How to bet on the 2018 NCAAF National Championship

How to Bet on the 2018 National Championship

Written by on January 4, 2018

We are now just days away from the National Championship Game in college football, which means it’s time to seriously start thinking about how to spend your betting money on Monday night. The Alabama Crimson Tide, who have an incredible amount of big game experience, will go head to head with the Georgia Bulldogs, a team that appears to be on the brink of greatness. Both of these teams have but a single loss to their name this season, but both took somewhat different routes to the National Championship. We will look at those routes, as well as the College Football Championship odds for the big game, and we will make some predictions as we go.

How to Bet on the 2018 National Championship

  • When: January 8
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
  • TV: ESPN
  • Radio: 95.3 FM (Alabama) / 92.5 FM (Georgia)
  • Live Streaming: Watch ESPN
  • National Championship Betting Odds: Alabama Crimson Tide -4.5 (Over/Under at 45)

Weather Forecast

  • Overcast: 9°C/48°F
  • Humidity: 91%
  • Precipitation: 4%
  • Cloud Cover: 91%
  • Wind: 7 mph WSW

SU Betting Preview for 2018 College Football Championship Game

Latest National Championship Betting Trends

  • Bulldogs are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games when playing Alabama
  • Bulldogs are 14-1 SU in their last 15 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 6 of Georgia’s last 9 games
  • Crimson Tide are 12-1 SU in their last 13 games
  • Crimson Tide are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games when playing Georgia
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Alabama’s last 6 games when playing Georgia

Who will win the NCAAF National Championship?

The Alabama Crimson Tide were not a lock to be in the playoffs this year, as they ended the season second in their division and out of the SEC Championship Game. Other results played in their favor, though, and when you consider that their lone loss on the season came against the Auburn Tigers, it was hard to keep them out. What may come as a little bit of a surprise is that they are the favorites to win this one with odds of -185. It is perhaps their experience and the Nick Saban factor that have them in as the favorite. After all, there have been 11 different occasions where a former Saban assistant coach has returned to play Alabama with their new team, and the Crimson Tide have won them all. Kirby Smart will be number 12, as he leads his Georgia Bulldogs (+155) into Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to face his old boss. I think this may well be where the winless streak comes to an end for former assistant coaches, as I like the Dawgs to win.

National Championship Game Point Spread

By choosing Georgia to win outright, I have already spoiled my pick when it comes to covering the spread. The Bulldogs are in as a 4 ½ point underdog, so it goes without saying that a win for them would have them covering. Even if you don’t like the Bulldogs to win outright, you still have to like them as the pick ATS. Through the regular season and the playoffs, Georgia has gone a very healthy 10-4 ATS, saving their best work for games that were not played in Athens, going 7-1 ATS at other venues. Despite being No. 1, Georgia comes in as the underdog to win the 2018 National Championship. Compare that to Alabama, who went 6-7 ATS this season, which included being 2-3 ATS in games played anywhere other than their home field. I just think that this one is going to be close, which is another reason why I am all in on Georgia covering the spread in the National Championship Game.

Playing the Point Total in the National Championship Game

Both of these teams have defenses that are completely dominant, so there are some folks out there who were probably a little surprised to see the point total set as high as 44 ½. I think there is a very good opportunity to cash a winning ticket here, especially if both defenses play as well as they can. One cause for concern is the announcement that dominant Alabama linebacker Anfernee Jennings will miss the big game with a knee injury. What effect that has on Alabama overall remains to be seen, but it is a big, big loss. I think this game will almost certainly go UNDER, as we are more likely to see a Sugar Bowl type of game than the one we saw at the Rose Bowl.