Betting Insights: Ohio State National Championship Odds

The Buckeyes opened at +600 to win the National Championship, behind only the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs. Congratulations if you got in early because this line has moved significantly. Ohio State is currently down to +350 in the futures market, now tied with Georgia for the second-shortest odds behind only Alabama.

It’s not difficult to see what bettors like. Stroud is a bonafide Heisman candidate at quarterback and is surrounded by a wealth of skill position talent. The offense could be even more lethal this season after leading the nation with 45.7 points per game a year ago.

The hope is for first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to turn around a disappointing unit on the other side of the ball.

Ohio State has received 21.3% of tickets, the highest mark of any team in the country. Bettors are banking on the Buckeyes to not only get back to the college football playoff after a year off in 2021, but they’re expecting Ryan Day’s team to knock the SEC off the throne. The SEC has won the past three national championships by three different schools (LSU, Alabama, and Georgia). Ohio State last won it all in 2014 but stands a chance to end that drought in 2022.

The only other team garnering more than 10% of tickets is Alabama at 20.6%, as the Michigan Wolverines are a distant third with 6.4%.

Ohio State has received a whopping 39.1% of the handle. This is where the Buckeyes really stand out. That is nearly double their ticket percent, a sign that there is some heavy money supporting Day’s squad this year. The only other team in double digits is Alabama at 21.1%, while Michigan is again a distant third with 5.9%.

The betting market believes Ohio State has a great chance to win the national championship, and the handle percentage shows Buckeye bettors’ tremendous confidence.