The Clemson Tigers fell short in their bid for back to back National Championships earlier this week losing to LSU. Even with that setback the future looks bright for Clemson football and there’s reason to think that next year might be another banner season. BetOnline.ag has opened Clemson as a +225 top choice to win the 2021 College Football Playoffs.
So why not LSU as a defending champion? The biggest difference between the short term future prognosis for Clemson and LSU is at the quarterback position. For LSU, Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow is expected to be one of the first players selected in the upcoming NFL draft and should be playing on Sunday’s this fall. His Clemson counterpart, Trevor Lawrence, is returning to the team next year which immediately makes them one of the teams to beat on the national college football scene.
Following Clemson (+225) on the BetOnline.ag betting board is second choice Alabama (+400), Ohio State (+450), LSU (+600), Georgia (+800) and Florida (+1400). Like LSU, Alabama is also losing their starting quarterback with Tua Tagovailoa declaring for the NFL draft. Ohio State will return starting quarterback Justin Fields but LSU (Burrow) and Georgia will be breaking in new starters at the quarterback position. Florida will return their starting quarterback, Kyle Trask. Ohio State lost to Clemson in the 2020 National Championship semifinal. The other semifinal team, Oklahoma, is priced at +2200 to claim the 2021 crown.
In addition to Clemson being the top choice to win the 2021 National Championship, starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence is a narrow favorite to win the 2021 Heisman Trophy. Lawrence is priced at +350 to claim college football’s top individual honor just ahead of his Ohio State counterpart Justin Fields at +400. Lawrence and Fields are the only players priced at single digit odds. After them, there are six players all priced at +1000 including Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard, USC QB Kendon Slovis, Alabama QB Mac Jones, Texas QB Sam Ehlinger, Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler and Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan.
