There has been no shortage of support from bettors for Nick Saban and his Alabama Crimson Tide in their quest to win the 2022 National Championship. This article will examine the movements in the college football futures market and determine which numbers are worth investing in.
The Georgia Bulldogs opened at +900 last season and put their backers in a strong position heading into the National Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Georgia not only won the National Championship, but they were -145 favorites on the moneyline, making it easy for their supporters to maneuver with their +900 tickets.
When it comes to playing futures markets, the when is just as important as the who. It is seldom a secret who to bet on in any sport, however, timing the when is the key to maximizing your portfolio of futures wagers.
Below, we track the movement in college football futures odds and all the details for the 2022 college football season.
College Football Championship Odds: Favorites
Alabama (+180 via FanDuel)
Even though Alabama may be the best team in college football entering the 2022 season, I do not see how you can pounce on this +180 price point so early in the season. During the Nick Saban era, this is the second shortest opening line for Alabama; the shortest was in 2018 when they were +175 and lost to Clemson in the National Championship. In the years that they won a National Championship, bettors were able to buy a ticket at a higher price than the opener numerous times.
Ohio State (+375 via Caesars)
In terms of favorites, Ohio State is the team I would be interested in backing for the 2022 season. In addition, this price may be adjusted immediately if Ohio State defeats Notre Dame in Week 1. I would therefore consider purchasing Ohio State now rather than waiting until the season progresses. Ohio State has the potential to play their way into a tight moneyline price against Alabama in the National Championship game, which is precisely what bettors should be seeking.
Georgia (+400 via DraftKings)
Winning back-to-back National Championships is extremely difficult, and I am personally uninterested in betting on Georgia to accomplish this feat, especially at an opening price of +400. Many key players from their defense, which was among the best in the history of college football, have been lost to the NFL. While Georgia will still win plenty of games this year, it will not be in the same dominant manner as last year, which could increase this price.
College Football Championship Odds: Contenders
Clemson (+1400 via Caesars)
Due to Brent Venables' move to Oklahoma as head coach and the poor passing attack we saw from DJ Uiagalelei and the Clemson offense last season, the public perception of Clemson has soured and you can see this in their opening price. With an opening price of +1400, Clemson will be a team I will be monitoring early in the season, as I believe they offer considerable potential from a value standpoint.