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The Georgia Bulldogs destroyed the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football National Championship on Monday evening, 65-7. This marks the final season of a four-team playoff system, as the postseason will see an expansion in 2024.
It’s no doubt that with the playoff expansion coming, bowl pools will look different while new playoff pools will be taking shape. Gaming in college football might even begin to see something similar to college basketball’s March Madness, on a smaller scale, with possible brackets being filled out.
Betting markets, such as futures, will also be impacted by the expansion of a postseason. Speaking of futures markets, the odds are already out for which school will win the 2024 College Football National Championship
After running away with the National Championship, the Bulldogs find themselves as the opening favorites with DraftKings’ odds at +275 to win the 2024 College Football National Championship.
2024 College Football National Championship Opening Odds
| School | Odds | Implied Winning Probability |
| Georgia | +275 | 26.7% |
| Alabama | +500 | 16.7% |
| Michigan | +800 | 11.1% |
| Ohio State | +800 | 11.1% |
| Clemson | +1200 | 7.7% |
| USC | +1500 | 6.3% |
| Tennessee | +2000 | 4.8% |
| FSU | +2000 | 4.8% |
| Texas | +2200 | 4.3% |
| LSU | +2500 | 3.8% |
| Penn State | +2800 | 3.4% |
| Notre Dame | +3000 | 3.2% |
| Oregon | +3000 | 3.2% |
| Utah | +4000 | 2.4% |
| Washington | +4000 | 2.4% |
| Texas A&M | +5000 | 2% |
| Oklahoma | +5000 | 2% |
| TCU | +5000 | 2% |
| Wisconsin | +6000 | 1.6% |
| Ole Miss | +8000 | 1.2% |
| Florida | +8000 | 1.2% |
Georgia is the favorite once again, in what seems to be the beginning stages of college football’s newest dynasty. Although Georgia seems to be living in the championship game lately, the playoff expansion is something to consider when making a futures pick on next year’s champion.
With more games to be played in the playoffs, value becomes something to consider differently entering next season’s college football futures markets.
2024 College Football National Championship Contenders
The SEC occupies the top two odds for next year’s winner, as Alabama has the second-shortest opening odds at +500. The Big Ten then owns the next two spots with Ohio State and Michigan both at +800, as oddsmakers are leaning into those two conferences.
The SEC is still the most trusted conference for bookmakers though, with the conference seeing four teams in the top 10 odds. In fact, the SEC occupies seven of the top 21 odds to win next year’s championship.
It’s safe to say the books trust the SEC the most with Tennessee, LSU, Florida, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss rounding out the other five of seven schools. Of all the SEC schools, LSU’s 25/1 odds seem to present the best value on the board with a realistic chance of dethroning Georgia and/or Alabama within the conference.
USC at 15/1 also provides some good value, as Heisman winner Caleb Williams will return to a Pac-12 contender. The Trojans were one game away from taking TCU’s spot in the playoffs but fell short to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship game.
2024 College Football National Championship Longshots
Surprisingly, the Horned Frogs find themselves with odds at +5000 to win next year’s championship. The books seem aligned with the general public, and that is TCU’s 2023 title game appearance won’t come close to hitting again.
TCU saw +800 to reach the playoffs and +100000 odds to win the National Championship at one point in the 2022 campaign, so it’s tough not to consider them again here as a solid long shot. The truth for college football remains that no longshot is ever a good pick, as it is a top-heavy sport.
Another Big 12 school, Oklahoma, has odds to win the National Championship at 50/1. Those are steep opening odds for the Sooners, who typically see shorter odds. After a mediocre season with the departure of Lincoln Riley, it’s easy to see why books are shying away from Boomer Sooner nation. However, Oklahoma at 50/1 could be a longshot to the eye.
