Setting the College Football Playoff Odds
Alabama beat Georgia. Oklahoma State faltered by a few inches. Michigan and Cincinnati took care of business, and Notre Dame couldn't do anything but watch.
The College Football Playoff is here.
After a conference championship Saturday with plenty of twists, the postseason has arrived; highlighted by the Final Four. Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati are in. Everyone else is out.
Below are the opening odds from WynnBET for the College Football Playoff.
Odds to Win the College Football Playoffs
Alabama +100
You could have gotten Alabama at +675 to win it all before they manhandled Georgia in the SEC Championship, but now it's gonna cost you more to get on the Tide bandwagon.
Quarterback Bryce Young seems like a lock to win the Heisman and Alabama looked the best it has all year in their 41-24 win over the Bulldogs. The only bad news is star wide receiverJohn Metchie III tore his ACL in 'Bama's win over Georgia, but even that injury can't halt the momentum they've captured late in the year. They should be the No. 1 seed in the CFP and the new outright favorite to win it all.
That’s really the only drama left. I think Alabama gets No. 1 because they don’t want the rematch vs. Georgia who will be 3. So Michigan gets screwed because of the SEC.
— Patrick Schmidt (@PatrickASchmidt) December 5, 2021
Georgia +125
Let's not forget Georgia was an outright -225 favorite to win the national championship and 6.5-point favorites going into their game against Alabama. They've been the favorite to win it all most of the season and have a championship-level defense, their performance against Alabama not withstanding.
The Bulldogs were exposed against 'Bama, but that doesn't mean they aren't the best or second best team in the nation. They are. And will likely be the third seed and avoid another game against Alabama until the final, if they beat the next team on this list first.
Michigan +500
Like Alabama, Michigan is hitting its stride at the perfect time.
After waxing Ohio State in the regular-season finale, they handed it to an overmatched Iowa team in the Big Ten Championship, winning 42-3. The Wolverines should be the No. 2 seed in the CFP, but in the odds they'll likely be third. The expectation is Michigan will play Georgia in the semifinals, and while the Bulldogs just looked very average, they will still be favored to beat Michigan, even if Michigan has as much a case to be ranked No. 1 as Bama. That won't happen.
The SEC machine remains operational and while that is true so too will the odds makers side with that conference over all others.
Michigan will be the first team unranked in the preseason AP Poll to make the College Football Playoff, which began in 2014.
— Drew Hallett (@DrewCHallett) December 5, 2021
Cincinnati +1500
The Bearcats were always going to be the biggest long shots to win the title. Now they have to face a red-hot roll tide squad in the semifinals. They'll likely be double-digit underdogs in that game and you have to figure they'd be double-digit underdogs in the finals if they somehow find a way past Alabama. Still, crazier things have happened and oddsmakers aren't going to expose themselves too much heading into the CFP. So that's why Cincinnati gets +750 odds and not something longer.
They're the first team from outside the power 5 to make it and they'll get in based on Oklahoma State losing to Baylor in the Big 12 championship. What happens from here is anyone's guess.
2021 College Football Playoff Updated Seeds
1. Alabama (12-1)
2. Michigan (12-1)
3. Georgia (12-1)
4. Cincinnati (13-0)
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