With the season drawing closer, Vegas is continuing to release final preseason odds and futures.
Today, the major books dropped the odds on national title winner for the 2025 season, and if you’re a ‘Bama fan, there’s good news: there’s a lot to love here money-wise that also happens to coincide with your fandom.
So, let’s take a look at those, and then point you in the direction of where to put your money, as well as where not to:
- Ohio State +500
- Texas +550
- Georgia +700
- Penn State +750
- Clemson +1000
- Oregon +1000
- Notre Dame +1200
- Alabama +1200
- LSU +1800
- Michigan +2500
- Miami (FL) +4000
- Texas A&M +4000
- Ole Miss +4000
- Florida +4000
- Tennessee +6000
- South Carolina +6000
- Oklahoma +7000
- Auburn +7000
- Arizona State +10000
- SMU +10000
Worst Bets:
We’re not even going to discuss the laughable Big 12/ACC
teams at the bottom of this heap. If you bet on SMU or Arizona State you genuinely deserve to have your money taken. Likewise, the 2025 Auburn squad is going to finish closer to 4-8 than 8-4. Vols? Nah. They’re opening up a campus-wide QB competition this fall, plus it’s the odd year, where their road schedule is far more difficult. These are all dead-end losers.
A bit higher up on the food chain are the Wolverines, at 25/1. But true freshman QBs playing behind a rebuilt defense, and an OL starting two true freshmen — and a lack of playmakers outside — is a terrible investment. And since line play tends to correlate with success, so too can you rule out the LSU Tigers — on both sides of the ball, the Tigers are just way too soft.
Decent Favorites:
On paper at least, Penn State has the team to get there. And 7 1⁄2 to 1 is pretty good for a squad that talented. You rightly can be scared off by Big Game James, however. The next meaningful contest he wins will be his first. But, still, make it to the playoffs. Get a cream puff or two, and who knows what could happen in a title match.
Alabama and Notre Dame also find themselves getting favorable odds, both at 12/1. Both teams have some losses, but not very many beside the national favorites like Ohio State (each returns 18 starters). The Domers have the far better schedule to work with here, and now have the playoff experience. Like the Tide, as goes a new QB, so will go the Irish. The rest of the team is ready to compete.
The biggest issue with the Tide is three-fold. 1. Breaking in a new starter under center (though I suspect most people think competitively Milroe’s departure is addition by subtraction: So much more of the offense opens up). 2. How good are those lines, truly? On paper, the OL looks to be a better scheme-fit, but you can be forgiven for having reservations about ‘Bama’s interior defense. And, finally, 3. the schedule — it’s absolutely brutal. It’s by far the hardest of the major contenders. I’ve said for months that Alabama will be a better team, but its record may not be. Still, at 12/1, CFB’s two bluest of bluebloods are worth a few bucks.
Best Favorite:
With a QB room that is now fully healthy, and skills players now entering their sophomore season, if the Bulldogs can be competent under center, they can win a title. The schedule sets up much more favorably for the ‘Dawgs this year as well, with no road games that scare you, a cuddly OOC slate, and Texas, Bama and the Vols all coming to Athens. The offensive line wasn’t quite up to its usual form last year, so that is a possible concern. But, given UGA’s losses, and demonstrable returns over the last decade, I think UGA is probably the safest pick among the true favorites. True, seven-to-one isn’t going to make you rich, but it’s called a favorite for a reason.
Best Dark Horse
We’re going with a deeply rebuilding Ole Miss team here. When little is expected, Lane delivers the most. The schedule is very favorable. And, like Penn State, just get him to a playoff and see what happens. Though, I do have far more faith in LMFK with a month to scheme: In bowl games and big set-piece moments, he’s been fantastic. 40/1 are also great odds here. Kiffin’s issue has always been week to week consistency and losing games he shouldn’t. Get over that hump and who know what can happen in January.
Want some more of these? I crank the data for (almost) every single game, every single week over at my companion site: (Almost) Giving Away Money. Check it out, and prosper.
Presently, we are going over the best and worst out of conference games for each team in the country. And next, we are moving to in-conference trends.
Still just five bucks a month.
More from rollbamaroll.com:
- A legend hangs them up — Tua Tagovailoa enters the 2020 NFL Draft
- Jumbo Package: Decision Day
- MONDAY UPDATE: Alabama Crimson Tide NFL Draft Junior Tracker
- Devonta Smith announces his return to Alabama in 2020
- Tua Tagovailoa and Nick Saban to hold press conference at 11am CT Monday
- Predictions: Will they stay or will they go?
- Watch: NFL analyst breaks down Rashaan Evans’ role in critical goal line stand vs. Patriots
