We like to give you updated betting odds to win the college football national championship for the coming season every week. In all honesty, these sportsbook odds aren’t likely to change much until teams hit training camp and quarterback battles are decided or there are potentially major injuries.
Brief Report on the Sportsbook Odds To Win the 2016 College Football Titlee
Defending national champion Alabama remains the +550 favorite to repeat and the Tide are one of those teams that need to decide on their quarterback in camp. I believe the winner will be redshirt junior Cooper Bateman. He is the veteran in Alabama’s quarterback room, and if you follow Nick Saban’s teams then you know that the elder statesman has usually won past quarterback competitions. After battling with Jake Coker until last season’s fourth game, Bateman also has some game experience under his belt, which he can only claim. Bateman is battling three younger guys in David Cornwell, Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts. While he was just 9 of 24 with a costly late interception during Alabama’s spring game in April, Bateman was the most consistent and least mistake-prone of the Tide’s quarterbacks during the spring. Bateman has spent time this summer working with Tom Brady’s training team in Massachusetts. That can’t hurt. Clemson remains the +650 second-favorite to Alabama, and the Tigers could have the nation’s most explosive offense with Heisman Trophy favorite QB Deshaun Watson back. Their questions are on defense. The Tigers as of now project to be favored by two TDs in nine games in the regular season. The only two they won’t be most likely are Week 1 at Auburn (which is a 7.5-point dog) and Nov. 26 at Florida State in the ACC game of the year. Both the Tigers and Seminoles are likely to be unbeaten for that game and the winner should take the ACC Atlantic Division as it usually does. Michigan and Ohio State are both +700 — obviously only one of those teams can play in the Big Ten Championship Game (neither might as Michigan State is still around and the defending East Division champion). I frankly think both are overrated. Ohio State has the fewest returning starters in the country with just three on either side of the ball. Michigan has to visit Ohio State and Michigan State this season and still doesn’t know its quarterback. Wilton Speight might have an early lead over Houston transfer John O’Korn. Last August, then-junior Shane Morris and eventual starter Jake Rudock headlined the battle to be the first Wolverine quarterback under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Speight eventually took over the No. 2 spot on the depth chart when Morris opted to take a redshirt. He is also in the mix but likely third. Rudock is gone. LSU has moved to +1000 to win the national title. Of course the Tigers would have to get past excellent teams like Alabama and Ole Miss just to win the SEC West Division. For LSU to win the SEC and claim a College Football Playoff spot, the passing game has to improve behind QB Brandon Harris. Tailback and Heisman candidate Leonard Fournette will carry the offense once again, but Harris and his very good group of receivers have to provide more balance.One Power 5 conference doesn’t look likely to make the playoff this season (by @colinbecht) https://t.co/kxIo2oI0O8 pic.twitter.com/M46Rg4CY1F
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) June 17, 2016
