Despite the best efforts of the COVID-19 virus, the 2020-21 college football season is coming to a close, with this weekend’s conference championship games setting the stage for bowl games and the College Football Playoff.
The NCAAF season has had its share of hiccups related to the coronavirus, but the ACC Championship Game gives the Clemson Tigers the chance to remedy their loss against Notre Dame earlier in the season that was largely due to their starting quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, missing the game because of COVID-19 protocols.
ACC Championship Game
12/19/20, 4:00 PM at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC
Clemson (#3) vs. Notre Dame (#2)
- Point Spread: Clemson -10.0
- Money Line: Clemson -370, Notre Dame +285
- Over/Under: 61.5
The above football betting odds suggest that Clemson will cruise to victory and will be featured among the top betting options in the College Football Playoffs. However, it isn’t winner-take-all, because if the #2 ranked Fighting Irish or Clemson lose, they’ll still both have a chance to make the CFP.
College football sportsbooks are also predicting a blowout in the SEC Championship Game, and we agree. The University of Florida Gators fell to the underwhelming LSU Tigers over the weekend but still managed to keep their spot in the SEC title game against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
SEC Championship Game
12/19/10, 8:00 PM at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA
Alabama (#1) vs Florida (#6)
- Point Spread: Alabama -17.5
- Money Line: Alabama -850, Florida +525
- Over/Under: 75.0
There’s going to be a lot of scoring, but a whole lot more of it by Alabama. Projecting these odds out into an actual result reveals a final score of Alabama 47, Florida 28, hardly a competitive contest.
The oddsmakers aren’t any kinder when considering Northwestern’s chances of hanging a loss on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game this Saturday. Top USA sportsbooks are predicting that Ohio State will whip the Northwestern Wildcats by three touchdowns.
Big Ten Championship Game
12/19/20, 12:00 PM at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN
Northwestern (#14) vs. Ohio State (#4)
- Point Spread: Ohio State -21.0
- Money Line: Northwestern +750, Ohio State -1400
- Over/Under: 58.5
The PAC 12 and Big 12 Championship games will be the most competitive of the Power 5, but offer no real impact on the final CFP bracket as they are likely too far out of the running.
However, if you’re looking to lay some action on the most reasonable underdogs, the following two lines are worth considering.
PAC 12 Championship Game
12/18/20, 8:00 PM
Washington vs. USC (#15)
- Point Spread: USC -7.0
- Money Line: Washington +220, USC -270
- Over/Under: 57.0
Big 12 Championship Game
12/19/20 12:00 PM at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX
Oklahoma (#11) vs. Iowa State (#16)
- Point Spread: Sooners -6.0
- Money Line: Oklahoma -225, Iowa State +185
- Over/Under: 58.0
All of these odds provided by Bovada point to a final four College Football Playoff that includes Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State, with the seeding most likely falling in that order. If Notre Dame can win the ACC title, they’ll earn Clemson’s #2 spot and a playoff game against Ohio State.
Clemson has a strong chance of earning the #4 seed if they lose, but that would open the door for USC to sneak in if the CFP Selection Committee feels that the Trojans are the more deserving team.
2020-2021 NCAA National Championship Winner
- Alabama (#1)-150
- Clemson (#3)+275
- Ohio State (#4)+350
- Notre Dame (#2)+700
- Texas A&M (#5)+3500
- Florida (#6)+6600
- Iowa State (#16)+8000
- Oklahoma (#11)+10000
- Northwestern (#14)+15000
- Cincinnati (#8)+20000
College football fans have a ton of action on the board from now until the NCAAF National Championship Game on January 11, and bettors can more than double their money by wagering on the college football national title odds for any team other than Alabama.
Source: ESPN