Media by Associated Press – Michigan running back Donovan Edwards plays against Ohio State during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Welcome to Championship Week in College Football. Friday and Saturday are packed with conference championship games, and by Sunday night, we will know the four teams headed to the College Football Playoffs. After last week’s shakeup in the polls, the odds to win the championship changed, so let’s take a look at the updated odds.
Georgia -150
Georgia’s odds got even better this week, dropping from -120 to -150. After beating in-state rival Georgia Tech 37-14 on Saturday to secure a 12-0 record, the Bulldogs now turn their attention to LSU.
The No. 1 team in the AP Poll and the CFP heading into Saturday, Georgia is a big favorite against the Tigers. With LSU getting blown out at Texas A&M last Saturday, Georgia is now favored by 17.5 points in the SEC Championship Game. The Tigers traditionally travel well, but Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be packed with Bulldogs fans on Saturday as their team goes for a second straight SEC Championship.
A win on Saturday will likely give Georgia the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and a return trip to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Michigan +300
Beating Ohio State last weekend convincingly on the road, jumped the Wolverines from +700 or +800 at most books to +300. The Wolverines turned to Donovan Edwards with Blake Corum injured, and the sophomore ran for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Wideout Cornelius Johnson caught four passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns as Michigan put 45 points on the Buckeyes.
In the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis Saturday night, the Wolverines will face Purdue. The Big Ten West champions are 8-4 on the season, and Michigan is favored by 16.5 points. These teams didn’t play this season as Michigan beat Illinois (19-17), Nebraska (34-3), and Iowa (27-14) in their crossover games.
Before Ohio State scored 23 on Saturday, the Wolverines hadn’t allowed more than 17 points in a game since September. The offense put at least 30 on the board in all but two games this season, scoring 19 against Illinois and 29 against Michigan State. A win on Saturday sets up Michigan as either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed and a likely trip to the Fiesta Bowl for NYE.
Ohio State +800
Well, this is a surprise. Despite losing on Saturday and dropping to No. 5 in the latest CFP, Ohio State still has the third-best odds to win the title at +800. They were +240 before losing to Michigan and now hope to crash the playoff party despite not even making the Big Ten title game.
Ohio State’s regular season is over, so they can’t help themselves. But having the No. 5 slot, ahead of the four 10-2 teams – Alabama, Tennessee, Clemson, and Penn State, puts Ohio State in a good spot. If either TCU or USC falls this weekend in their conference games, the Buckeyes can swoop in and snag the No. 4 spot. If both lose, the Buckeyes would have an argument to be as high as No. 3 and get a possible rematch with Michigan.
TCU and USC +1200
Both TCU and USC are sitting at +1200 to win the title. TCU is No. 3 at 12-0, and USC is ranked No. 4 at 11-1. USC will definitely be out of the mix with a loss, while TCU will be up against Ohio State for the last spot if they were to fall this week. Both the Horned Frogs and Trojans will be underdogs in the semifinals if they face Georgia or Michigan on New Year’s Eve.
TCU gets a Big 12 Championship Game rematch against Kansas State (9-3). They beat the Wildcats 38-28 at home on October 22. On Saturday afternoon in Arlington, just up the road from campus, TCU is favored by 2.5 points.
USC lost a wild game at Utah 43-42 on October 15, their only loss of the year. They get a chance for revenge on Friday night with the Pac-12 Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Trojans, who have the likely Heisman winner in quarterback Caleb Williams, are favored by 2.5 points against the 9-3 Utes.
The only other team worth looking at is Alabama at +6000. The Tide, ranked sixth, needs chaos this weekend. They probably only make the playoff if both TCU and USC lose, and there would still be a controversy if a two-loss Alabama jumped a one-loss TCU.
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