If one were to go strictly off the college football rankings, things would look gloomier for the Clemson Tigers as each week progressed.
Despite remaining undefeated entering Week 8, Clemson was jumped in the AP Top 25 poll again. After Alabama took over the #1 spot last week, LSU snagged the second-ranking from Clemson on Sunday.
Nevertheless, Clemson is the betting odds favorite to win the college football championship in 2020 at +175. Last week, the Tigers were behind Alabama’s +240 championship odds with their +250 title chances.
Even with Alabama’s championship chances and AP college football ranking remaining the same, Clemson was still able to boost their championship odds and become the new favorites despite dropping to #3 in the AP poll.
2020 College Football Championship odds
- Clemson (#3) +175
- Alabama (#1) +240
- Ohio State (#4) +600
- LSU (#2) +750
- Oklahoma (#5) +1000
- Wisconsin (#6) +1200
- Georgia (#10) +1600
- Penn State (#7) +5000
- Auburn (#11) +6600
- Notre Dame (#8) +8000
- Florida (#9) +10000
- Michigan (#16) +10000
- Oregon (#12) +10000
- Utah (#13) +10000
- Baylor (#18) +12500
- Arizona State (#17) +15000
- Minnesota (#20) +15000
- Oklahoma State +15000
- Texas (#15) +15000
- Washington (#25) +15000
- Nebraska +20000
- Central Florida +25000
- Iowa (#23) +25000
- TCU +25000
- Texas A&M +25000
- Boise State (#14) +40000
- Colorado +50000
Clemson was able to put up 45 points on Florida State on Saturday while holding the Seminoles to just two touchdowns to notch their 21st consecutive win.
QB Trevor Lawrence, who threw for three touchdowns in the victory, said the team’s response was “really good to see” after Clemson narrowly beat the North Carolina Tar Heels 21-20 in Week 5.
“I was really proud of the way we responded after two weeks ago,” Lawrence also said.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers were able to force four turnovers and hold FSU to a season-low 253 total yards. Clemson was clicking on both sides of the ball and oddsmakers must have noticed. Tiger coach Dabo Swinney surely did.
“Good to see us look like a very confident team today,” the championship-winning head coach said.
The Crimson Tide were also able to get a runaway victory this past weekend, walking over the Texas A&M Aggies 47-28 behind QB Tua Tagvaliloa’s 293 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Like Alabama, LSU beat their own ranked SEC opponent, taking out the Florida Gators in a 42-28 victory that was much closer than the score depicts. Taking over #2 in the rankings could be huge for the Bayou Bengals, especially now that they have +750 odds of winning the national championship.