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College Football Futures: College Football Playoff National Championship Odds and Picks

Henry John

Last Updated: July 27, 2022 5:58 AM EDT • 3 min 49 sec read.

Head coach Jimbo Fisher of the Texas A&M Aggies looks on as we share our favorite New Mexico vs. Texas A&M pick.
Head coach Jimbo Fisher of the Texas A&M Aggies looks on during the spring game at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images via AFP.

Making the case for five preseason CFP National Championship futures bets, from the deserving favorite out of the SEC to a Pac-12 longshot with a conceivable path. Here are our college football national championship odds and picks.

In just one month's time, the great sport of college football will once again grace us all with its presence. Of course, hot-button topics such as conference realignment, NIL, and the transfer portal have thoroughly dominated the offseason headlines. However, when the 2022 season kicks off next month, the focus will once again return to the football field where it belongs.

Since its inception in 2014, the four-team College Football Playoff has largely featured a select handful of schools. It probably comes as no surprise to many bettors that several of these programs are once again the favorites to win the national championship ahead of the 2022 season.

With that being said, the lofty power ratings attached to some of the powerhouse programs can be viewed as beneficial for bettors who are willing to take a risk. A number of schools further down the preseason odds board have some very intriguing national championship futures prices.

Here are my top preseason picks to win the 2022-23 College Football Playoff National Championship (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM).

College Football Playoff National Championship Futures Odds

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College Football Playoff National Championship Futures Betting Picks

Alabama Crimson Tide (+190 via BetMGM)Ohio State Buckeyes (+375 via Caesars)Clemson Tigers (+1200 via Caesars)Texas A&M Aggies (+2500 via DraftKings)Utah Utes (+6000 via DraftKings)

College Football Futures Picks to Win the National Championship

Alabama Crimson Tide (+190)

A lot of people likely overlooked the fact that Alabama was really a year ahead of schedule when they won the SEC and reached the CFP title game a season ago. On the surface, the 2022-23 season looks to have the makings of being a special one in Tuscaloosa. Along with plenty of fresh, star-studded recruits, Nick Saban also has plenty of elite talent returning.

After winning the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore last season, Bryce Young is back to lead what should once again be a lethal Alabama offense. While the offensive line has been retooled, any drop-off in performance will be minimal.

In addition to welcoming back last year's Heisman winner on offense, Alabama also has the best defensive player in the country returning. Linebacker Will Anderson Jr. will anchor a Crimson Tide defense that is expected to be even deeper and more talented than last year's unit.

Ohio State Buckeyes (+375)

As far as reputable college football power ratings are concerned, if Alabama is not ranked first coming into the season, it is almost certain that Ohio State is the alternative selection for the top spot.

Despite concluding last season with a Rose Bowl triumph, it largely felt like a failure for most OSU fans. The shortcomings largely stemmed from the defense. This prompted head coach Ryan Day to hire Jim Knowles as the unit's new coordinator.

Offensively, the Buckeyes will once again be among the best in the country. In addition to Day being arguably the best play-caller in the sport today, Ohio State has two key returnees in quarterback CJ Stroud and wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Running back TreVeyon Henderson and receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. are poised to take the next step this season as well.

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Clemson Tigers (+1200)

Last season saw Clemson's streak of six consecutive ACC titles snapped. It was a disappointing year for Dabo Swinney's program which had also been a College Football Playoff participant in each of the six previous seasons. Although the jury is still out on quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, he certainly figures to benefit from an improved offensive line in front of him.

The strength of Clemson again this year is likely to be its defense. This combined with a very manageable schedule makes for an interesting option in the college football futures market. The Tigers will face each of their two toughest conference opponents, NC State and Miami, at home.

If Clemson can re-emerge as ACC champs, a spot in the College Football Playoff is virtually guaranteed.

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Texas A&M Aggies (+2500)

Prior to Georgia winning last year's all-SEC CFP title game, Texas A&M was the only team to successfully defeat Alabama. People may forget that the Aggies did so with a backup quarterback after starter Haynes King was lost for the year in Week 2.

Whether it is King or LSU transfer Max Johnson who ultimately opens the 2022 season under center, A&M's offense figures to be in good hands. This sentiment is more pronounced due to the return of wideout Ainias Smith as well as two freshman All-Americans along the offensive line.

Newcomers could also play a big part for Texas A&M this season thanks to Jimbo Fisher landing what some believe to be the best recruiting class ever. Schedule-wise, the Aggies have a real chance to run the table this season with both Arkansas and Ole Miss coming to Kyle Field. An Oct. 8 road trip to Tuscaloosa will be absolutely massive.

Utah Utes (+6000)

The Pac-12 has not been represented in the CFP since the 2016-17 season. After coming up just short against mighty Ohio State in last year's Rose Bowl, Utah has a great chance to end the conference's playoff drought in 2022.

Stability is a key reason why there is so much optimism surrounding the Utes this season. Quarterback Cameron Rising returns to lead an offense that also welcomes back five of its six most productive pass-catchers. Despite losing some key pieces on the offensive line and on defense, there are plenty of talented players ready to slot into those vacancies.

While all of the hype this offseason has been directed towards USC, don't sleep on Kyle Whittingham's bunch. The fact that the Utes will host the Trojans in Salt Lake City could prove to be a difference-maker in the Pac-12 South Division.

Where to Bet on College Football futures

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel SportsbookCaesars SportsbookDraftKings SportsbookPointsBetBetMGM

SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

Written By:
Henry John
Henry’s passion for sports dates all the way back to childhood and has ultimately led to a full-fledged career as an analyst and content creator. After getting his start penning fantasy football articles, he forrayed into the betting side of the business in early 2019. His love for sports and statistics proved to be an ideal match with the dedicated research and strategy that handicapping requires. Henry currently specializes in betting analysis and picks for college football, college basketball, and NASCAR. He counts NFL, WNBA, and NBA player props as additional leagues/markets of interest. Henry graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 2021 with a Communication Studies degree and a Psychology minor. A native of the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York, he and his pup, Harold, have since relocated to Laramie, Wyoming. Thanks to his professional goals within the sports betting industry, there has been a whole lot of steam on the odds for a move to Las Vegas in 2023! Most of Henry’s free time is spent on outdoor adventures, playing chess, snowboarding, or reading a good book. He is also a competitive powerlifter and aspires to qualify for the USAPL Nationals meet within the next 2-3 years.