WHEN: Monday, January 8th at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
WHY: Taking an earlylook at College Football Futures
While it’s been just under two months since the CFB season concluded, it’s never too early to look at some College Football Vegas Odds for 2023. Regarding the 2024 National Championship, the Georgia Bulldogs come in as the early favorite to win their third consecutive title, while bitter rivals Alabama aren’t far behind them. Also within the top-10 are Ohio State, Clemson, LSU, and USC, among others. Find the College Football Futures below.
Before we go any further, let’s take a look at this way-too-early current title odds, as set by the top Vegas college football betting sites. These are the programs most favored to win the College Football Playoff in January of 2024:
Seeing Georgia at the top of this list is not a surprise. They’re on the brink of becoming a legitimate dynasty, but the roster will have a different look. QB Stetson Bennett is gone, while defensive star Jalen Carter is expected to be the top pick in the NFL Draft. Nevertheless, Kirby Smart has tight end Brock Bowers back in the mix, and the Bulldogs had one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. At quarterback, Carson Beck is likely to take over for Bennett.
Alabama failed to meet expectations in 2022, not even making the College Football Playoff. That’s unheard of for a program of this stature, but a bounce-back campaign can be expected. Although Bryce Young has taken his talents to the NFL, Jalen Milroe is the most logical backup and has no shortage of weapons around him. The Tide has the top recruiting class in the country, just ahead of Georgia. You simply cannot underestimate Nick Saban.
Ohio State is a really interesting team for 2023. CJ Stroud is one of the best QBs in this draft class and will surely be missed in Columbus after putting up literal video game numbers over the last couple of years. That being said, Ryan Day welcomes back a plethora of offensive stars. Jaxon Smith-Njigba follows Stroud to the NFL, but Marvin Harrison Jr, TreVeyon Henderson, and Miyan Williams all return. Harrison Jr is a top-notch wideout who could be a first-round pick in the future, while Henderson and Williams are possibly the best running-back duo in college football. Kyle McCord and Devin Brown will battle it out for the quarterback job, and no matter who wins it, they’ll be gifted with countless impact players around them.
USC is another program to watch. Caleb Williams won the Heisman last season and was truly electrifying. The Trojans don’t have any problems scoring points, and that will be the case again in 2023, but defense is the question mark. The PAC-12 is jam-packed with good teams, and offense is definitely the focal point. If Lincoln Riley’s squad can figure out their defensive woes, they have a chance in the College Football futures.
Notre Dame May Have Value
Notre Dame (+3000) is an interesting one. Another season for head coach Marcus Freeman and a new quarterback in Sam Hartman, who transferred from Wake Forest. He could very well be a difference-maker for the Fighting Irish, and thankfully, ND doesn’t have too difficult of a schedule, either—meetings with Clemson, USC, and Ohio State figure to be good tests, though.
Final Picks
In my mind, I don’t see Georgia in the CFP again. They will be good, but there will be a step back. Instead, I’m looking at Alabama and a veteran Ohio State squad as serious contenders. Both offer value.
Before wagering on the College Football Futures, check out our top sportsbook reviews below, which have plenty of information to help you find the best options.
Quinn Allen is a journalist who specializes in writing sports betting previews. He holds a senior editor position at ClutchPoints. He has been contributing to Vegas Betting as a writer since 2022.