B/R College Football 2024 Betting Locks: National Championship Winner
No matter the conference, playoff format and general chaos overtaking the sport, one constant remains. At the end of the season, after all the games have been played, there will be one national champion.
As college football begins, the race for the first title of the 12-team playoff era is underway. Locks of the Week is here to identify the front-runners well in advance, just like we did a season ago.
Yes, we were all over the 2023 season. This is the not-so-humble bragging part of this installment.
Of the three teams we targeted to win the national championship, two of them were Michigan and Washington. (The other was Clemson, but we don't have to talk about that.)
In fact, here's what we had to say about the Wolverines, a +750 choice, in August of last year: "Whether this is Harbaugh's final season or not, and I believe it will be, it will be glorious. Although it won't be enormous value, this will be the pick."
In short, maybe, just maybe, we know a little bit about this whole college football thing. And much like last year, we'll be targeting three teams once again. We'll make our pick to win the title first, and then we'll work our way down the odds board.
Time to go to work.
For the latest spreads on futures and games, head to DraftKings.
Ohio State (+380)
1 of 3
Over the past few years, I've made my criticisms of Ohio State head coach Ryan Day known. His failures, while limited, have been high-profile. And his inability to take the Buckeyes over the edge, despite coming oh so close a few seasons ago, has become an exhausting talking point.
No matter how we arrived here, one thing is clear: Day has assembled the best roster in the sport. Sure, he can thank NIL and the transfer portal for that. Regardless, this current team has a bit of everything.
It starts, oddly enough, with defense. Day's group, led by defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, finished second in scoring defense a season ago, ranking behind only Michigan.
The defensive line is elite, and the secondary, led by transfer safety Caleb Downs, might be better.
On offense, the conversation starts with quarterback Will Howard, who has gotten rave reviews thus far. At running back, TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are the best tandem in America. At wide receiver, Emeka Egbuka will be superb, but freshman Jeremiah Smith will be one of the biggest stories in all of college football.
If there is a weakness on this team, maybe it's the offensive line. Even this unit feels like it could be a strength.
Generally speaking, however, this is an exceptional roster. While Ohio State's schedule features tricky road games at Oregon and Penn State—along with a home game against Michigan to close—this group has the talent to win every single game it plays over the next five months.
Day has more pressure on him than any coach in the sport. That should come as no surprise. He also has a roster capable of finally removing all doubt.
If we're picking one team, this is the one.
Alabama (+1200)
2 of 3
When Nick Saban retired, we did the obvious. We said farewell to the great Alabama dynasty.
In the moment, it felt like the right thing to do. Saban's presence and impact was that significant, and his departure left an enormous void.
Many months later, and that void feels significantly smaller. New head coach Kalen DeBoer has settled in nicely, rebuilt his roster and even showcased his ability to recruit. That last part won't help him this season, but it will pay enormous dividends moving forward.
No matter where DeBoer has gone, two things have occurred. His teams have been dominant when it comes to passing, and they've won a lot. Entering this year, DeBoer has a record of 104-12.
All of this translates to an enormous season for Jalen Milroe, who has the athletic gifts to do just about anything on the football field. Milroe's presence and development, something we saw late last year, could catapult this team forward.
The offense will have new parts, although the offensive line could morph into one of the nation's best. The defense doesn't have the typical overflow of familiar stars, but it is still ripe with former blue-chip recruits poised to become household names.
Perhaps the biggest addition on that side of the ball came in the form of coaches. Adding Kane Wommack and Maurice Linguist, formerly successful heads of programs, was massive.
In the now-expanded SEC, the schedule will be taxing. Alabama plays Georgia, at Tennessee, at LSU and at Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide also travels to Wisconsin.
If this teams gets into the playoff, however, the starting quarterback could be more than capable of taking over just about every single game.
Missouri (+4000)
3 of 3
The gauntlet that will be the SEC in 2024 is real. Adding Texas and Oklahoma into a conference already rife with contenders won't make life easier for many, although that doesn't mean there isn't a path.
For Missouri, the path is clear. The Tigers delivered a superb season in 2023, losing just two games. Those two losses came against LSU and at Georgia, and Missouri was extremely competitive in both defeats.
The key ingredients from that team are largely back, starting with quarterback Brady Cook and wideout Luther Burden III. While Cook might not ooze superstardom like Burden, he could be in line for an improved, hugely impactful year.
Losing running back Cody Schrader is massive, although Missouri has once again tapped into the transfer portal to fill this void and address other needs. Eli Drinkwitz has done well on this front over the past few years, although hitting on a few positions will likely be needed to compete at the level many Missouri fans believe this team is capable of.
No team gives off more Washington 2023 vibes than this one. It starts with a few key offensive pieces, although Mizzou is much more than that. And by SEC standards, the schedule is actually quite favorable.
Missouri will travel to Texas A&M and Alabama; it will also play Auburn and Oklahoma. Compared to others, however, the path isn't so bad. This unquestionably plays a huge part in this potential playoff equation.
I like this team quite a bit, and it has proven over the last few years it can compete with elite programs.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
