The greatest time of the year is finally upon us. The College Football Playoff committee has named the four semifinalists the 2023-24 CFP Championship. Storylines, star-studded rosters, and a drive to be the best team across the nation collide starting Jan. 1. The Rose Bowl will see No. 1 Michigan against No. 4 Alabama. Following that game, No. 2 Washington will face off against No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl. With the stage set, we are going to take a look at the College Football Playoff Odds.
College Football Playoff Odds National Championship
The championship game will be played on Monday, Jan. 8 at NRG Stadium in Houston. You can bet on the winner and on each semifinal game at the best online sportsbooks.
A surprising fact to come from these odds is just how one sided it comes across. The two favorites are facing each other in the first round with Michigan at +180 odds to win the championship. It can’t be understated just how balanced and ferocious this Michigan team is. Despite injuries and a sign-stealing scandal, the Wolverines find themselves at the top of the oddsboards going into the playoffs. The Wolverines have the best odds after beating Ohio State and Iowa and improving to 13-0, and previous No. 1 Georgia losing to Alabama.
The Crimson Tide have the second best odds at +210 and are on an 11-game winning streak that will pair these two favorites in the opening game for the playoffs. Beating the two-time defending champs gave way for the Crimson Tide and coach Nick Saban to carve out their own path and leap into the top four. If one thing is for sure, you can never count out Alabama and being the next best odds to win it all behind Michigan tells all you need to know. Saban, QB Jalen Milroe, and the rest of the Crimson Tide are on a mission.
The Texas Longhorns are the No. 3 favorite and No. 3 in the rankings. This team appeared as a count out after having lost to Oklahoma and losing star quarterback Quinn Ewers to a shoulder injury. After weeks of rehabilitation, Ewers and the Longhorns conquered the Big 12 by routing Oklahoma State in the conference championship and getting an opportunity to win it all. Texas is at +260 odds and with such a dynamic offense, the Longhorns can become the national champions.
Washington rounds out the four with the lowest title odds at +800 despite being ranked No. 2. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has put the country on notice and makes a solid Heisman Trophy case with 33 touchdowns and an impressive win record that includes victories over USC, Oregon, Utah and Oregon State. Despite having such a good offense, the Huskies do come across outmatched against every other team in the field. Washington is not up to the level of the Longhorn offense, Alabama just beat the defending champs, and Michigan is the best overall team. With +800 odds, taking Washington is the biggest risk and reward scenario for bettors.
Rose Bowl: No.1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama — Monday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Michigan has not won the National Championship since 1997, and this roster does seem poised to win it all. The Wolverines are currently favored at -1.5 points (-110) over Alabama on Caesars Sportsbook. Michigan has demonstrated how complete and elevated it is over other rosters but hasn’t faced a challenge like this, not even with Ohio State. Alabama is fresh off a massive win against Georgia, single handedly knocking the Bulldogs out of playoff contention. The Wolverines have been a complete team built from the ground up and are undefeated. The Crimson Tide are peaking at the right time and just beat the team that was ranked No. 1 in the country. The historic Rose Bowl is slated to be an exciting game that will have all the hype justified.
Sugar Bowl 2023: No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas — Monday, Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The Washington Huskies are back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 season. With Penix Jr. in the running for the Heisman Trophy, the talented prospect looks to turn even more heads in the Sugar Bowl against Texas. Despite the fact that Washington is the only other undefeated team and ranked at No. 2, FanDuel Sportsbook has Texas favored by 4.5 points. Both of these teams have major talent on the offensive side of the ball. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers put up 452 yards and four touchdowns in the Big 12 Championship, and Penix Jr. had 319 yards and one touchdown against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship game. The Over is a tempting line to take, even at 64.5 points. This game has the potential to be a modern classic, with a back-and-forth shootout result to crown the winner. A disregarded Washington team takes on a Texas roster claiming to be back in the spotlight, and only one team will come out of New Orleans as the victor.
