College Football Playoff Rankings Based on Odds

We enter the final week of the college football regular season with a lot still to be sorted out as it relates to the College Football Playoff. The field is shrinking ahead of Tuesday's reveal of the CFP Committee's updated rankings, but let's see where each contender stands in the betting market at WynnBET Sportsbook.

No. 1 Georgia (-130)

Nothing to see here. The Bulldogs are a lock to make the CFP and will be in the SEC Championship game, likely against Alabama (more on that later).

There isn't much value on Georgia at this point, they've been dominating teams all year and the market has reacted correctly.

No. 2 Ohio State (+350)

Ohio State jumped Alabama in the polls this week after shelling Michigan State 56-7 at home, easily the most impressive win of the season to date. The Buckeyes National Championship odds dropped in step with this move up, but they are far from a lock to go to the College Football Playoff.

The team heads to Ann Arbor to play No. 6 Michigan in an elimination game for the Big Ten Championship and the CFP.

Ohio State will lean on the play of their incredible passing game to outduel the Wolverines on Saturday, led by now the odds on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, CJ Stroud, who passed for over 400 yards and six touchdowns in Saturday's win.

If you want to get in on Ohio State to win the National Championship, this odds shift is significant and may have taken the value out of them. You may be better off doing an open moneyline parlay with the Buckeyes in this weekend's game, the Big Ten Championship, and both CFP games, the payout will be better.

No. 3 Alabama (+350)

Alabama's path has not changed, they must win Saturday at Auburn, who will be without their starting quarterback, and likely win against Georgia in the SEC Championship. I'm still not sold on betting the Crimson Tide to win the CFP.

Betting them at +350 would likely require beating Georgia twice in a month, and if they lose once, they lose control of their own destiny to get into the top four.

At this number, I'm not interested in backing Alabama, who still have questions on the defensive side of the ball.

No. 4 Cincinnati (+2500)

The path for Cincinnati to make the College Football Playoff got much easier this past weekend with Oregon losing at Utah, knocking them out of playoff contention.

Cincy plays East Carolina and then a ranked Houston foe in the AAC Championship. If they were to win those two games, there's few teams that have a more legitimate case to the top four than the Bearcats.

With that being said, I can't bet Cincy at this number with it being a huge question mark that the committee would actually put a Group of Five team into the top four. I'd need around 40-1 to get in on the Bearcats.

No. 5 Michigan (+4000)

The Wolverines responded the past two weeks after suffering their first loss of the year, going to Penn State and winning and blowing out Maryland.

Now the team heads back home with a chance to not only knock off their long time rival Ohio State from the CFP, but give themselves the inside track to the Playoffs for the first time. The Wolverines are catching 7.5 points on Saturday in 'The Game.'

If you think Michigan can knock off Ohio State for the first time since 2011, and win the Big Ten Championship game, this is the number to get in on.

No. 6 Oklahoma (+4000)

The Sooners kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive with a win against Iowa State last Saturday, and now head to Stillwater, Oklahoma for 'Bedlam' against their rival Oklahoma State in an elimination game for the CFP.

If Oklahoma wins, they will meet Oklahoma State again in the Big 12 Championship game, another must win for OU.

I have no interest in backing the Sooners to make a run in the CFP, let alone counting on them to win two games in a row against a sturdy Oklahoma State defense.

No.7 Oklahoma State (+4000)

Oklahoma State has a more legitimate path to the CFP: Beat Oklahoma this week, then Baylor next week and finish the year with a Big 12 title and one loss.

From there, it's in the committee's hands if the Cowboys make the top four, but this is another team I don't see much value on given the number. Oklahoma State's offense has held them back all season long and will run into trouble with the likes of Georgia, Alabama, or Ohio State.

No. 8 Notre Dame (+8000)

I would rather take Notre Dame over either Big 12 school at this number.

The Irish lost once this season to No. 4 Cincinnati, and have beaten a formidable group of teams including Wisconsin, Virginia, Purdue, and North Carolina.

There would need to be chaos, but it revolves around Alabama and each Big Ten team losing a game, likely Ohio State losing at Michigan and Michigan losing at Wisconsin. That would open up the door for Cincinnati to jump in and also Notre Dame to truly enter.

It's 80-1 for a reason, but the Irish are quietly building a case.