Ohio State is the national championship bettors’ top pick so far in 2024 and it’s not even close.
The Buckeyes are taking nearly 25% of the national title bets at BetMGM and those bets represent more than 35% of the total money wagered on the winner of the College Football Playoff. Ohio State opened at +700 to win national title and now it’s down to +375 because of all this action.
It’s not wrong to say it’s a national title or a failed season for the Buckeyes and coach Ryan Day with all the talent that is in Columbus for the 2024 season. After a disappointing end to the 2023 season that included a loss to Michigan in the regular season finale and a loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State returned many players and made significant additions through the transfer portal.
After last season’s starting QB Kyle McCord transferred and Devin Brown suffered an injury in the bowl game, Ohio State signed former Kansas State QB Will Howard. He is the likely starter and is joined on defense by fellow transfer Quinshon Judkins. The former Ole Miss running back rushed for more than 2,700 yards in two seasons with the Rebels and will join TreVeyon Henderson to form the best running back duo in the country.
Although the Buckeyes lost Marvin Harrison Jr. to the NFL draft, WR Emeka Egbuka is back and the team added former Alabama DB Caleb Downs to the defense, as Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau are also back for another season .
Ohio State is the second favorite to Georgia at +325. The Bulldogs have been the preseason favorites since betting began and are taking just under 12% of the bets and over 16% of the money. Yes, half the money bet on the national title winner in the first year of the 12-team playoff is on Ohio State or Georgia.
The third most popular team is Texas at +700. The Longhorns are taking 8% of the bets and money and bring back QB Quinn Ewers. However, the offense lost RB Jonathon Brooks and WRs Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell to the NFL.
No other team is better than +1000 to win the playoff. Oregon is the fourth favorite at +1000 and Alabama is +1400 ahead of Kalen DeBoer’s first season in Tuscaloosa. Overall, five of the top seven national title favorites will play football in the SEC in 2024, while the other three of the top eight favorites are all members of the Big Ten. The top favorites outside of the two power conferences are Notre Dame and Florida State at +2500.
National championship favorites
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Georgia (+325)
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Ohio State (+375)
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Texas (+700)
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Oregon (+1000)
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Alabama (+1400)
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LSU (+1600)
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Old Miss (+1600)
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Michigan (+2,000)
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Notre Dame (+2500)
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Florida State (+2500)
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State of Pennsylvania (+2500)
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Clemson (+3000)
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Tennessee (+3500)
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Missouri (+3500)
