CFP title odds: The best, worst value bets on the board
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It's Week 14, and the race to the College Football Playoff is heating up. Contenders are emerging, but which ones are worth a wager? Or, perhaps more importantly, which ones should you fade?
Here's how the odds look, and how we're leaning.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Alabama | +135 |
| Clemson | +225 |
| Ohio State | +450 |
| Notre Dame | +750 |
| Florida | +1300 |
| Texas A&M | +2200 |
| Cincinnati | +2800 |
| Oklahoma | +10000 |
| BYU | +10000 |
| Northwestern | +10000 |
| Iowa State | +15000 |
| Indiana | +15000 |
| Georgia | +20000 |
| Miami (FL) | +35000 |
| Oklahoma State | +40000 |
| Iowa | +40000 |
| Coastal Carolina | +50000 |
Best bets
Alabama (+135)
Alabama is the best in the country and only getting better. Any questions we had about the Crimson Tide's defense have been answered, too. The unit entered Week 6 ranked No. 22 in the country in defensive SP+, and heading into Saturday it's No. 9.
Almost every other contender comes with a glaring weakness. Betting on Nick Saban against the rest of the college football field in a down year is ideal.
Florida (+1300)
Few offenses can hang with Bama, but Florida can keep up.
The Gators have scored 34-plus points in every game this season. Advanced metrics, such as OF+, OFEI, and OSP+, all grade the offense as a top-10 unit nationally.
Heisman front-runner and quarterback Kyle Trask is legit, as is his star-studded skill corps, and the team's defense has shown up enough to warrant a spot on the big stage.
Worst bets
Ohio State (+450)
Ohio State's offense is poetry in motion. Dual-threat quarterback Justin Fields looks like a future franchise quarterback, and his supporting cast is extremely deep.
However, the Buckeyes' defense isn't as stout as in years past, and I'd hate to bet on their secondary against a team like Alabama or Clemson.
Plus, the school needs to finish out its schedule to even get a shot. Ohio State has had two games canceled already, and Saturday's contest versus Michigan State is up in the air.
Texas A&M (+2200)
Oh, you're wagering real-life money on quarterback Kellen Mond to win not one, but two big games? That makes one of us.
Bama waxed Texas A&M, and the Aggies forced only one Florida punt earlier in the year. The program has been a great story this season, but Texas A&M could be only the fourth-most talented team in the conference.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.