College Football Playoff Odds: Alabama Early 2020 Title Favorites over Clemson

The 2018-19 college football season has yet to crown a champion, but the two remaining College Football Playoff finalists are already expected to be among next season's top contenders.

According to Caesars Palace, the Alabama Crimson Tide will be the favorites heading into the offseason, with the Clemson Tigers not far behind:

The early odds aren't surprising.

Alabama is the only program to make the College Football Playoff in each of the system's first five years. During that span, the Crimson Tide have won two titles, narrowly lost another and will play for one Monday.

With Heisman Trophy runner-up Tua Tagovailoa leading the way, Alabama cruised to a 14-0 record, won the SEC and defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl last week. 

Clemson was in the field in each of the last four seasons after it missed the inaugural tournament. The Tigers won the 2016 championship and suffered a 45-40 loss to the Crimson Tide in the title game the year prior.

The bad news for other teams is 247Sports ranks Nick Saban's 2019 Tide recruiting class as the best in the nation. 

Like Alabama, Clemson (14-0) has run the table. The Tigers met little resistance on their way to the ACC title and dominated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 30-3 in the Cotton Bowl last week.

The Tigers have the No. 6 2019 recruiting class, per 247Sports.

Entering Monday's showdown in Santa Clara, California, Saban's Tide own a 2-1 edge over Dabo Swinney and the Tigers in their three CFP meetings, including a 24-6 victory in last year's semifinals. The odds for the 2020 title could change, depending on the outcome of the fourth installment of this rivalry, though.

Regardless, these programs appear to be a step above the rest.