College football national championship odds heading into 2023 season

Aug 05, 2023

College football is finally back this week! After getting a quick little dose of college football gridiron action in Week 0, the full slate of Week 1 games is ready to get fans across the nation back in their Saturday routine for the remainder of the year. Welcome back college football. How we have missed you.

This year’s playoff projections look to have the same teams as strong contenders. Georgia is the two-time defending national champion and is a strong favorite to pull off a threepeat. But Michigan, Ohio State, and Alabama are among the teams with great odds to prevent that from happening.

With the full course of college football regular season action about to be presented in Week 1, here is a look at the most up-to-date national championship odds from BetMGM, accurate as of the morning of Monday, Aug. 28.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +225

There should be no surprise who tops the lost at the start of the season. Georgia has won the last two national championships and appears to be the team to beat in the SEC once again this fall. Even after losing the talent it did, the Bulldogs look primed for another strong season.

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +600

After missing out on the College Football Playoff, the odds are once again in Alabama‘s favor as one of the preseason national championship favorites. Alabama is just a safe pick overall, as the Tide will always be loaded with talent that makes them one of the top programs in the country. The same is true this season.

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +700

Is Ohio State ready for a climb back to the top of the Big Ten in 2023? The odds would seem to suggest that, and the Buckeyes have the wide receiver talent to make some big plays. Ohio State nearly knocked off Georgia last season, so the Buckeyes look to finish the job this season.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +800

Michigan has won the Big Ten and reached the College Football Playoff each of the past two seasons, and they could be back in a good playoff position once again this fall. A relatively favorable schedule leads up to two massive games in November, at which point the Wolverines could be on top of the Big Ten once again. Michigan’s offseason focus has been on beating Georgia, which tells you the confidence in Ann Arbor is as high as it has been in a long time.

Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +1200

Riding off the high of a rise to the top of the SEC West in Brian Kelly’s first season as head coach, LSU is a popular pick to keep the good times rolling in Baton Rouge this fall. LSU is widely seen as Alabama’s biggest hurdle in the West, as they ended up being a season ago. Is it enough to get LSU into the College Football Playoff for the second time in program history?

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +1400

USC was just one win away form a likely spot in the College Football Playoff last season, but a loss in the Pac-12 championship knocked the Trojans out of the running. With Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams already off to a good start in 2023 after Week 0, the Trojans hope to clear that last hurdle.

Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Odds: +1500

Penn State should be on the playoff radar for much of the season, and could play its way into the Big Ten championship game if it can swing a game against Ohio State or Michigan in its favor. The Nittany Lions would be a first-time playoff team if it gets there in 2023.

Syndication: The Greenville News

Odds: +1800

It may be premature to take Clemson off the top of the ACC pedestal. The Tigers are the defending conference champions and should once again be in the playoff hunt all season long. Clemson can get an early inside track back to the ACC championship with a win over Florida State early in the season.

Syndication: Tallahassee Democrat

Odds: +1800

The hype machine has bene in full force for Florida State this offseason. Are the Seminoles ready to storm back to the top of the ACC and make a push for a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time since the inaugural playoff season? Florida State gets a chance to speak loudly with a Week 1 showdown with LSU.

Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +2000

Texas is the popular preseason favorite in the Big 12 in their final season before moving to the SEC. Texas looks to have all the ingredients it needs for a big year in Austin, but is it ready to avoid a big upset or two along the way?

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +3000

Notre Dame is always in the mix for a playoff spot, but the Fighting Irish will face a stiff path to a playoff opportunity this season. Notre Dame looked solid in its Week 0 win over Navy in Ireland but games against Ohio State, USC, and Clemson this season will be the ones to watch for the Irish.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +3500

Tennessee had a big season that resulted in some playoff dreams along the way, but the Vols may have trouble matching that energy again this season. Tennessee will still be in for a big year, but the playoff hurdle will remain.

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +4000

The Pac-12 race should be fun to watch in what looks to be the final year of the conference. Oregon should be one of the top contenders with Bo Nix racking up stats for a Heisman Trophy campaign.

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +4000

Washington is definitely a team to keep an eye on this season. Michael Penix Jr. will remain one of the top players in the conference as the Huskies look to build on their success from last season. Washington could be the team sitting on top of the Pac-12 at the end of the year.

Syndication: The Tennessean

Odds: +4000

This feels like a team landing on the big board where it is just off the name alone. Texas A&M has been one of the more disappointing performers the last couple of seasons but Jimbo Fisher has recruited too much talent to struggle again, right?

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +6000

Oklahoma has the second-best national championship odds among Big 12 teams, although that feels a bit generous. Oklahoma may be getting some odds based on brand name alone more than where the program is currently trending. The Sooners have some work to do to climb back into the legitmate playoff contender conversation.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +6000

Wisconsin appears to be the team to beat in the Big Ten West for many this season, and it is easy to see why. The hiring of Luke Fickell should pay off for the Badgers, and the offense may find new ways to open things up in Madison.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Odds: +8000

The defending Pac-12 champions are not the betting favorites in the conference this year, but when has that stopped them before? Utah should once again be a strong contender in the Pac-12 but a national championship shot is likely just a bit out of reach.

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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