Fansided

Alabama tops National Championship odds for 2018 season

By Patrick Schmidt

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban celebrate thier win after the AllState Sugar Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban celebrate thier win after the AllState Sugar Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Before the outcome of this year’s National Championship Game between Alabama and Georgia, the title odds for next year are already out and feature a familiar team at the top.

The game has yet to be played to crown the national champion for the 2017 season as Alabama and Georgia are hours away from kickoff. However, the title odds for next season are already out from Las Vegas Superbook and Alabama is the early betting favorite.

Surprise, surprise!

Win or lose tonight, Alabama will remain the betting favorite, because that’s just how the Tide rolls. Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide are 5/2 favorites already and while the odds are sure to fluctuate over the next several months, it’s unlikely to see the top spot change until further notice.

Depending on who returns to Alabama and who declares for the NFL Draft, the odds could even be stronger for Alabama. With quarterback Jalen Hurts returning and the No. 1 ranked recruiting classes over the previous three years set to go through the process in Tuscaloosa, Alabama figures to be in this same spot a year from now. Betting against Alabama in college football is a risky proposition and I’m not about to do it. But it’s also why you’re not going to break the bank betting on Alabama, because it’s straight chalk and supposed to happen.

Behind Alabama is Clemson, the winners last year, at 6/1, followed by Georgia and Ohio State at 8/1. Michigan comes in fifth at 10/1 odds which may come as a surprise to some after a rough season for the Wolverines, but they have practically all their starters returning and could have former five-star quarterback recruit Shea Patterson eligible after transferring from Ole Miss.

Penn State, Oklahoma, Auburn, Michigan State, Texas and Wisconsin are all receiving 25/1 or better odds. Some other notables include Florida State, Notre Dame and USC at 40/1. If you’re looking for a longshot to hitch your wagon to, look no further than Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins who are getting 100/1 odds, the same as Boise State, Wake Forest and Arizona, who is currently without a coach.

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There’s plenty to shake out over the next few hours, days, weeks and months, but the one thing that never seems to change is the annual dominance of Alabama.

If you had $5 to bet on the national champion for next year, where is your money going?

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