2023-24 College Football Championship Predictions
2023-24 CFB Predictions
In the last handful of years, we’ve seen the power in college football shift while staying in more or less the same realm. A few years ago, it was Clemson taking control. Now we have Georgia looking to notch its third straight national title this season. In between, dependable powers like Alabama and LSU have gotten a taste of glory. These four teams mentioned above have accounted for the last eight championships. All these teams are in the top group of choices to win the College Football Championship this upcoming season, with two-time defending CFP Champion Georgia the prohibitive favorite going off at the short price of +250.
We’re not saying you have to restrict your picks to this elite grouping of teams or other peripheral championships contenders like Ohio State, Michigan, USC, or other schools with at least a crystal-clear path to the College Football Playoff. But we still need to realistically fathom a road to glory. There’s nothing worse than backing a team, and they do everything they’re supposed to do, and you still don’t make it. It’s not solely merit-based, as voters determine who goes into the College Football Playoff. Just some food for thought before we take the plunge into deciding our best preseason course for action on college football futures. Here is who we like this season.
Top Picks to Win the 2023-24 College Football Championship
(The following odds can be found at Bovada Sportsbook – Home of the 75% Bitcoin bonus and the BEST live betting platform on the web!)
Georgia Bulldogs (+250): It’s a really tough ask for Kirby Smart’s squad as they look to three-peat as college football champions. The difficulty of this task is no doubt exacerbated by the loss of steady QB Stenson Bennett, defensive difference-maker Jalen Carter, and others. Playing in the SEC is also no picnic, nor is surviving the SEC title game. There are ample opportunities for slip-ups along the way. Nevertheless, they have tapped into a nice formula, return a gaggle of useful starters while also securing some big talent in the transfer portal. A +250 quote might not seem too tantalizing, though it is understandable for those who simply feel their regular season schedule looks easy enough and that the Bulldog machine will keep rolling on in 2023.
Alabama Crimson Tide (+550): After a few years out of the title game, I’d look for Nick Saban and Company to push hard for a return to the limelight this upcoming season. With such a concentration of power in the SEC, one can justify looking elsewhere, as these teams could somewhat cannibalize each other. And Alabama does have perhaps more landmines on their path than normal. But as we have seen, their path to the CFP is easier than others, as losing a game or even two isn’t the ultimate dealbreaker that it is for other squads. And losing signature ‘Bama talent like QB Bryce Young doesn’t help, nor does the loss of some key people on defense. But between what seems like some extra urgency, their ability to consistently regenerate, and such a strong collection of extreme talent at RB and WR, it would be surprising not to see them in the thick of the SEC hunt, which doubles as the CFP picture.
Michigan Wolverines (+900): Big Blue returns a lot of big stuff this season, including rising quarterback JJ McCarthy, along with a pair of dynamic running backs in Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum. A 13-1 record last season and increasing success in recent years has Jim Harbaugh’s squad ready to pounce. What appears to be a manageable route to success in relation to other top choices on this list, two straight wins over their only real pertinent rival other than Penn St. in the Buckeyes, also boosts their overall chances this season. After coming up short after getting a CFP taste last season, it’s hard to envision a scenario where they just completely bomb out, and at +900, this could be one of the better values near the top of the board.
Florida State Seminoles (+1800): Many fancies a return to prominence this season for the Seminoles, who have been on the outside looking in for a handful of seasons. A 10-win season last year offers promise, as does the continued growth of quarterback and Heisman contender Jordan Travis. They have a couple of big nuggets on their regular season schedule with fellow CFB contenders LSU and Clemson looming, giving them a realistic path at a nice value quote of 18-to-1. A more speculative pick perhaps, but with the promise of Travis, a dangerous backfield, difference-makers like Jared Verse on defense, and some key acquisitions through the transfer portal, one can see why people are giving the ‘Noles a long look this spring and summer in the futures markets.
Our Favorite Longer Shots on the Board
Oregon Ducks (+2500): Granted, it’s treacherous in the Pac-12 with potential slip-up spots looming all season. But if they can get through it and survive what might be two games against Southern Cal, Oregon could prove to be a nice dark horse coming out of the west. There was a lot of offseason promise provided by the transfer portal, where they likely secured at least several pieces of key personnel. Quarterback Bo Nix was highly prolific in his debut as a Ducks’ starter last season and returns a lot of offensive firepower. A rosy outlook on Oregon this season, combined with a suspicion that Southern Cal’s defense will again let them down in their biggest spots, makes the Ducks a not-so-crazy proposition to make the CFP, at which point you’d be thrilled with your +2500 ticket.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+3000): At 30-to-1 odds, the Fighting Irish have what appears to be an easy schedule that surrounds what will be three key points of the season where they face Ohio State, USC, and Clemson. A 2-1 mark in those games and wins in all their other easier games could book the Irish a CFP spot. We’ll see if former Wake Forest standout QB Sam Hartman can lift this offense another notch, especially with what seems to be a group of receivers that have a lot of questions to answer. But in Hartman’s favor will be one of the nation’s top offensive lines and a backfield that is the envy of many.
Note: Don’t forget to bookmark our free picks page where legit 60% NCAA football handicapper Rich Crew gives out his weekly predictions! You won’t find a better free handicapper on the web!
