The road to the National Championship is set to begin in just under a month and the odds to win it all are set for the upcoming college football season. The usual suspects take up the top four spots but coming in at five is a team that failed to make the list last season. With the landscape of college football seemingly changing, this year might be the most intriguing we’ve seen in a while. The 2022 campaign will be here before we know it as we await the much-anticipated return of the college game on August 27th.
College Football: Best Odds To Win The 2022-23 National Championship
Alabama (+180)
Who else? Once again, Alabama is the heavy favorite to win the National Championship. While they lost a few key skill position players in the offseason, it never seems to bother the Crimson Tide. They always find the next man up whether already on the team or in recruiting. Alabama does however bring back Heisman hopeful Bryce Young at quarterback as well as important pieces on defense, including one of the best players in the country with linebacker Will Anderson Jr. They come into this season with a chip on their shoulder after losing in the National Championship Game against Georgia last season.
“To have two players that make such a significant impact on our team as those two guys, I don’t recall ever having a circumstance like that.”
Nick Saban speaks highly of Bryce Young and Will Anderson 🐘 @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/y4YYp1xHWV
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 19, 2022
Ohio State (+300)
Despite a 10-2 record, Ohio State failed to make the College Football Playoff after suffering a heartbreaking loss to their arch-rival Michigan to end the regular season. They did however end on a high note with a victory over Utah in the Rose Bowl. C.J. Stroud leads the Buckeyes into the 2022 season after finishing fourth in the Heisman voting last season. He will be throwing to a very talented wide receiver group, led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. to name a few. With this explosive offense, Ohio State has a good chance to make the playoff and contend for the National Championship.
Georgia (+350)
Georgia finally got over the hump last season and beat Alabama for their first National Championship since 1980. They come into this season with a lot of roster turnover, especially on defense. The defending champs lost the most players of any school to the NFL this offseason. Even though that’s the case, head coach Kirby Smart has recruited at a high level once again, including bringing in five five-star recruits (two on defense). They bring back Stetson Bennett under center and have a lot of potential in the run game. This Georgia team will be tested right off the hop against Oregon and we’ll see if they have the ability to repeat.
"Complacency is something that happens to people who don't look at what's going on. We don't have that problem." – Kirby Smart on the attitude in Athens following @GeorgiaFootball's national championship season. #SECMD22 pic.twitter.com/sgteQuZxx9
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) July 20, 2022
Clemson (+800)
People aren’t as high on Clemson coming into 2022 as they have been in years past. Last season, this Clemson offense was nowhere near what we’re used to seeing. D.J. Uiagalelei had high hopes but his performance was underwhelming, to say the least. In 13 games this past season, he only passed for 2246 yards and had a TD/INT ratio of 9/10. The chemistry on offense just wasn’t there but even with these faults, Clemson still finished 10-3 and won six straight to end the season. Uigalelei will most certainly start this season, but Clemson has an intriguing quarterback room with Cade Klubnik and Hunter Johnson.
The Tigers have a lot to play for in 2022 and head coach Dabo Swinney will make sure that they are ready and prepared after last season. Clemson has been to four National Championship games in the last decade, winning in 2016 and 2018. They look to get back to that form and be that team everyone is used to seeing.
USC (+2000)
After Clemson, there’s a steep drop in the odds. Even so, USC might be the most popular bet on the board. They come into this season snatching one of the best coaches in college football with Lincoln Riley coming over from Oklahoma. Also coming over from Oklahoma is quarterback Caleb Williams, who is one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. These two together for a full season have a real chance to be something special in the new-look offense for USC. The Trojans also added high-profile transfer Jordan Addison to the wide receiver group.
Even with an explosive offense, the thing that could derail this team’s chances is the defense. With unproven and moving pieces, it could take a year or two to establish that side of the ball. With the offense this team seems to posses, USC fans are hoping it can mask the defensive question flanking this team. Who knows, maybe the defense can step up and try to match or come close to the intensity of the rest of the team.
.@USC_FB is the most popular champion pick in Vegas 👀
Tag who you think is winning it all this season 🏆 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hg9wQnBDd1
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) July 19, 2022
Next Best Odds
Texas A&M (+2500)
Oklahoma (+5000)
Notre Dame (+6000)
Michigan (+6000)
Texas (+8000)
Utah (+8000)
