NCAA Football Championship Game Odds

The Alabama Crimson Tide are no strangers to the spotlight, but the Clemson Tigers are the new kids on the block in the second annual College Football Playoff Championship Game. The Tide will be seeking to claim their 16th national championship, while the Tigers have just one title (1981) to their name.

Kickoff: Monday, January 11 @ 9:30 pm ET
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Additional Read: Alabama vs Clemson Betting

Odds at Sportsbook

In a matchup that many have deemed good vs. evil, many college football fans and experts believe the Clemson Tigers are still not getting as much respect as they deserve. It's easy to play second fiddle against the perennially dominant Crimson Tide, but the Tigers gave no reason to doubt them in the semifinals by demolishing Oklahoma 37-17 as underdogs.

Clemson will only go as far as starting quarterback Deshaun Watson will take them, and he's brought the program to new heights this season. Watson finished third in Heisman Trophy voting before his 332 total yards of offense against the Sooners. That performance locked Watson in as the single-season leader for total offense at the school (4,731 yards) - a truly impressive feat for a sophomore who's coming off a torn ACL.

Alabama's Jake Coker is a fine quarterback, but he's simply not in the same conversation as an all-around offensive threat when compared to Watson. The Tide's biggest strength comes at the running back position, however.

Heisman Trophy-winning back Derrick Henry is in Alabama's backfield, which usually means it's going to be a long day for opposing defenses who have the unfortunate task of trying to contain him. Henry set the SEC single-season rushing mark (2,061 yards) and has more than twice as many touchdowns as Clemson's lead back, Wayne Gallman.

Both teams feature a fantastic defense, but Alabama has a slight edge on its defensive line. The Crimson Tide's front seven was historically dominant in 2015, making up for half of the SEC's first-team defensive line with end A’Shawn Robinson and Jonathan Allen. Alabama finished first nationally in rushing defense (2.3 yards per carry) and sacks per game (3.57).

Alabama's defensive backs have been a weak spot for the team in years past, but the group improved by leaps and bounds in 2015. The Tide rank fifth in the nation in passes defended (6.5 per game), higher than their 5.14 mark they posted in 2014. Despite that improvement, the Tigers' secondary, led by Jayron Kearse, Mackenzie Alexander and Cordrea Tankersley, has been the more consistent unit this season and will be leaned on heavily in this game.

Leaving Tuscaloosa has not been a problem for the Tide when it comes to covering the spread this season. Alabama posted an ATS record of 8-6 while going a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS away from Bryant–Denny Stadium - a trend that bodes well for 'Bama backers heading into the neutral site game in Glendale.

------ ARCHIVED ARTICLES | BOWL GAME PREVIEWS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS ------

After demolishing the Florida State Seminoles in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day the Oregon Ducks are sitting as the favorites on the betting lines against the Ohio State Buckeyes for the College Football Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Monday, January 12.

Oregon romped to a victory over Florida State in the Rose Bowl, winning 59-20 as an 8-point favorite on the betting lines as quarterback Marcus Mariota threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score. The Ducks will now prepare for a Buckeyes team that pulled off an upset in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day.

For updated lines and totals on all of this year's bowl games head over to the college football betting boards at Sportsbook and Sportsbook today.

College Football Championship Game
Monday, January 12 @ 8:30 pm ET
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Team: Ohio State Buckeyes
Conference: Big Ten
Records: 13-1 SU, 9-5 ATS, 12-2 OU

Team: Oregon Ducks
Conference: Pac-12
Records: 13-1 SU, 10-4 ATS, 7-7 OU

Sportsbook Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Oregon -7.5 / 71.5 Points

[ College Football Championship Game Matchup Stats ]

College Football Championship Game Betting Trends for Oregon: Oregon has won and covered four straight bowl games . . . Oregon has won and covered nine straight overall while facing spreads of seven or more points eight times . . . Oregon is 5-1 SU vs. Big Ten schools since 2007 . . . The OVER is 7-3 in Oregon's last 10 games vs. Big Ten schools . . . Three of the past four title games have played UNDER the total . . . This is the first time since the 2006 Rose Bowl that there is no SEC team in the championship game.

College Football Championship Game Betting Trends for Ohio State: Ohio State finished the season on an 8-3 ATS run . . . Ohio State is 13-2 ATS as an underdog since 2007, covering six games in a row when getting a touchdown or more . . . Ohio State is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games vs. Pac-12 schools . . . The OVER is 3-0 in Ohio State's last three games vs. Pac-12 schools . . . The OVER is 15-2 in Ohio State's last 17 games . . . Ohio State fell to 40/1 longshots to win the College Football Championship Game after Braxton Miller was hurt before the season . . . This is the first appearance for a Big Ten school in the title game since Ohio State played in back-to-back BCS Championship Games in 2007 and 2008 (both SU and ATS losses).

The Ducks took an 18-13 lead over the Seminoles into halftime in the Rose Bowl and exploded from there, putting up 27 points in the third quarter and 14 points in the fourth quarter en route to the 39-point victory. Mariota went 26 of 36 for 338 yards passing with two TDs and one interception while rushing for 62 yards and his other score. Thomas Tyner and Royce Freeman ran for two touchdowns each in the contest for Oregon, and Darren Carrington caught two TD passes on the day.

The Buckeyes were 7.5-point underdogs against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl but came away with a 42-35 victory behind third-string quarterback Cardale Jones. Alabama had a 21-20 lead at halftime in that game, but Ohio State surged ahead in the second half and held on for the victory. Jones went 18 of 35 for 243 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Crimson Tide, while Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns in the contest.

Oregon and Ohio State previously met in the 2010 Rose Bowl, with the Buckeyes winning that matchup 26-17 as a 4.5-point underdog on the college football betting lines in an UNDER result. Terrelle Pryor threw for 266 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in that win for Ohio State, while Jeremiah Masoli and LeGarrette Blount ran for scores in the losing cause for Oregon.

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The college football bowl season will come to an end on January 6 as the unbeaten Florida State Seminoles hit the gridiron at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena as favorites on the bowl betting lines against the Auburn Tigers in the BCS Championship Game.

Here's a breakdown of the title game matchup between the Seminoles and Tigers.

For updated lines and totals on all of this year's bowl games head over to the college football betting boards at Sportsbook and Sportsbook today.

BCS Championship Game
Monday, January 6 @ 8:30pm ET
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Team: Florida State Seminoles
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Records: 13-0 SU, 11-2 ATS, 10-3 OU

Team: Auburn Tigers
Conference: Southeastern
Records: 12-1 SU, 11-2 ATS, 8-5 OU

Sportsbook Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Florida State -9 / ??? Points

[BCS Championship Game Matchup Stats ]

BCS Championship Game Betting Trends: Florida State is 9-0-1 ATS past 10 bowl games . . . Florida State is 11-2 ATS as favorite of 9 or more points . . . Favorite is 4-1 ATS past five BCS Championship Games . . . Auburn is 4-1 ATS past four bowl games.

Florida State rolled through its schedule this season, winning all 12 of their regular-season games before blasting Duke 45-7 in the ACC Championship Game to cap off their perfect run. The Seminoles ended the season at No. 1 in the final BCS rankings – thanks in part to Alabama's late stumble – and are the only team in the country without a loss heading into bowl season. Florida State's top win this year came at Clemson (51-14) on October 19.

Auburn topped Missouri 59-42 in the SEC Championship Game last time out, but their bigger victory came the week before when they upset then-No. 1 Alabama 34-28 to claim the SEC's West Division title. The Tigers then moved up to No. 2 from No. 3 in the final BCS rankings when Ohio State lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game. Auburn's only loss this team came back on September 21 when they fell 35-21 at LSU.

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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are undefeated this season, but they're still pegged as underdogs on the college football betting lines for the BCS Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide on January 7.

And as of game day, more than 60 per cent of BCS bettors were backing Notre Dame, a situation that was not causing Sportsbook to move its line.

“Money keeps pouring in on Notre Dame even getting 10 points,” said Kevin Bradley, sportsbook manager at Sportsbook.

“It will be tough to move off that number as I expect some sharp bettors are waiting to see if will go to 9.5 and then slam a bunch of big money behind Alabama. As it stands right now, the book is a big Bama fan and I cannot complain about needing a 10-point favorite,” Bradley said.

For updated lines and totals on all of this year's bowl games head over to the college football betting boards at Sportsbook, Sportsbook, and Sportsbook today.

BCS Championship Game
Monday, January 7 @ 8:30pm ET
Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida

Team: Alabama Crimson Tide
Conference: Southeastern
Records: 12-1 SU, 6-7 ATS, 6-5-1 OU

Team: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Conference: Independent
Records: 12-0 SU, 7-5 ATS, 2-10 OU

Sportsbook Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Alabama -9.5 / 43 Points

[BCS Championship Game Matchup Stats]

BCS Championship Game Betting Trends: Favorite is 4-1 ATS in past five BCS title games . . . SEC won and covered in all six BCS title games . . . Alabama has won and covered in four straight bowl games . . . Notre Dame is 2-8 ATS in past 10 bowl games.

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Both Alabama and LSU are 3-1 SU in their last four bowl appearances, including one win each in the BCS National Championship Game (LSU in 2007, and Alabama in 2009).

It's a rare case of bowl revenge for Alabama who lost to LSU during the season. [ See the latest bowl specials and bonuses at Sportsbook today and link to our feature on BCS prop bets ]

BCS Championship
Monday, January 9 @ 8:30pm ET
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Team: Alabama Crimson Tide
Conference: Southeastern
Records: 11-1 SU, 8-4 ATS, 6-6 OU

Team: Louisiana State Tigers
Conference: Southeastern
Records: 13-0 SU, 10-3 ATS, 7-5-1 OU

Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Pick’em / 40 Points

[BCS Championship Matchup Stats]

In a rematch of their defensive overtime showdown earlier in the season, the SEC West rival LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide meet in the BCS National Championship Game. Their first meeting in Alabama was a 9-6 LSU victory in overtime.

Alabama and LSU both had incredible seasons on defense as the Crimson Tide finished with the best scoring defense in the country (just 8.8 points per game against) and LSU finished second best (10.5 points per game against).

Both teams also played well on offense, as LSU finished 12th in the nation in scoring with 38.5 points per game and Alabama finished 16th with 36 points per game. These two teams showed how evenly matched they were in their first defensive battle, and the rematch in Louisiana should be no different.

Alabama’s Trent Richardson won the 2011 Doak Walker Award for most outstanding running back in the country. Richardson rushed for 1,583 yards and 20 touchdowns on 263 carries this season.
 

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Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton of Auburn and All-American running back LaMichael James of Oregon lead their respective undefeated teams in a bid for a national crown, with the Tigers as 2.5-point favorites against the Ducks in the BCS Championship Game bowl odds.

BCS Championship Game
Monday, January 10 @ 8:30pm ET
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Team: Auburn Tigers
Conference: Southeastern Conference
Records: 13-0 SU, 9-3 ATS, 7-5 OU

Team: Oregon Ducks
Conference: Pac-10 Conference
Records: 12-0 SU, 6-4-1 ATS, 8-3 OU

Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Auburn -2.5 / 73.5 Points


This game is setting up to be a wide-open matchup of two dynamic offenses. Newton leads a battle-ready Auburn offense which beat five teams in the top 18 – while Oregon played just one during the year. He also led the Tigers to come-from-behind wins eight times during the regular season. [ See dozens of Cam Newton prop odds and more fun BCS wagers at the bottom of the page ]

A perfect season in the tougher SEC could give the edge to Auburn, and a solid record against the spread could make them popular in the college football betting lines.

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Newton had a memorable season - throwing for 2,598 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. He also ran for over 1,400 yards with 20 TDs and is the main reason the Tigers were fourth nationally in points per game, while seventh in total offense at 497.7 yards per game.

Auburn minimized its turnovers this season, and it must stay free of mistakes against their toughest opponent of the season.

James led his Oregon Ducks with 1,682 rushing yards with 21 touchdowns, and was tops in the country with 153.7 yards per game. Oregon had 15 fumbles this season, and must take care of the ball when pounding it on the ground against a big defensive unit in Auburn.

Oregon was the top-ranked team with both 49.3 points and an average of 537.5 yards per game. The Ducks also have a quarterback that could help get them its first national title and defy the BCS Championship odds for the contest.

Darron Thomas had 2,518 passing yards with 28 touchdowns, completing over 60 percent of his passes. He also ran for five more scores on the ground, proving he can rush as an option and when under pressure.