The latest College Football Playoff rankings won’t be released until tonight on ESPN, but the AP Top 25 Poll and the betting odds are readily available right now.
According to the AP Poll, the LSU Tigers are ranked first, followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes, Clemson Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Georgia Bulldogs in the Top 5.
Although not in that same order, the college football betting odds feature the same five with the best championship odds: Ohio State (+190), Clemson (+275), LSU (+275), Alabama (+1000), and Georgia (+1000).
2020 NCAA College Football Championship odds
- Ohio State (#2) +190
- Clemson (#3) +275
- LSU (#1) +275
- Alabama (#4) +1000
- Georgia (#5) +1000
- Oklahoma (#10) +1400
- Oregon (#6) +3000
- Minnesota (#7) +4000
- Utah (#8) +5000
- Baylor (#12) +10000
- Penn State (#9) +10000
- Auburn (#13) +15000
- Florida (#11) +15000
- Michigan (#14) +25000
To make it into the College Football Playoff, a team must be ranked in the poll’s Top 4 positions. Last week, the group was Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, and Penn State, in that order.
Following losses by Alabama and Penn State, they will both be dropped to lower rankings. For the Nittany Lions, their championship hopes are likely dashed altogether.
Alabama, on the other hand, might just drop to #4 and still have very real playoff aspirations.
If the College Football Playoff poll follows the AP Poll tonight, the Top 4 would be LSU, Ohio State, Clemson, and Bama. Albeit empowering, the CFP rankings mean nothing until Selection Sunday on December 8 when the playoffs are set.
Regardless of the rankings, Ohio State tops the title odds. Behind Heisman Trophy hopeful Justin Fields, the Buckeyes are 9-0 under first-year head coach Ryan Day.
This past Saturday, OSU even dropped 73 points on Maryland. The team should have an easy time with Rutgers November 16, then could be tested in their last two games against Penn State and Michigan.
Clemson and LSU not only share the same Tiger mascot, but they also share the second-best odds at +275. Clemson is the reigning college football champions but LSU is currently ranked #1 in the AP Poll.
LSU also has the Heisman favorite in QB Joe Burrow while Clemson’s star quarterback Trevor Lawrence has not had the year everyone expected. Stellar play under center doesn’t create a championship guarantee, but it certainly helps.
As for Alabama, Nick Saban & Co. always find a way in.