College Football Odds: Who are the Favorites to win the 2022-23 National Championship?

The 2022-23 NCAAF season is officially underway, and we can't wait to get in on all the live action from one of America's most watched sports competitions. As always, this season promises all the thrill, drama, and controversies that have well been associated with college football over the years.

It might seem like forever ago since the Georgia Bulldogs were crowned last season's champions after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tides 33-18. But the wait is finally over with the first round of matches kicking off this weekend.

Of course, the start of the new season has prompted fans all across the country to be on the lookout for the latest college football odds for the 2022 NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs are for sure hoping to hold on to their position as national champions, but they face stiff competition from a bunch of solid college programs. Alabama may have lost the title last year, but they stand tall as the current favorites to win the 2022 championship. Ohio State comes second on the odds rankings, while the Bulldogs have to settle for the third spot. Clemson and USC are a distant fourth and fifth, respectively, according to odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Here's a brief rundown of what the odds look like on FanDuel

Alabama Crimson Tides (+180)
Ohio State Buckeyes (+300)
Georgia Bulldogs (+350)
Clemson Tigers (+800)
USC Trojans (+2000)
Texas A&M Aggies (+2500)
Oklahoma Sooners (+5000)
Michigan Wolverines (+5000)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+6000)
Utah Utes (+6500)
Texas Longhorns (+8000)
Tennessee Volunteers (+10000)
Miami Florida (+10000)
Oklahoma State Cowboys (+10000)
Wisconsin Badgers (+10000)
LSU Tigers (+10000)
Penn State Nittany Lions (+10000)
Oregon Ducks (+12000)
Florida Gators (+12000)
Kentucky (+15000)

Now, let's expound on the odds rankings to see how the top teams are shaping up for the new season

Alabama Crimson Tides Are the 2022-23 Early Season Favorites (+180)

The Crimson Tide sent many of its good players to the NFL (seven draft picks). Both Evan Neal and Jameson Williams were selected in the first round as the 7th and 12th overall picks, respectively. They were joined by John Metchie III, Phidarian Mathis, Christian Harris, Brian Robinson Jr., and Jalyn Armour-Davis.

While these players were key to last season's road to the finals, the Tides need not break a sweat. Alabama still has a few key pieces that could lead the school to its 19th overall national championship title and fourth in the College Football Playoff era. Bryce Young received the Heisman Trophy and made an impressive mark as Alabama's starting quarterback during his debut season. He completed 66.9% of his passes and registered 47 touchdowns all season.

Alabama will also enjoy the services of Will Anderson Jr., who is currently one of the best college defenders in the country. Anderson registered 101 tackles and 17.5 sacks. He also topped the nation in tackles for a loss (31). With these two players at the forefront of Alabama's quest for another championship, they surely have the right arsenal to win it all.

Head coach Nick Saban would also be with Dylan Lonergan and Eli Holstein, who sit comfortably among the top 10 quarterback prospects for 2023. Lonergan registered 57 touchdowns and threw for 6,239 yards during his time at high school. Holstein is a 4-star recruit and one player NFL scouts will keep an eye on in college.

The Tides' relentless pursuit for a much-improved squad during the offseason puts them in the driving seat, and it's no surprise why they are once again heavy favorites to win the title.

Betting on Alabama may not be a bad idea as odds are more likely to go down once the season is fully underway. Alabama begins its search for another title with a home game against Utah State on September 3 at 7:30 pm ET.

Georgia Bulldogs Are the Reigning Champions (+350)

The wait for a first national title since 1980 was finally over for the Bulldogs as they saw off 'Bama early on in the year. But the program still has what it takes to repeat as champions this season. Georgia doesn't need to do much; just stick to the game plan that got them the championship.

Of course, Georgia had the most draft picks during the 2022 NFL Draft, which could be a slight setback. The school sent 15 players to the NFL, which topped the previous record for most picks in a seven-round draft set by LSU in 2020 and Ohio State in 2004.

Important pieces who made it to the include first-round picks Travon Walker, who was selected first overall, Jordan Davis (No. 13), Quay Walker (No. 22), Devonte Wyatt (No. 28), and Lewis Cine (No. 32). The other selections were George Pickens (No. 52), James Cook (No. 63), Nakobe Dean (No. 83), Channing Tindall (No. 102), Zamir White (No. 122), Jake Camarda (No. 133), Justin Shaffer (No. 190), Jamaree Salyer (No. 195), Derion Kendrick (No. 212), and John FitzPatrick (No. 213).

Davis and Dean were particularly key defensive players during Georgia's championship run and will be greatly missed. White and Cook were two of the best rushers selected in the 2022 Draft and were instrumental to Georgia's 5.2 yards-per-carry season (19th in the country). That would be tough to keep up with in the absence of both players.

Nonetheless, Georgia can always bank on its solid recruiting structure. The Bulldogs currently boast some of the finest recruits in the country. Head coach Kirby Smart can count on the services of safety Malaki Starks and DL Mykel Williams, both five-star recruits ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in 2022's recruitment class.

Smart, who is currently leading the charge in his sixth season, will also have to look to Georgia's young talents. Kenny McIntosh, who led the Bulldogs in average rushing yards per carrying (5.69) last season, and Kendall Milton finally have the opportunity to showcase what they are both made of. Georgia can also trust the experience of Stetson Bennett, who passed for over 2,800 yards and registered 29 touchdowns en route to the national title.

The Bulldogs begin the defense of their title with a home game against No. 11 Oregon Ducks on September 3 (3:30 pm ET).

Ohio State Buckeyes Are a Top Contender (+300)

The Buckeyes will be looking to bounce back from last season's disappointments after failing to make the College Football Playoff tournament. However, their comeback bowl victory against Utah shows they still got what it takes to compete for the title.

Perhaps their surest bet is C.J Stroud, who currently leads the race for the Heisman Trophy. Stroud will return for his second season with the Buckeyes after an impressive debut season that saw him finish fourth in last year's Heisman Trophy voting. With arguably the best college quarterback in the country and a deep roster of receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio surely looked poised for a title challenge and are a team to keep an eye on.

Head coach Ryan Day will also be banking on all freshmen recruits from the 2022 class. Among the 21 players enlisted by the Buckeyes is 4-star wide receiver Kojo Antwi. Stroud and Antwi could morph into a formidable duo to lead Ohio State to its first title since 2014 when they won the maiden CFP championship game.

The Buckeyes begin their season with a home game against No. 5 Notre Dame on September 3 (7:30 pm ET)

Texas Longhorns Seem Like the Dark Horse at the Moment(+8000)

While the Gators may also look like it, we favor the Longhorns to spring up a surprise. Of course, this will depend on Roschon Johnson's ability to assume his role as leader and put the team on his back. Johnson, now entering his fourth year with the Longhorns, rushed for 569 yards last season and appears to have been pushing the team to more training sessions in preparation for the 2022 season.

Texas' success will also depend heavily on Bijan Robinson, the top-ranked college running back, now in his third year in Texas. Robinson rushed for a staggering 1,127 rushing yards (league leader) and 15 touchdowns last season.

All eyes will be on 5-star recruit Arch Manning, the top prospect in the 2023 recruitment class. Manning committed to playing for the Longhorns after several school visits and media speculation. He is the grandson of college football Hall of Famer Archie Manning and NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning's nephew and could go on to lead Texas to a successful season should he follow in the footsteps of his legendary lineage. Aside from Manning, the Longhorns have also enlisted two other 5-star 2023 recruits; Johntay Cook II and Derek Williams.

The Longhorns have a tough schedule ahead of them as they face No. 1 'Bama in their second game of the season. However, the Tides are a familiar opponent for third-year Head coach Steve Sarkisian. He was a member of Alabama's coaching staff as recently as 2020 and would definitely know a thing or two about the top favorites.

Early Games To Keep an Eye on

Alabama Crimson Tides (A) vs. Texas Longhorn (H)

Date: September 10

Time: 11 am ET

Location: Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX

TV: FOX Sports

The Tides are expected to come out on top in their season opener against Utah State before heading to Austin for the first of its four 2022 away games. All eyes will surely be on Sarkisian's 'Bama reunion, especially with the busy offseason the Longhorns have had. Plus, Texas is 2-0 against the Tides at home.

It'll be interesting to see how the market reacts to a Texas win. Will the outcome decrease Bama's odds of winning the championship or shorten Texas' odds going into the third week? Definitely, a game to watch closely.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (A) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (H)

Date: September 3

Time: 7:30 pm ET

Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

TV: ABC

No. 5 Notre Dame will take a trip to Columbus to kick off their season. Both the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish are top 10 favorites to win the title, so this promises to be an exciting game to watch.

Both teams have met seven times in their history, with the Buckeyes having a 4-2 edge over the Irish. Ohio has the Heisman trophy-winning favorite quarterback C.J. Stroud, and the new Notre Dame head coach would be hoping to start the season on a good note after replacing former head coach Brian Kelly.

Oregon Ducks (A) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (H)

Date: September 3

Time: 3:30 pm ET

Location: Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

TV: ABC

The Bulldogs will kickstart their quest to become the first team to repeat as champions in the CFP era with a home game against No. 11 Ducks. Oregon recently acquired former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix who would look to set the ball rolling from the jump. He has an unimpressive record against Georgia, though, losing in all three meetings against the Bulldogs.

The whole country will keep an eye on a Georgia defense that would take a different look this season. The school shipped five of its key defensive pieces to the NFL. But that shouldn't be a problem because the Bulldogs still possess a stacked defensive roster led by Jalen Carter.

Georgia allowed only 9.5 points per game last season. Their solid defensive performance should make any of their opponents tremble, and Oregon would be aware of this. However, the Ducks' upsetting win against No. 3 Ohio State last year should give any top-tier team something to be cautious about.

Utah Utes vs. Florida Gators

Date: September 3

Time: 7 pm ET

Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

TV: ESPN

A Utes vs. Gators sounds strange to both fanbases. The two teams have only met once in their respective histories (the Gators won the 1977 meeting 38-29).

No. 7 Utes are one of the most hyped teams going into the new season. They finished last season as Pac-12 champions, the first in their history. The 2022 Utah Utes would be looking to improve on last season's success with Tavion Thomas leading the charge; the running back rushed for 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns last year.

On the other hand, Florida is kicking off a new era with head coach Billy Napier in the front seat. Napier has got a lot of work in his hands as the Gators seek to bounce back from last season's underwhelming 6-7 record. It will be interesting to see how his first game in Florida would turn out.

College Football Odds: Who are the Favorites to win the 2022-23 National Championship? to SEC Football

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