College Football National Championship Predictions & Odds: Miami, Texas Tech, Indiana Get Big Wins

• Ohio State, Penn State, and Georgia were all on bye in Week 4

• Texas Tech had a massive 34-10 road win over Utah and is now the No. 12 team in the country

• Oregon quarterback Dante Moore tossed four touchdown passes in the team’s 41-7 win over Oregon State

Week 4 wasn’t exactly the week to see the top teams in action, as three of the top five were on bye. 

That said, there were some massive wins, including Texas Tech going on the road as the No. 17 team against No. 16 Utah. Texas Tech won the game 34-10 and is now ranked No. 12. 

We also saw Illinois lose by a massive margin, 63-10, against Indiana. 

All that being said, below are the current odds for the 2025-26 national champion.

NCAAF Championship Odds

All odds below are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Click on the odds in the table below to head to FanDuel Sportsbook and place your bets: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

NCAAF Championship Predictions

In Week 4 of the college football season, many of the top teams (in fact, three of the top five) were on bye weeks. Thus, we didn’t see a whole lot of movement other than the Miami Hurricanes surging to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 rankings following a 26-7 win over the Florida Gators. 

That said, below are three of my best bet options coming out of Week 4. 

• Ohio State Buckeyes (+600): Ohio State was one of the many teams on bye this week, so I’m sticking with them as one of my best bets. Quarterback Julian Sayin has been solid this season. However, he does have three turnovers over his last two games, which came against lower levels of competition in Grambling State and Ohio. That said, this offense is explosive, and the defense has been causing problems all season long, including in Week 1 against the Texas Longhorns and Arch Manning. In Week 5, Ohio State is on the road against Washington. This should be another win, but this will be an intriguing environment to see Sayin play in. I think we’ll learn even more about the young signal-caller. 

• Penn State Nittany Lions (+650): Like Ohio State, Penn State was also on bye in Week 4, so I’m sticking with them as a top pick for the college football national title. That said, we’ll learn a lot more about this team in Week 5 as they host the Oregon Ducks. This is easily their biggest non-playoff game of the season. Quarterback Drew Allar has been up and down, but the running game and defense have been excellent. I’ll be curious to see how Allar has improved since the last game against Oregon. In their last meeting, which was the conference title game last season, Allar completed just 20 of 39 passes (51.3%) for 226 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. He needs to show up in the big games. 

• Oregon Ducks (+700): Oregon wasn’t on bye in Week 4. Instead, they hosted the Oregon State Beavers and defeated them, 41-7. Quarterback Dante Moore completed 21 of 31 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns. All four touchdowns went to different players. The offensive line, including left guard Emmanuel Pregnon, was excellent. I’ll be curious to see how this defense does against Penn State, on the road, in Week 5. Remember, Penn State is coming off a bye; Oregon isn’t.

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NCAAF Championship Winner - My Pick

Penn State Nittany Lions (+650) at FanDuel Sportsbook

They didn’t play in Week 4, so it’s difficult to add anything to the conversation of my pick, but I’m a believer in Allar. It’s not always the prettiest. He does make mistakes. However, after last season and their final game against Notre Dame, which eliminated them from national title contention, I think he’ll respond in a big way in Week 5 at home against Oregon. 

That said, I’m fully prepared to change my pick here if things go south.

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How to Bet on the NCAAF Championship

To wager on the NCAAF championship, head to your chosen sportsbook's "Futures" section. Futures markets allow you to wager on events that'll resolve sometimes months later, depending on when the wager is made, such as the national championship. These markets are available before and during the season, with odds shifting based on how the team plays, injuries, how other teams are playing, and more. 

In addition to betting directly on the national title winner, you can indirectly support your prediction by wagering on related markets, such as conference championship futures, win totals, or individual game bets (e.g., moneyline, point spread, and totals).

For example, suppose you believe Penn State will win the national championship. You could wager on their games, their projected win total, and the "Futures" market for them to win the Big Ten conference. 

How to Read NCAAF Championship Odds

When reading NCAAF championship odds, you’ll come across “+” and “-” odds. 

The “+” typically indicates an underdog, whereas the “-” is the favorite. 

When it comes to betting, here’s how to view these lines: 

• With “+” odds, you’ll win the amount associated with it when you wager $100. For example, if a team is +600, you’ll win $600 if you place a $100 bet and they win. 

• With “-” odds, you must wager the amount associated to win $100. For example, if a team is -600, you must bet $600 to win $100. 

Where to Bet on NCAAF Championship Winner

• FanDuel Sportsbook: When it comes to betting on the college national champion, FanDuel is always a go-to spot for me. It offers plenty of promotions, including a new player-friendly welcome bonus, and always has competitive odds. New users can currently claim the following offer: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

• Caesars Sportsbook: We mentioned that you can supplement your national championship “Futures” bet with wagers on individual games, and Caesars Sportsbook routinely offers odds boosts to enhance your potential winnings. Use our promo code WSN20X and claim the welcome offer: Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Next 20 Bets.

• BetMGM Sportsbook: BetMGM routinely offers free-to-play games that can add bonus bets to your virtual wallet. Additionally, there’s 24/7 customer support available should you have any questions about NCAAF championship betting. Register with BetMGM today with our promo code WSNSPORTS and claim your welcome bonus: Bet $10, Get $150 if You Win*.

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NCAAF Championship Winner History

Since 2014, the College Football Playoff has been how national champions are decided. When it was first implemented, it featured four teams.

Then, in 2024, it switched to 12 teams. The change proved worthwhile as the champion, the Ohio State Buckeyes, were the No. 8 seed and beat the No. 9, No. 1, No. 5, and No. 7 seeds, respectively, to win it all. 

Since the College Football Playoff was introduced, the Alabama Crimson Tide’s three titles have led the way. 

Below is a list of the national champions since the College Football Playoff came to be.