College football national title odds: Who’s overrated and underrated?

Vegas oddsmakers have Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide picked as the early favorites to repeat as champions of college football.

College football spring games are underway for the month of April as fans will get their first look at how their favorite team looks for the season ahead.

This marks the first opportunity to see the recruits who enrolled early, players who redshirted last year, players recovered from injuries and any new transfers.

While it’s still a long way to go until the regular season starts, it’s never too early to take a look at the latest national title odds.

Brett McMurphy shared the updated title odds from Westgate Las Vegas Superbook and to the surprise of no one, Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson is the trio getting the best odds.

Who’s overrated and underrated?

Ohio State – 8/1

This seems a little high for the Buckeyes. They’re replacing a three-year starter at quarterback in J.T. Barrett and the defense loses seven starters from 2017. Ohio State plays TCU and Michigan at home and they go on the road to play Michigan State and Penn State, plus will likely have to play Wisconsin again in the Big Ten Championship. They had a better team last season and Iowa hung 55 on them.

Ruling: Overrated

Michigan, Penn State -12/1

If Shea Patterson is fully cleared by the NCAA to play for Michigan this season, move them to 8/1 and bump Ohio State back to 12/1. Penn State is good at 12/1. All these teams play each other and until one is decidedly better than the rest, they’ll probably keep each other out of the playoff.

Ruling: Appropriately rated

Oklahoma – 20/1

Oklahoma’s defense was atrocious last season. The Sooners being ranked in the preseason top ten team might be the Eighth Wonder of the World. Do they think Baker Mayfield is still there? Because he’s not. He had the best season in school history en route to winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the team to a berth in the College Football Playoff. They’ll have a solid running game and will be a good team with Kyler Murray under center, but nowhere close to the playoff picture. They should be closer to 40/1.

Ruling: Overrated

Florida State – 25/1

The fact Florida State has the same odds as Auburn is laughable. They went 7-6 last year. They’re replacing seven starters on defense. And I’m still waiting for someone to show me any kind of evidence that Willie Taggart is a good coach. He’s a significant downgrade from Jimbo Fisher.

Ruling: Overrated

Auburn – 25/1

Auburn was 10-4 in 2017 including wins over Alabama and Georgia in the regular season. They have an All-SEC quarterback in Jarrett Stidham returning with his top receivers and a solid defense. They play LSU, Washington, Alabama, and Georgia though and they’re probably not winning more than two of those games.

Ruling: Appropriately rated

No real issues with anyone else on the list with the exception of Michigan State.

Michigan State – 60/1

Sparty went 10-3 in 2017 and they bring back 19 of 22 starters including a two-year starter at quarterback and a senior running back in L.J. Scott who has nearly 3,000 career rushing yards. They will have another really good defense and Mike Dantonio is one of the best coaches in the country. Michigan State has as good of a shot to win the Big Ten as Penn State, Michigan or Ohio State.

Ruling: Wildly underrated

All of that being said, this is just Vegas being Vegas. If you want a value bet, take Michigan State. If you want to be correct, bet on Alabama.