This seems crazy but it is never too early to look at the 2023 National Champion Future Picks for college football. After last year’s crazy ending to the season where the Georgia Bulldogs won the National Championship, they truly reigned supreme. Not only did they beat the Alabama Crimson Tide, it was not that close at 33-18.
Now, that Georgia has tasted their first National Championship, the question becomes could they do it again? We take a quick look at them, Alabama, and maybe a couple others in the National Champion Future Picks.
Heading into the end of February, Alabama is still the favorite so far in the National Champion Future Picks. Alabama is one of those teams that just seems to reload and reload year in and year out. This year is no exception and they will be favorite to win the SEC Conference Title as well. They are a team that went 13-2 last year and was a quarter away from winning the National Championship again.
Bryce Young was brilliant all last season. Young became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy on December 11th. Besides an excellent 13-2 campaign, he won the SEC Conference Championship game. Young is even an early +250 favorite to repeat. With the weapons surrounding him, it is little surprise Alabama is a favorite.
NCAA National Championship 2022-23 Futures | ||
---|---|---|
Alabama Crimson Tide | -204 | -225 |
Georgia Bulldogs | +375 | +375 |
Ohio St. Buckeyes | +530 | +500 |
Clemson Tigers | +1275 | +1600 |
Texas A&M Aggies | +2400 | +1400 |
Oklahoma Sooners | +2500 | +4000 |
Michigan Wolverines | +3200 | +4000 |
USC Fighting Trojans | +3200 | +1400 |
Could the Georgia Bulldogs be the thorn in their side once again? There has been little early movement to change our minds here as Georgia could indeed do it again.
The Vegas online betting sites feature Alabama holding -200 to -225 NCAAF Vegas odds to win back the National Championship. With Georgia hovering around a +375 on the moneyline, they do have some value. Consider that they did it once and that was after losing the regular season game. Arguably, that may be the most impressive feat. Nick Saban usually sweeps those second games. He did not here. Georgia had a game plan and they nailed it. It is why both are leaned on when it comes to a National Champion Future Picks.
Kirby Smart did the unthinkable once. At this point, the Georgia coach could do it again. Nothing is impossible after all. Georgia will be returning most of their players. Also, the Bulldogs even brought in one of the best Defensive Backs coaches in the country from Rutgers in Fran Brown. Smart excels in finding great fits. When one looks up and down his coaching stand, that is what one finds.
Nick Saban is wired the same way. It is why the feeling this season is that Georgia and Alabama will again be battling for college football supremacy. This is besides the usual SEC Football pecking order. Two teams appear at the top. After that, there is another tier of several teams, then another tier of about 4-6 more teams.
As much as Alabama is such a solid favorite early on, one never knows. Yes, Alabama and Saban are a master of making adjustments. On the other hand, Georgia can score just enough and defense wins championship. The old adage of playing smart along with hedging Georgia last year early as a future pick was a wise move. Let’s do it again.
A question fans are going to ask is this. Why take Alabama as a futures hedge pick this time around? Unlike last year, their future number early was much higher than it is now. Again, currently one is looking at a team that is in the -200 to -250 range. The idea and rationale here is to hope for an early season loss or some kind of adversity. Yes, we can hear it now fans. One wants chaos?
The Alabama Crimson Tide are usually more danger when “humbled”. That is the contention anyway. However, this could also be the concern. If Alabama goes undefeated, that could cloud things. Potentially, those odds may shorten further, too. That is an even bigger problem for bettors, bookies, and the like.
Alabama can get the snowball rolling like few teams can. It is partly why they are embraced and despised by sports bettors. That is why we say to look at a small to very small wager on the Crimson Tide right now. Futures are meant to spread wagers around anyhow.
While at it, check out the latest online UFC betting sites. This will be a solid and fighting good way to diversify one’s dollars.
There was a thought to look at Notre Dame perhaps. However, the way they lost to Oklahoma State on New Year’s Day left a sour taste in many wagerer’s mouths. When it comes to National Champion Future Picks, it is about finding value currently.
For as good as Ohio State can be, are they really National Championship material? That is a huge question mark. They return C.J. Stroud and return a lot of same players from last season’s team. However, the playoff like loss to Michigan revealed a lot of weaknesses that may only be further exposed. Even the Oregon loss earlier the past season raised red flags.
Now, the odds for teams like Texas A&M and even USC are intriguing because of the disparities among current books. For example, taking a look at the Aggies at +3200 on MyBookie is worth a shot. Then, there is USC which is a +1400 there but +4000 on BetOnline. These spreads keep things interesting as Spring Football is a ways away.
Our NCAA Football National Championship Future Picks end with placing another small wager on the USC Fighting Trojans.
Summary
Chris Wassel AA, AAS CURRENTLY Sports Writer and Journalist RESIDES IN Rahway, NJ EDUCATION Union County College, Montclair State University EXPERTISE Business, Writing, Sports, Food, Grilling, Olympics, Injuries, Politics, and more Summary Member of FSWA, FSGA, and a variety of Sports Betting Groups. Works on injuries for a variety of sites. Edits articles from NASCAR to football and beyond. Occasionally runs sites like mynhltraderumor.com and Full Press Hockey/Bets. Does a podcast for Full Press Hockey and a few other sports too. Experience Chris Wassel has 20+ years of sports journalistic experience in various disciplines. His ability to play sports is well documented. Most people in the business just write. However, Chris will race cars and even a super Moto bike from time to time. There is that fitness and hiking/cycling aspect too. Chris has climbed mountains from Mount Washington to Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California. For those that do not know. Chris also dabbles in food eating contests and challenges. Having a unique background with friends including Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has the ability to eat a whole 16-pound turkey or a 32 inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, Chris does focus on things like fitness, fishing, and sports. One would be surprised that Chris runs, hikes, and rock climbs. There are even those occasional mini-triathlons. One truly can pack a lot in a small package. Chris can lift things over his body weight with ease. Also, if there is a NASCAR rain prop, Chris can tell you if there will be a Monday race. Throughout his career, Chris has worked at a wide range of places from Amazon to USA Today to a variety of rumors and fantasy sports sites. Finally, Chris has been nominated for quite a few awards from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association for Hockey Writer Of The Year. Also, there have been a number of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings that Chris sports in his house. Education Chris received an Associates from Union Country College for business and accounting. Chris did sports journalism work at Montclair State University covering the hockey, baseball, and football teams. Quote from Chris Wassel "Shut up and play.”
Education
1999 Graduate of Union County College
1993 Graduate of Rahway High School
Professional Achievements
Media credentialed member of the New Jersey Devils since 2010
Covered several NHL Drafts including the one day event in Newark in 2013
Been on countless podcasts, TV shows, and more including Sportsnet and even NHL Network