and eight scores.
College Football Playoff Picks Against The Spread
Kyren Williams is adding 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.