The College Football Playoff bracket is set and while they are undefeated and the top seed, Oregon is not the favorites to win it all. In fact, Georgia and Texas are slightly ahead of the Ducks. But can another underdog team make a deep run and pull off a shocker? We’ll break it down and see if there is value with any of the remaining other teams.
No. 1 Oregon Ducks
Record: 13-0
Round 1 Opponent: Bye
Championship Odds: +390 (3rd)
The Ducks remained undefeated after a 45-37 win over Penn State to win the Big Ten title in their first year in the conference. Oregon had four wins against top-25 schools including three victories against playoff teams. They deserve top bill and the first-round bye but are in line for a rematch against Ohio State in the quarters and then possibly Texas in the semis, and potentially Georgia in the championship game. That’s a tall order considering the Ducks have never won a national title.
No. 2 Georgia
Record: 11-2
Round 1 Opponent: Bye
Championship Odds: +360 (T-1st)
Georgia needed overtime to get by the Longhorns and earned a much deserved bye as quarterback Carson Beck was injured in the game but returned for the game-winning play. But he could barely lift his arm. The rest will help Beck, still no word on his status for the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs do have the better draw as they will face either Notre Dame or Indiana in the Sugar Bowl then Boise State, Penn State or SMU if they get to the final four.
No. 5 Texas
Record: 11-2
Round 1 Opponent: vs. Clemson (-11.5)
Championship Odds: +360 (T-1st)
Texas is 0-2 vs Georgia this season but could there be a rubber match in the championship game? Odds say there’s a good chance the teams could meet again. The Longhorns didn’t get a bye but now face Clemson at home in Austin. A win there, and they meet upstart ASU. Bookies like the Longhorns chances to reach the semis, where they would likely get Oregon or Ohio State.
No. 6 Penn State
Record: 11-2
Round 1 Opponent: vs. SMU (-7.5)
Championship Odds: +600 (5th)
Penn State almost took out the Ducks in the Big Ten championship and are one of the highest-ranked at-large teams. Both of the Nittany Lions losses were against CFP teams and both were by a single possession. Penn State’s path to the semifinals are favorable as games against SMU and then Boise State are much more desirable than the others.
Longshot No. 10 Indiana
Record: 11-1
Round 1 Opponent: at Notre Dame (+7.5)
Championship Odds: +4000 (8th)
If you bet the Hoosiers to win the title back in August, they were listed as high as 5000-to-1 in some books. And if you had them just to make the CFP, you already won that bet which could have been nearly 200-1. Right now, Indiana is +4000 to win it all and could cause some problems to Notre Dame as 7.5-point underdogs and with the country’s best rushing defense. Indiana is also #2 in total defense. If they can beat the Fighting Irish, Georgia awaits. Still, defense wins championships, so with that logic, there may be some value with the Hoosiers.
College Football Championship Odds
Georgia +360
Texas +360
Oregon +390
Ohio State +550
Penn State +650
Notre Dame +1200
Tennessee +2500
SMU +4000
Arizona State +4000
Indiana +4000
Boise State +4000
Clemson +5000
