For the third time since the implementation of the College Football Playoff, Alabama was crowned as the national champions. It was another season where the Big 12 did not participate and was left looking from the outside in.
As we head into the 2021 season, the usual contenders are atop the BetMGM national championship odds. The Crimson Tide is the odds favorite at +300, with Clemson shortly behind at +350.
Within the conference, Texas has the third-best odds behind Oklahoma and Iowa State. The Sooners are once again the favorites to represent the Big 12 within the playoff and are the fourth overall favorite to win at +700. For the first time in three seasons, Lincoln Riley will have his starting quarterback returning for another season.
After Steve Sarkisian’s hire, the Longhorns have been slated at +5000 to win the national championship next season. The former Alabama offensive coordinator is fresh off of winning one in January.
It has been 11 years since Texas appeared in a national championship and 15 years since winning the 2006 Rose Bowl against USC. Sarkisian’s ultimate goal is to start contending for championships, national and Big 12, right away.
Here are the full odds:
Alabama +300
Clemson +350
Ohio State +500
Oklahoma +700
Georgia +800
Texas A&M +2500
Florida, Iowa State, Miami, Notre Dame, Penn State +4000
Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, USC +5000
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Seeing Texas alongside programs such as Michigan and Tennessee shows that there is still work to be done. The Wolverines just extended head coach Jim Harbaugh, despite their 2-4 shortened season. As for the SEC program, Jeremy Pruitt was fired and the Volunteers have seen a mass exodus of players with NCAA violations pending.
In order to get up there with the likes of Florida, Iowa State, and Notre Dame, Sarkisian must be able to have a solid year right away.
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