Steve Starr
- BetOnline still lists Ohio State (+150) as the favorite to win the national championship
- Clemson (+225) and LSU (+250) are near-locks to make the College Football Playoff
- Georgia (+1200), Utah (+2000) and Oklahoma (+3300) are competing for the final CFP spot
Alabama’s dynasty is finally over. For the first time in the College Football Playoff’s six-year history, the Crimson Tide will be sitting on the sideline after being outgunned by Auburn in a 48–45 Iron Bowl classic.
But even with Nick Saban’s team off the board for the selection committee, the Playoff picture is still murky heading into the conference championship games.
Let’s review the latest national title odds at BetOnline and try to figure out which school will claim the final spot in the four-team tournament.
2020 CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
| Team | Current Odds | Trending | Last Week |
| Ohio State | +150 | ↑ | +175 |
| Clemson | +225 | ↑ | +275 |
| LSU | +250 | ↔ | +250 |
| Georgia | +1200 | ↓ | +800 |
| Utah | +2000 | ↑ | +2500 |
| Oklahoma | +3300 | ↓ | +1600 |
| Baylor | +15000 | ↔ | +15000 |
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF LOCKS
Making their annual showdown into more of a Harlem Globetrotters/Washington Generals kind of rivalry, Ohio State (+150) once again embarrassed Michigan with a 56-27 Big House beatdown.
After claiming their eighth-straight win against the Wolverines and dropping Jim Harbaugh to 0–5 in the series, the Buckeyes will now face No. 12 Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game.
Jim Harbaugh when asked what the biggest difference between Michigan and Ohio State is:
“I’ll answer your questions. Not your insults …” pic.twitter.com/zZtlabukIZ
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 30, 2019
Both Clemson (+225) and LSU (+250) finished off perfect regular seasons with blowout wins over South Carolina (38-3) and Texas A&M (50-7), respectively.
A victory over No. 22 Virginia next weekend will lock up Dabo Swinney’s fifth-straight ACC championship. Meanwhile, in the SEC title game, LSU will square off against a motivated Georgia team that needs “a win to get in” the College Football Playoff.
Lucky for Joe Burrow and company, they’ll be facing Georgia at less that 100%.
Georgia will be without Lawrence Cager and will have to sit George Pickens for the first half of the 2019 SEC Championship Game after the freshman threw some punches.
D'Andre Swift also got banged up against Georgia Tech.
Good luck upsetting LSU.
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 30, 2019
FOURTH SPOT UP FOR GRABS
Georgia (+1200) is, nonetheless, the leader in the clubhouse for the fourth playoff spot after a 52-7 road win over Georgia Tech. However, the Bulldogs opened as six-point underdogs against Joe Burrow and the Tigers.
If Jake Fromm can’t keep up with soon-to-be Heisman Trophy-winner Burrow in the SEC Championship, the final berth in the CFP semifinals will either go to Utah (+2000) or the winner of Oklahoma-Baylor game.
#Sooners take care of business on the road against #21 Oklahoma State 34-16, pick up 3rd ranked win of the season.
How many ranked wins does Utah have again?#BoomerSooner #Bedlam pic.twitter.com/azE1kKtC0n
— Sooner News Daily (@SoonerNewsDaily) December 1, 2019
With a win over Oregon next weekend, the 11-1 Utes would make it very difficult for the selection committee not to award a playoff spot to a Pac-12 team for the first time since 2016-17. Then again, No. 5 Utah has only faced one currently-ranked opponent all year — a game they lost 30-23 to No. 22 USC.
My guess is that No. 6 Oklahoma (+3300) will leapfrog the Utes for the last CFP spot if they can defeat No. 8 Baylor (+15000) for the second time in three weeks in the Big 12 final.
Aside from facing a tougher schedule, the 11-1 Sooners are a brand-name program with a marquee coach (Lincoln Riley) and quarterback (Jalen Hurts) who have a better shot at delivering both points and ratings if they’re awarded a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
