The 2018-19 college football season is in the books and while Clemson is still revelling in its National Championship trouncing of Alabama with the best fast food money can buy, we turn our attention to next season.
The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook didn’t waste any time posting their college football National Championship odds during this year’s title game, opening Alabama as the favorite. But as Bama’s destruction appeared certain, the Superbook quickly pivoted to make the Tigers the favorites. The point is: one no will be shocked if next year’s title game is Clemson-Alabama 5.0.
But, if you're so inclined to think there will be a changing of the guard in 2019-2020 here are three college football programs with the best value in terms of odds heading into next season.
Oregon Ducks - 30/1
It wasn't a banner year for the Pac-12 conference. The champion, Washington, had four losses and was mostly absent in the Rose Bowl. The conference went just 3-3 in bowl games, which could have been worse, but the teams combined to average just 18.7 points per game.
Enter Mario Cristobal. The Ducks head coach had a pretty successful first season in Eugene. He led the Ducks to nine wins including a victory over Michigan State in the Redbox bowl. And boy has the Ducks’ offseason gotten off to a good start with potential NFL No. 1 overall draft pick Justin Herbert annoucning he would return for his senior season. Add in a Top-5 recruiting class highlighted by securing the commitment of No. 1 overall prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux and things could once again be rocking in the Auzten Zoo in 2020.
Oregon will also be returning a strong offensive line, with five starters back including four seniors, and should be set in the running game C.J. Verdell and Travis Dye. The defense that allowed 16 fewer points than the season before gets back its top tackler in Troy Dye and Thibodeaux could be an absolute monster. If the Ducks can navigate a season-opening game against Auburn at a neutral site in Texas and an early matchup at Stanford, they should be favorites to win the Pac-12 and will have a shot at the College Football Playoff.
LSU Tigers - 50/1
Louisiana State is used to turnover on its defense and this year will be no different as Greedy Williams, Ed Alexander and Devin White have all declared for the NFL Draft and are projected first-round picks. But also, as usual, the Tigers have reloaded again for next season. All-American safety Grant Delpit returns and they signed the No. 2 ranked corner in Derek Stingley Jr.
On offense, QB Joe Burrow is back and will hope/need to improve in the passing game if they want to unseat Alabama in the SEC West. He showed some promise in the Fiesta Bowl, throwing for 394 yards and four touchdowns in a 40-32 win over UCF. Burrow could show improvement with consistent offensive line play and a running game. Luckily for LSU, it signed the nation’s top guard in Kardell Thomas and the top running back in John Emery.
The Tigers have a tough matchup in Week 2 at Texas, but their season will likely come down to their Week 11 showdown with Tua Tagovailoa and the Tide at Alabama. But a win in that game, more than likely has them in the CFP conversation.
Texas A&M Aggies - 80/1
Jimbo Fisher’s tenure at College Station got off to a successful start. The Aggies notched nine wins in Fisher’s first year, including a 52-13 beatdown of North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl. They also nearly upset the eventual national champion Clemson Tigers in Week 2, falling 28-26 as 12-point home dogs.
Quarterback Kellen Mond showed significant improvement under Fisher and has some potential as a dark horse Heisman candidate next season. He will have to move forward without two of his best weapons as running back Trayveon Williams and tight end Jace Sternberger are entering the NFL Draft. But Mond could be getting reinforcements, as Jimbo worked his recruiting magic and brought in the third-ranked class in the country.
The Aggies are staring another tough schedule in the face, with trips to Clemson, Georgia and LSU this season. But if the defense can continue to improve they can make some noise in the SEC next season and 80/1 provides excellent value.
Here is the complete list of national championship odds per the Superbook at Westgate:
| TEAM | ODDS TO WIN | TEAM | ODDS TO WIN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson | 9/5 | South Carolina | 300/1 |
| Alabama | 5/2 | Missouri | 300/1 |
| Ohio State | 12/1 | Tennessee | 300/1 |
| Georgia | 12/1 | West Virginia | 300/1 |
| Michigan | 14/1 | Texas Tech | 300/1 |
| Oklahoma | 15/1 | Cal | 300/1 |
| Texas | 20/1 | UCF | 500/1 |
| Nebraska | 25/1 | Houston | 500/1 |
| Washington | 25/1 | Virginia | 500/1 |
| Florida | 25/1 | Fresno State | 500/1 |
| Notre Dame | 25/1 | Boise State | 500/1 |
| Oregon | 30/1 | Utah State | 500/1 |
| Wisconsin | 50/1 | BYU | 500/1 |
| LSU | 50/1 | Kansas State | 500/1 |
| Mississippi State | 50/1 | Kansas | 500/1 |
| Auburn | 50/1 | NC State | 500/1 |
| Miami | 80/1 | Boston College | 500/1 |
| Utah | 80/1 | Louisville | 500/1 |
| USC | 80/1 | Pitt | 1000/1 |
| Texas A&M | 80/1 | Georgia Tech | 1000/1 |
| Virginia Tech | 80/1 | Duke | 1000/1 |
| Penn State | 100/1 | Maryland | 1000/1 |
| Iowa | 100/1 | Minnesota | 1000/1 |
| Florida State | 100/1 | Colorado | 1000/1 |
| Iowa State | 200/1 | Kentucky | 1000/1 |
| Oklahoma State | 200/1 | Ole Miss | 1000/1 |
| Michigan State | 200/1 | Arkansas | 1000/1 |
| Purdue | 200/1 | Wake Forest | 2000/1 |
| Washington State | 200/1 | UNC | 2000/1 |
| Stanford | 200/1 | Indiana | 2000/1 |
| Arizona | 200/1 | Vanderbilt | 5000/1 |
| UCLA | 200/1 | San Diego State | 5000/1 |
| TCU | 200/1 | Rutgers | 10000/1 |
| Baylor | 200/1 | Illinois | 10000/1 |
| Syracuse | 200/1 | Oregon State | 10000/1 |
| Northwestern | 200/1 | Nevada | 10000/1 |
| Arizona State | 300/1 | UNLV | 10000/1 |
