We aren’t even two months out from LSU beating Clemson in the National Championship game, but college football is back. Well, sort of. Spring ball has begun for some schools with more joining the fray throughout March. By the end of April, teams will have played their spring games and odds for the 2021 National Championship may move from what’s on the board now.
At the moment, most bookmakers believe either Clemson or Ohio State are taking home the 2021 National Championship. It varies where you look, but Clemson is getting anywhere between +200 and +350 while the Buckeyes’ odds are between +275 and +400. Alabama is also lurking in the shadows around +500.
However, once you get away from the favorites, things get weird in a hurry. Take Florida for example. A pair of ten-win seasons under Dan Mullen has raised expectations, but the bookmakers aren’t sure what to make of the Gators. Bet365 has them at +1500 to win the 2021 National Championship. Over at William Hill, that balloons to +2500.
It’s a similar story for Penn State who can be found with odds anywhere from +3400 to +5000. The odds spread on Auburn is a little less volatile going anywhere from +4000 to +5000 if you’re inclined to believe the Tigers can pull an LSU-style season out of the hat.
Are any of these good bets to win the 2021 National Championship right now?
Good bet is a relative term here. Of course, Clemson and Ohio State are favorites. It is easy to make a case for both, but there is no need to put money on them now. If Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields get injured during spring practice, you’ll be more than a little butt hurt about your bet. And their odds aren’t probably going to come down much between now and May anyway.
As for the pool of various wild cards and longshots, you don’t need to be in a rush to lock any of these down now. The one team I am most curious about is Texas A&M as their odds will likely fall as we get closer to the start of the season. The Aggies are found at +4000, but with a senior quarterback in Kellen Mond and a pretty good roster, buzz will build.
On the other hand, do you really envision a scenario where Texas A&M can win the 2021 National Championship? Maybe if you squint really, really hard or attended classes in College Station. Even with those juicy odds, it’s hard to say they are a good bet to win the 2021 National Championship.
