5 smartest long-shot bets to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game

5. Michigan 14/1

The Michigan Wolverines ended the season about as bad as any team could end it. They at one point had the best defense in all of college football, but that ended with their biggest game of the season. When facing rival Ohio State on the road, this defense allowed 62 points. Then, in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, they were slaughtered by the Florida Gators, losing 41-15.

That brings back up the questions surrounding Jim Harbaugh as head coach. He’s always able to take Michigan right to the point of greatness, then it all falls apart. He’s now going into his fifth season as the Wolverines head coach, and he doesn’t have a lot to show for it. Last season was his best, and as we said it ended with the worst taste in Michigan fans’ mouths.

Michigan has seen its odds go from 12/1 to 22/1, but right now they sit at 14/1. Nothing really happened except bettors are putting their money on other teams. The faith in Michigan is low, but it shouldn’t be. Ohio State may need a transition year after the end of Urban Meyer’s tenure. The Wolverines are in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten. Shea Patterson returns under center after a good season. He could build off that to make the offense as dangerous as the defense.

In fact, almost the entire offense is returning this season. This gives Harbaugh the chance to tweak his playbook instead of making major changes. This could allow him to throw in a few surprises that could win him games.

They also return eight starters from that great defense. The Michigan team has everything to gain this year and nothing left to lose. They’ve been the team with something to prove for three seasons, and for once they have everything working in their favor to do it.