Winning back-to-back National Championships is hard enough in college football but if the oddsmakers prove to be correct, the Georgia Bulldogs might be in line for a three-peat. After pounding the TCU Horned Frogs to the tune of a 65-7 scoreline, Kirby Smart and company have opened as the favorite to win it all again next year.
Let’s take a closer look at the opening odds and see which teams are at the top of the list and which teams might offer some value with the odds courtesy of BetAnySports.eu.
The Favorites
It’s no surprise to see that Georgia Bulldogs (+275) is at the top of the board with the Alabama Crimson Tide (+500) right behind them.
Georgia Bulldogs will lose quarterback Stetson Bennett and a slew of other key contributors to the NFL Draft, but that happens annually in Athens. They’ll get back tight end Brock Bowers, linebacker Smael Mondon Jr., and cornerback Javon Bullard, and we’ll see what they look like at quarterback as Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff, and Gunner Stockton all compete for the job. However, keep in mind that no team has successfully completed a three-peat since 1936, so the odds are against them.
Of course, Nick Saban’s squad will be one of the top competitors but it feels like there is uncertainty with this squad. Not only is the roster going to see turnover as guys like Bryce Young head for the NFL Draft, but the coaching staff could also too if offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien departs for the NFL as expected.
Ohio State (+700) is another perennial contender and nothing will change in 2023. Even though C.J. Stroud is leaving for the NFL, the team will bump up five-star recruit Kyle McCord up. He played with Marvin Harrison Jr. in high school, so they should form an electric tandem once again.
These three teams are not only favored but will be among the most heavily bet. But there might be value further down the board.
The Sleepers
USC (+1200) might not exactly be a sleeper but their odds are still relatively long. Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is back and he’ll probably be the favorite to be the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. If Lincoln Riley can fix the defense, maybe the Trojans make it to the College Football Playoff this time around.
Another intriguing team to consider is LSU (+1600) as they enter the second year of the Brian Kelly era. Quarterback Jayden Daniels announced that he’ll return for one more season, which should give the offense some stability. They really started to figure things out as the season went on. Kelly has a solid base of talent already with most of the stars coming back. Add to that another solid recruiting class and this team might continue its ascent in the SEC.
Lastly, might Florida State (+2000) be worth a look? The team had been miserable for years but finally turned things around in 2022-23. They won 10 games last season in Mike Norvell’s third year and should be among the favorites to win the ACC in 2023. Seasoned quarterback Jordan Travis returns along with many of the key weapons on offense and defense. Travis might even be in the Heisman conversation by the end of the season as he finished this year seventh in QBR. Maybe it’s finally Florida State’s time, which makes the 20/1 potential payday quite tantalizing.
