Opening odds for 2021 CFB title: Clemson leads pack
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Monday's national title game between LSU and Clemson was bittersweet for bettors, as the yellow-and-purple confetti marked the end of the 2019 college football season. However, we can already start looking to ahead to next season's championship, as oddsmakers released futures prices during the waning stages of the game.
Here's how the odds for the 2021 championship stack up:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Clemson | 9-4 |
| Ohio State | 3-1 |
| Alabama | 6-1 |
| Georgia | 8-1 |
| LSU | 8-1 |
| Florida | 14-1 |
| Oregon | 30-1 |
| Penn State | 30-1 |
| Texas A&M | 30-1 |
| Auburn | 30-1 |
| Notre Dame | 30-1 |
| Texas | 40-1 |
| Michigan | 40-1 |
| Wisconsin | 60-1 |
| Utah | 100-1 |
| Minnesota | 100-1 |
| Iowa State | 100-1 |
| USC | 100-1 |
| Washington | 100-1 |
| Tennessee | 100-1 |
| Oklahoma State | 100-1 |
| Arizona State | 100-1 |
| Iowa | 200-1 |
| Indiana | 300-1 |
| Virginia Tech | 300-1 |
| Nebraska | 300-1 |
| Central Florida | 300-1 |
| TCU | 300-1 |
| Miami | 300-1 |
| Florida State | 300-1 |
| Boise State | 500-1 |
| Virginia | 500-1 |
| Louisville | 500-1 |
| Cincinnati | 500-1 |
| Purdue | 500-1 |
| North Carolina | 500-1 |
| Cal | 500-1 |
| Ole Miss | 500-1 |
| Baylor | 500-1 |
| Washington State | 500-1 |
| Michigan State | 500-1 |
| Kansas State | 500-1 |
| Missouri | 500-1 |
| Kentucky | 500-1 |
| UCLA | 500-1 |
| Texas Tech | 500-1 |
| Stanford | 500-1 |
| Oregon State | 500-1 |
| West Virginia | 500-1 |
| South Carolina | 500-1 |
| Wake Forest | 500-1 |
| Pitt | 500-1 |
| Mississippi State | 500-1 |
| Maryland | 500-1 |
| Houston | 1000-1 |
| Tulane | 1000-1 |
| Appalachian State | 1000-1 |
| Memphis | 1000-1 |
| SMU | 1000-1 |
| BYU | 1000-1 |
| Colorado | 1000-1 |
| Arizona | 1000-1 |
| Duke | 1000-1 |
| Illinois | 1000-1 |
| Navy | 2000-1 |
| Air Force | 2000-1 |
| UL-Lafayette | 5000-1 |
| Temple | 5000-1 |
Too low
Georgia (8-1)
I can't take 8-1 on a team in the loaded SEC. Recruiting is never an issue for Georgia, but the Bulldogs are losing 64.4% of their rushing offense from this past season. While a spotty year from quarterback Jake Fromm showed he can be replaced, I don't think Wake Forest grad transfer Jamie Newman will light it up and put Georgia in the thick of things.
Michigan (40-1)
We've been playing the waiting game with Michigan long enough. Every year, the Wolverines are sleepers, and every year, they choke when it matters most. Not only will they experience significant turnover on both sides of the ball, this is a team that just can't win the big game. Ohio State remains in a class of its own in the Big Ten, with Penn State - and arguably Minnesota - still ahead of Michigan.
Tennessee (100-1)
Shouts to ESPN's Bill Connelly on this one. Before the postseason, he mentioned that a couple of teams were in line for a "Bowl Bump," which is essentially an overreaction to a bowl win that inflates a team's stock. He highlighted Tennessee, and that prediction seems to be validated by these odds. I understand the upward trajectory following a red-hot finish, but the Volunteers are what, the sixth-best team in the SEC?
Too high
Arizona State (100-1)
After watching LSU stamp the envelope on a season in which it had a 5,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers, and a 1,000-yard rusher, it pains me to buy a team that will run, run, pass, and play keep-away. But the Pac-12 could be wide-open, and I love the potential of Arizona State's offense with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Iowa State (100-1)
Iowa State's trajectory has been a hoot. They were almost always undervalued early in Matt Campbell's regime, then eventually came close to being overvalued. Following an underwhelming 7-6 season, I'm buying back here. Brock Purdy and Breece Hall should make up one of the most electric quarterback-running back duos in the Power 5 and the Cyclones' defense had a solid year while starting nine non-seniors.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKoIodziej.