Ohio State is bettors’ favorite national championship pick so far in 2024 and it’s not even close.
The Buckeyes receive nearly 25% of the national title bets at BetMGM and these bets make up more than 35% of the total cash stakes on the winner of the College Football Playoff. Ohio State opened at +700 to win the national title and is now at +375 because of all that action.
It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s a national title or bust for the Buckeyes and coach Ryan Day with all the talent in Columbus for the 2024 season. After a disappointing end to the 2023 season, including a loss to Michigan to end the regular season and a loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State returned many players and made key 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 added former Kansas State QB Will Howard. He is the likely starter and will be joined in the backfield 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 team with TreVeyon Henderson to form the nation’s top running back duo.
Although the Buckeyes’ Marvin Harrison Jr. lost to the NFL draft, WR Emeka Egbuka is back and the team has added former Alabama DB Caleb Downs to the defense as Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau are also back for another season.
Ohio State is a good #2 favorite for Georgia at +325. The Bulldogs have been the preseason favorites since betting opened, receiving just under 12% of the bets and over 16% of the money. Yes, half the money wagered on the winner of the national title 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 get 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 has a better score than +1000 to win the playoffs. Oregon is the No. 4 favorite at +1000 and Alabama is at +1400 ahead of Kalen DeBoer’s first season in Tuscaloosa. In total, five of the seven top favorites for the 2024 national title will play in the SEC, while the remaining three of the top eight favorites are all members of the Big Ten. The top favorites outside the two power conferences are Notre Dame and Florida State at +2500.
Favorites of the national championship
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Georgia (+325)
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State of Ohio (+375)
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Texel (+700)
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Oregon (+1000)
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Alabama (+1400)
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LSU (+1600)
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Ole Miss (+1600)
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Michigan (+2000)
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Notre Dame (+2500)
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State of Florida (+2500)
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Penn State (+2500)
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Clemson (+3000)
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Tennessee (+3500)
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Missouri (+3500)
