Vegas Top 10
We’ve waited over three months to identify the four best teams in college football. Hopefully on the final Saturday of the regular season we’ll be given that clarity we’ve sought since April. Nevertheless when the committee unveiled their field on Tuesday night the playoff outlook became clear cut for Alabama, Clemson, Michigan State, and Iowa: win and you’re in. For North Carolina, Ohio State, Stanford, and the loser of the Big Ten championship waiting will indeed be the hardest part. Teams may have to wait but oddsmakers sit idle for no one and as things stand right now there’s no true consensus among them regarding the best four teams in the country.
| William Hill | Bookmaker | Westgate | Cantor | Todd | |
| #1 | Clemson | Alabama | Alabama | Alabama | Oklahoma (t-1) |
| #2 | Iowa | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Clemson | Alabama (t-1) |
| #3 | Oklahoma | Clemson | Ohio St | Oklahoma | Ohio St |
| #4 | Alabama | Michigan St | Clemson | North Carolina | Clemson |
| #5 | North Carolina | Ohio St | Baylor (t-5) | Iowa | Stanford (t-5) |
| #6 | Michigan St | Iowa | Ole Miss (t-5) | Ohio St | Ole Miss (t-5) |
| #7 | Notre Dame | Stanford | Stanford | Michigan St | Baylor |
| #8 | Stanford | North Carolina | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | Oregon (t-8) |
| #9 | Florida St | Notre Dame | Oregon | Stanford | Florida St (t-8) |
| #10 | Baylor | Ole Miss | Florida St (t-10) | Oregon | Notre Dame (t-8) |
| Michigan St (t-10) | |||||
| Michigan (t-10) | |||||
| TCU (t-10) | |||||
| Tennessee (t-10) |
Alabama, Oklahoma, and Clemson appear to be three of the top four teams oddsmakers agree on yet that’s where consensus stops. Whose next in the pecking order? is it Iowa, Michigan St/Ohio St out of the Big Ten or should we be considering Stanford and North Carolina very much in the mix? Fortunately for Hawkeye and Spartan fans the task at hand this weekend is simple; win. For those donning Scarlet and Grey, Tarheel Blue, or Cardinal red factoring into the final equation isn’t nearly that simple.
Outside the top teams in the land is where these polls really get interesting. Opinions on aforementioned North Carolina as a viable top four team differ; included by Cantor Technology while omitted entirely from the Westgate list. TCU, Stanford, Notre Dame, and Oregon find themselves on the outside looking in from the only ballot that matters yet still remain highly regarded among the gambling profession given similar surges to close the year. If there’s such a thing as a good loss Notre Dame’s narrow miss in Palo Alto last week is given that distinction. Irish fans will take little solace knowing their industry profile wasn’t tarnished on the farm despite national championship dreams going up in smoke.
One of the most interesting parts of this season long glimpse behind the oddsmaking curtain is identifying under the radar programs playing their best football late in the season. Both Florida St and Tennessee found their identity late in the year and quietly snuck back into a couple of Vegas top 10 lists. The common denominator with both programs is youth. Volunteer and Seminole fans alike have plenty to be optimistic about knowing the majority of key contributors will return next year. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating blind future bets on either school yet however each of them should be on every college football fans radar when numbers are released in a few short weeks.
Here’s a current list of teams still on the big board at the Westgate Superbook. Trying to assess value at this stage of the game is a challenge. I still firmly believe anyone that thinks North Carolina upsets Clemson should consider a token investment on the Buckeyes to win the title. Ohio State needs help but if the right dominoes fall the defending champions find themselves right back in the mix for the college football playoff.
Alabama 6-5
Oklahoma 5-2
Clemson 5-1
Michigan St 8-1
Ohio St 15-1
Iowa 20-1
UNC 30-1
Stanford 40-1
