Ohio State Shifts From +175 To +140 For National Championship

It was a big week for the Ohio State Buckeyes as they passed another test. They turned aside the Michigan Wolverines with relative ease, blowing them out by 29 points. Now it’s for Championship Week and there’s still plenty to sort out. Keep an eye on teams like Utah and Oklahoma, as they might get a shot to get into the College Football Playoff if Georgia stumbles.

OHIO STATE
THIS WEEK’S ODDS: +140
LAST WEEK’S ODDS: +175

The Buckeyes are the favorite because they just dump-trucked Michigan on the road in a 56-27 victory. The offense is dynamic and the defense never gets embarrassed. The Buckeyes have the weaponry and the consistency of a No. 1 team, not just a top-four team. Coach Ryan Day has remained excellent throughout the season and quarterback Justin Fields is a problem for opposing defenses. Ohio State has the kind of offense which, if you take away one of its weapons, two or three other weapons emerge.

Ohio State should easily handle a slower and less talented Wisconsin team in the Big Ten Championship Game, a team they already beat by 31 points, and then might have a chance to play either Oklahoma or Utah, two of the weaker options as a playoff opponent, in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 28 (assuming it wins against Wisconsin). The path for Ohio State might be more favorable than other top contenders.

CLEMSON
THIS WEEK’S ODDS: +225
LAST WEEK’S ODDS: +275

The Tigers’ odds are shortened this week because as we get closer to the actual playoff, people are remembering how reliable Clemson has been when it gets to the College Football Playoff. This team does really well in playoff semifinals. Clemson blew out Oklahoma in the 2015 semifinals, blew out Ohio State in the 2016 semifinals and blew out Notre Dame in the 2018 semifinals. Their only semifinal loss was to Alabama in 2017. This team has a consistent track record of getting it done in a playoff game after three weeks off.

LSU
THIS WEEK’S ODDS: +250
LAST WEEK’S ODDS: +250

The Tigers’ odds have not changed. A lot of people are waiting to see if LSU will go to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta or the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. Which team they play and where they play might influence their odds. LSU would like to avoid Clemson and Ohio State and hopefully play either Oklahoma or Utah. LSU would play Oklahoma or Utah in the Peach. If it went to the Fiesta (the possible result of a loss to Georgia in the SEC title game), that probably means it would have to play Ohio State. The Buckeyes, in that scenario, would be the No. 1 seed, and LSU would be the No. 4 seed.

If they beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, they might improve to the top seed in the College Football Playoff. If that’s the case, their odds will shorten as LSU can face Oklahoma or Utah and avoid Ohio State and Clemson in the semifinals. LSU then would get to play in New Orleans if it can make the national championship game.

GEORGIA
THIS WEEK’S ODDS: +1200
LAST WEEK’S ODDS: +700

The Bulldogs’ odds have gone down because it looks like they now have to beat the No. 1 team in the country to qualify for the playoff. On top of that, running back D’Andre Swift has been injured and while he will play against LSU in the SEC Championship Game, he will not be 100 percent. Also, receiver Lawrence Cager will not be 100 percent as he’s banged up and fellow receiver George Pickens will be suspended and out for the first half of the LSU game due to a fight the previous week against Georgia Tech. Georgia is simply not in a good position to beat LSU and its elite offense.

ODDS TO WIN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

OHIO STATE +140
CLEMSON +225
LSU +250
GEORGIA +1200
OKLAHOMA +2000
UTAH +2000
BAYLOR +10000

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