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Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrates against Indiana. The Buckeyes lead the college football championship odds.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrates against Indiana. Photo by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

The college football championship odds have seen major movement after an eventful Week 13 that was highlighted by a massive matchup and two major upsets.

Ohio State's 38-15 win over Indiana shortened the Buckeyes' odds from +320 to +260 and lengthened the Hoosiers' odds from +2500 to +5000.

Meanwhile, Alabama's loss to Oklahoma moved the Crimson Tide from +800 to +4000, and Ole Miss saw its odds go from +1000 to +10000 after falling to Florida.

With the College Football Playoff rankings coming out weekly for the next month and so much parity this season, the championship odds at our college football betting sites will likely continue to shift.

College football championship odds 2025

Live college football championship odds from our best sports betting apps.

  • Ohio State is the clear college football championship odds favorites after beating an Indiana team that remains minus money by the College Football Playoff odds
  • The Bulldogs overtook Oregon as the second-favorite after beating UMass and securing a spot in the SEC Championship, shortening their odds from +480 to +350
  • The Ducks are the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 and CFP rankings with their odds moving from +440 to +390 The Longhorns are the only other team with shorter than 14/1 odds, despite struggling in recent weeks
  • Even with Heisman Trophy odds favorite Travis Hunter putting together another strong game, the Buffaloes lost to Kansas and their odds lengthened from +5000 to +20000

College football championship favorites 2025

Ohio State (+260)

After Ohio State's one-point loss to Oregon and poor showing against Nebraska, the Buckeyes look like they may finally live up to the preseason hype as national championship contenders.

Ryan Day is best known for losing high-leverage games to top-notch programs, but he led Ohio State to a 20-13 road win over Penn State in Week 10 and a 38-15 victory over Indiana in Week 13.

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Between those two wins over top-five teams, Ohio State hammered Purdue 45-0 and took care of Northwestern 31-7. More importantly, Will Howard finally looks like he's living up to his billing as a potential top senior QB prospect in the NFL draft.

Those wins cut the Buckeyes' odds down to between +250 and +275 at all of our best sports betting sites - paying a $27.50 profit on a $10 winning bet. And it showed why Ohio State's loss to the Ducks was never a reason to bail on the Buckeyes if you went into that matchup believing in them.

Ohio State is ranked No. 1 in SP+ and No. 1 on defense, and this price will likely only get shorter. So, while I don't love how short these odds are in a season where there appears to be no dominant team, it's a worthwhile bet with the way the Buckeyes have played as of late.

I firmly believe Ohio State is one of just four programs that can win the championship this season, and the Buckeyes' likely rematch against Oregon in the Big Ten title game will be for the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Best odds: +275 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 26.67%

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Georgia (+350)

Feeling confident in any teams other than Oregon and Ohio State at this point is tough. The SEC is just eating itself alive, which will surely lead to the College Football Playoff selection committee putting more SEC teams into the CFP than deserved.

With that said, Kirby Smart's team looked like the Georgia we're used to after bullying Tennessee in Week 12. The win was the first time all season that Carson Beck played like the QB who was touted as the potential No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

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So while the Bulldogs have lost to Ole Miss and Alabama this season, I still lean toward taking Georgia to win the SEC and earn a CFP bye. We've seen Smart win two national championships, and his two losses this season came against teams that were ranked in the top 10 on the road.

He also led Georgia to a win on the road over former No. 1 Texas. That's probably the second-best win of the season after Oregon's victory over Ohio State. And at the end of the day, when Georgia is healthy, this roster can compete with any team in the country.

I just can't give up on a team full of potential top-60 picks on defense, an NFL-level running back, a QB who has the talent to be among the best in the SEC, and an offensive line that, when healthy, moves opponents at will. 

Georgia has already locked up its spot in the SEC Championship, too, thanks to so many other teams in the conference losing. The Bulldogs will play the winner of Texas vs. Texas A&M.

Best odds: +400 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 20%

Oregon (+390)

Why is Oregon's best price +425 when Ohio State's longest odds are +275? The Ducks own one of the two best wins of any team in the country and moved the ball at will against what was considered the top defense in the nation.

That looks even better now with Ohio State's wins over Penn State and Indiana.

Sure, Dan Lanning's team felt like it wasn't playing up to its potential through the first six weeks of the season, but beating the Buckeyes was impressive enough for this price to shorten further than it did.

And if that win wasn't convincing enough, Oregon hammered a ranked Illinois program in Week 9, handled business on the road against Michigan in Week 10, and walked all over Maryland in Week 11.

Obviously, the 16-13 win over Wisconsin in Week 12 was less impressive, but the Badgers' defense was stellar, and it's never easy to play at Camp Randall.

The Ducks' offense is still No. 3 in SP+, and despite struggling against Wisconsin, Gabriel had been on a heater and Jordan James is running like a madman against Big Ten programs. The issues with the offensive line from earlier in the year appear to have been fixed.

While we still need more data, at this point I feel Ohio State and Oregon are the two best teams in the country. And the Ducks will most likely see Ohio State again in the Big Ten Championship.

Oregon's only game left is against Washington, and the Ducks will be double-digit favorites. So, if you liked what you saw from this group against the Buckeyes, back this price with it paying a $42.50 profit on a $10 winning bet - it's the best value among the top contenders.

Best odds: +425 via Caesars | Implied probability: 19.05%

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My college football championship team to watch

Texas (+440)

Texas' odds probably never should have been as short as they were prior to the Georgia game (+350). This season just doesn't have a clear juggernaut. The Longhorns are the perfect example of why it's hard to back any team that's shorter than +400 at this point.

Georgia, Alabama, and Texas have all been ranked the No. 1 team in the country, and all have had odds shorter than +400 to win the title. Each one of them lost.

That's why the best time to bet a team to win it all is after a loss against a high-quality opponent. While the loss to the Bulldogs was ugly - and Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Kentucky played Texas tough - the Longhorns are still one of the best teams in the country and showed it against a Florida team that just beat LSU and Ole Miss.

Texas is ranked No. 3 in SP+ and one of only two teams to rank top five in both offense and defense. The Longhorns have NFL talent all over both sides of the ball, and Ewers has had some bright moments in recent weeks.

That's why I think if you went into the Georgia game expecting Texas to win it all, its loss shouldn't change much for you - and now a $10 winning bet pays a $45 profit at DraftKings.

While Texas does have a tough regular-season finale at Texas A&M, the Longhorns will be set to play in the SEC Championship if they win. A win in the conference title in a rematch with Georgia would earn them a bye in the CFP.

Best odds: +450 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 18.18%

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AP Top 25 college football poll Week 12

RankingTeamRecord
1Oregon11-0
2Ohio State10-1
3Texas10-1
4Penn State10-1
5Notre Dame10-1
6Georgia9-2
7Tennessee9-2
8Miami10-1
9SMU10-1
10Indiana10-1
11Boise State10-1
12clemson9-2
13Alabama8-3
14Arizona State9-2
15Ole Miss8-3
16South Carolina8-3
17Iowa State9-2
18Tulane9-2
19BYU9-2
20Texas A&M8-3
21UNLV9-2
22Illinois8-3
23Colorado8-3
24Missouri8-3
25Army9-1

Week 13 didn't see much movement at the top of the AP Top 25. However, three top-10 teams lost, which led to a lot of change outside of the top four.

Indiana's loss to Ohio State pushed the Hoosiers down five spots to No. 10. And Alabama's loss to Oklahoma knocked the Crimson Tide down six spots to No. 13 - Ole Miss fell six spots, too, to No. 15 after losing to Florida.

Those three losses allowed Notre Dame, Georgia, Tennessee, Miami, SMU, Boise State, Clemson, and Arizona State to all move up at least one spot in the top 15. Meanwhile, BYU's loss to the Sun Devils pushed the Cougars down five spots - Texas A&M also fell five spots following its loss to Auburn.

Teams that jumped up include South Carolina, Iowa State, and Tulane. The two furthest fallers to remain ranked though are Colorado (No. 23) and Army (No. 25), both fell seven spots.

Boise State, Tulane, UNLV, and Army are the only four Group of Five teams in the Top 25, with all four looking poised to make a push for the G5 College Football Playoff spot.

How to bet on the college football championship

When betting on college football championship odds, first, choose a reputable sportsbook that offers college football futures. Check out the odds for different teams; for example, if Alabama has +300 odds and Ohio State has +600, a $100 bet on Alabama would win you $300 if they take the championship.

Decide how much you want to wager and place your bet. If you bet $100 on Alabama at +300 and they win, you’ll get $400 back ($300 profit + $100 stake). Keep an eye on team performances throughout the season to see how your bet is shaping up.

Remember, when betting in future markets, the odds will move. It’s mostly about performance and perception.

If a team starts playing better or worse than expected, its odds will change. Injuries to key players can significantly impact a team's chances and thus their odds. Transfers and new player acquisitions can also affect a team's championship odds. Public betting trends play a role too - if a lot of people are betting on one team, sportsbooks might adjust the odds to balance their risk.

Expert analysis and predictions can also influence how people bet, which in turn affects the odds.

How to read college football championship odds

Reading college football championship odds is straightforward. Odds are usually presented in a format like +300 or -150. Positive odds (i.e., +300) show how much profit you’d make on a $100 bet. For example, a $100 bet at +300 odds would win you $300, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $400.

Negative odds (i.e., -150) indicate how much you need to bet to win $100. So, a $150 bet at -150 odds would win you $100, plus your $150 stake, totaling $250.

These odds also reflect the implied probability of a team winning the championship. Lower odds (i.e., +200) suggest a higher probability of winning, while higher odds (i.e., +1000) indicate a lower probability.

Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on factors like team performance, injuries, transfers, and betting patterns.

For example, if Alabama has +300 odds and Ohio State has +600 odds, Alabama is considered more likely to win. If you bet $100 on Alabama and they win, you’d get $400 back ($300 profit + $100 stake).

College football national title odds over time

Latest odds via DraftKings.

TeamOpening odds (Jan. 9)Oct. 11Nov. 24
Georgia+350+500+350
Alabama+550+650+4000
Ohio State+800+280+250
Texas+900+400+450
Michigan+900+30000OFF
Oregon+1000+1000+400
Ole Miss+1100+1800+20000
LSU+1600+5000OFF
Clemson +2000+2200+5000
Florida State+2000OFFOFF
Notre Dame+2500+4000+1500
Penn State+2500+1800+1800
Oklahoma+3000+18000OFF
USC+3000+10000OFF
Texas A&M+4000+5500+15000
Missouri+5000+10000OFF
Tennessee+5000+1800+2200
Louisville+8000+30000OFF
Miami+8000+2200+3000
Utah+8000+9000OFF
Washington+8000+40000OFF
Wisconsin+8000+50000OFF
Auburn+10000+100000OFF
Kansas State+10000+9000+80000
North Carolina+10000+100000OFF
Colorado+20000+30000+20000

College football championship odds history

YearTeamPreseason odds
2024Michigan+800
2023Georgia+350
2022Georgia+600
2021Alabama+300
2020LSU+2500
2019Clemson+400
2018Alabama+250
2017Clemson+700
2016Alabama+700
2015Ohio State+4000
2014Florida State+1600

Most college football championships by school

SchoolChampionship winsMost recent win
Yale181927
Alabama162020
Princeton151922
Notre Dame131988
Michigan102023
USC92004
Harvard81919
Ohio State82014
Oklahoma72000
Minnesota61960

College football championship FAQs

Who is the CFP National Championship favorite?

Ohio State is the favorite by the 2025 college football championship odds. The Buckeyes' shortest odds (+250) imply a 28.57% probability they'll win it all according to our odds calculator.

Who won the CFP National Championship last year?

The Michigan Wolverines won their first title since 1997 by defeating the Washington Huskies in the 2024 national championship.

When will the CFP National Championship be decided?

The 2025 CFP National Championship will be decided on Monday, Jan. 20.

Where will the CFP National Championship take place?

The 2025 college football championship will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.

Who has won the most college football championships?

Yale has won the most college football championships with 18. Alabama ranks second with 16 total victories, and the Crimson Tide's three championships in the college football playoff era also stand as the most.

When does the College Football Playoff start?

The 2025 College Football Playoff starts with the first round on Dec. 20 and 21, with games being played at the campus of the higher seed. The quarterfinals will then be played across the Fiesta, Peach, Rose, and Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

The semifinals take place Jan. 9 and 10 at the Orange and Cotton Bowl before the CFP National Championship game on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.

How many teams make the College Football Playoff?

Previously only four teams were selected for the College Football Playoff, but this season the playoff will expand to 12 teams. The top five ranked conference champions will be automatic qualifiers for the playoff along with seven at-large teams, decided by the College Football Playoff selection committee.

The top four conference champions will receive a first-round bye in the playoff.

College football odds pages

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