nov-22-updated-college-football-odds-can-anyone-challenge-alabama

Updated College Football Odds: Can Anyone Challenge Alabama?

Written by on November 22, 2016

It’s almost a given these days that the perennially powerful Alabama Crimson Tide are expected to win the national championship – and apparently – the 2016 season is no different. Just one year after winning it all, not only are the Tide well-positioned to repeat as national champions, but the nation’s only undefeated team may not have a legitimate challenger to their collegiate gridiron supremacy.

Thankfully, this week’s look at the most recent updated college football odds to win the 2016 national championship will reveal whether or not there’s an opponent capable of beating the 2016 Crimson Tide. Let’s get started.

A Closer Look At The Updated College Football Odds: Can Anyone Challenge Alabama?



The Favorite To Win the NCAA Championship

Alabama (5/7) – Last Week (4/5)
The top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (11-0 SU, 8-3 ATS) got past tiny Chattanooga 31-3 last weekend and are locks to reach the second-ever four-team CFB Playoff. Just like I wrote last week, Alabama has remained completely dominant on the defensive side of the ball and ranks second nationally in total defense (253.1 ypg), first against the run (69.4 ypg) and second in points allowed (11.4 ppg).

Alabama has a talented young quarterback in Jalen Hurts that has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,139 yards with 18 touchdowns and just seven interceptions while adding another 803 yards on the ground and 11 scores. Alabama averages a stellar 40.3 points per game to rank 14th nation ally in scoring. If the Tide have a weakness, it’s going to be hard to exploit!

The Smart Pick To Win the NCAA Championship

Clemson (8/1) – Last Week (12/1)
The Tigers (10-1 SU, 5-6 ATS) rebounded from their first loss of the season two weeks ago by pounding overmatched Wake Forest into submission in its 35-13 win to remain on track for one of the four available playoff berths. As I’ve said on several occasions, the Tigers have arguably the best quarterback in the country in dual-threat superstar Deshaun Watson and another gifted star in running back Wayne Gallman although he’s been under0used this season.

For the season, Watson is completing a stellar 66.1 percent of his passes for 3,279 yards with 28 touchdowns, although he has tossed a high, 13 interceptions. While I like Watson and the Tigers offense a bunch, what really makes me believe they can win it all is the Tigers’ 13th-ranked defense (316.0 ypg).

Not only does Clemson limit the opposition to just 17.9 points per game to rank 11th nationally in points allowed, but more importantly, after losing to Alabama in last season’s national championship, the Tigers certainly have the motivation to get win it all this season – if they reach the four-team playoff that is!

The Longshot To Win the NCAA Championship

Washington (12/1)
After going with Louisville as my longshot pick a week ago, I’m jumping on the Huskies’ (10-1 SU, 5-6 ATS) bandwagon for the foreseeable future. Washington ranks a stupendous fourth in scoring (44.7 ppg) and has both, a very good quarterback in Jake Browning (37 TDs, 7 INTs) and underrated running back in Myles Gaskin (1,130 yards 10 TDs) that looks as good as any back in the country right now.

Like the Clemson Tigers however, it is Washington’s defense that I believe could help them win it all, even over the Crimson Tide. The Huskies rank 16th nationally in total defense and 12th in points allowed (17.9 ppg). While Washington certainly doesn’t get the respect they probably deserve for their weak non-conference schedule, I think they’re as legitimate as any title contender anywhere right now.