Ricky Dimon
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College football season is here, and a somewhat normal 2021 college campaign will be a welcome sight. Hey, at least we had a season in 2020; that’s a lot better than nothing! But it wasn’t the same, with conference-only schedules, some teams deciding not to play, all kinds of game cancellations, and little to no fans in attendance. It just didn’t feel right — but don’t tell that to Alabama.
Amid all the chaos, one thing stayed the same: Alabama remains a dynasty. Nick Saban and company won another National Championship, easing past Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semi-finals and then destroying Ohio State for the title. Led by Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith and fellow first-round draft picks Mac Jones and Najee Harris, the Crimson Tide went 13-0 on their way to their sixth title in the last 12 years.
Will the Tide go back-to-back? Let’s take a look at the odds and discuss what could be in store for the 2021 college football season.
National Championship odds
Alabama was +225 when we last visited these odds, and now you can get the Crimson Tide at +300. They are followed by Clemson (+450), Ohio State (+600), Georgia (+750), and Oklahoma (+800). Clemson and Georgia go head-to-head on Saturday, so there is definitely going to be some moving and shaking with the odds depending on that outcome.
Let’s take a look at some of the best bets based on the odds at the very start of the season.
National Championship best bets
When you can get Alabama at well into the plus-money ranks, it’s always something to consider. Obviously, there was a mass exodus to the NFL, but that is nothing new for Saban’s program. The Crimson Tide don’t rebuild; they reload. New quarterback Bryce Young is expected to be a Heisman Trophy contender, in part because he will have all kinds of weapons around him. Keep in mind that Clemson and Ohio State lost a lot from the 2020 season, too, so it’s not like ‘Bama is the only powerhouse that will look a little bit different.
There is also good value on Oklahoma at +800. The Sooners were +600 a couple of months ago and I already liked them at that point; so needless to say I love them at the current number. have an established star quarterback in Heisman Trophy favorite Spencer Rattler and perhaps even more important is the relative lack of competition in the Big 12. You have to get to the College Football Playoff before you can win it, of course, and OU has a clear path to the playoff coming out of that conference. Iowa State could be a factor, but as usual, the Big 12 should go to the Sooners.
At Pickswise we offer free expert College Football Picks and College Football Predictions for all games in the Power Five conferences and the top 25 teams outside of Power five, including our College Football Parlay picks each week.
