CFP Championship Game Betting Preview

A pair of undefeated teams meet up in this year’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game as the Alabama Crimson Tide take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday, January 11.

At Bovada Sportsbook, the Crimson Tide are 7.5-point favorites. They advanced to their fifth title game in the last six years by getting past the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14 as an 18.5-point favorite in the Rose Bowl. Heisman Trophy favorite DeVonta Smith had seven receptions for 130 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.

Crimson Tide favored by more than a touchdown over Buckeyes

Alabama improved to 12-0 straight up on the season with its win over the Irish but dropped to 8-4 against the spread. That includes a 7-2 ATS record in the team’s last nine games.

In their last six bowl games, Alabama is 5-1 SU and 2-3-1 ATS. The Crimson Tide last appeared in the national championship game in 2019 when they lost to the Clemson Tigers 44-16 as a 5-point favorite. Including this year, Alabama has appeared in seven of the last 10 national championship games. In their previous six, the team has posted a 4-2 record SU and a 2-3-1 record ATS.

Ohio State punched its ticket to the national championship game by upsetting Clemson 49-28 as a 7-point underdog in the Sugar Bowl. Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields dominated the Tigers in the victory with 385 passing yards and six touchdown passes.

Ohio State has lost only once in last 9 games as underdog

With the win, the Buckeyes improved to 7-0 SU and 4-3 ATS on the season. Ohio State has been a solid bet as an underdog with an 8-1 record SU and ATS in its last nine games.

In their last eight bowl games, the Buckeyes are 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS. They’re also 4-2 SU and ATS in their last six bowl games as an underdog. Ohio State last appeared in the national championship game in 2015, upsetting the Oregon Ducks 42-20 as a 6-point underdog.

The Buckeyes and Crimson Tide last met up in the 2015 Sugar Bowl. The Buckeyes won that matchup 42-35 as a 7.5-point underdog.

Past 5 national title games have gone OVER the total

Prior to last year’s national championship game win by the LSU Tigers, the favorite in the game was a losing pick for bettors. LSU defeated Clemson 42-25 as a 4.5-point favorite last season. In the previous five national championship games, the favorite was 0-4-1 ATS.

For totals bettors, Ohio State is 4-1 OVER in its last five games. Alabama is 10-4 OVER in its last 14 games in the month of January. The last five national championship games have all gone OVER the posted total, and the OVER is 7-4 in the last 11.