There’s no drama at the top of the odds, as Alabama is once again the favorite to capture the national title in the latest post-National Signing Day odds via the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook.
The Tide sit atop the board with 7-2 odds but both LSU, at 15-1, and Auburn, at 20-1, are nipping at Alabama’s heels in the SEC West:
Title odds: Bama 7-2 USC 7-1 FSU/OhSt/OU 8-1 Mich 12-1 Clem/LSU/UL 15-1 Aub/Tex 20-1 PSU 25-1 Ga/Wash 30-1 ND/OkSt/VT 40-1 via @LVSuperBook
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) February 6, 2017
Safe to assume the eventual winner of the West will be favored to beat the East champion in Atlanta for the ninth consecutive season in 2017, with only Georgia at 30-1 making the cut.
If the Tide are going to reach the title game, the path looks daunting heading into the offseason, as Alabama opens in Atlanta against FSU (8-1 odds), plays LSU at home and has to travel to Auburn Nov. 25 in the regular season finale. If Alabama manages to defeat each of these foes, the likelihood of a return to the College Football Playoff seems all but certain.
Auburn will have a chance to improve its odds early, playing Clemson (15-1 odds) Sept. 9 in Week 2 and traveling to LSU Oct. 14 in Week. 7. LSU travels to Alabama this season Nov. 4 in Week 10.
One team on the outside looking in to keep an eye on, Florida plays seven home games this season, notably Tennessee, Vandy, LSU, Texas A&M, and Florida State, while playing Michigan in Texas, Georgia in Jacksonville and has to travel only to Kentucky, Missouri, and South Carolina. The schedule lines up well for another East championship and a trip to Atlanta, where a possible Playoff ticket could be punched for the Gators.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
