Way too early picks and predictions for the 2024 College Football Playoff Championship

The 2023 college football season is officially in the history books as the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines took down the No. 2 Washington Huskies 34-13 in the College Football Playoff National Championship. That officially closed the book on the four-team playoff era and we now look towards the first year of the 12-team playoff era in 2024.

Georgia opens as the favorite to win the expanded CFP next season with +450 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. Starting quarterback Carson Beck is among the several returnees for the Dawgs and they’ll be gunning to return to the big stage for the program’s third national title in four years. Right behind them is the team that beat them in the SEC Championship Game in Alabama (+600), who will have Jalen Milroe back at QB.

Ohio State (+800) and Texas (+900) are also among the early contenders, with the Buckeyes leaning on transfers Will Howard and Quinshon Judkins to carry the offense and Quinn Ewers leading the Longhorns into their first season in the SEC. Defending champ Michigan (+1000) rounds out the top five and it’ll be starting fresh with the likes of JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, and possibly Jim Harbaugh leaving.

A few familiar programs right below these contenders include Oregon (+1100), Ole Miss (+1600), Florida State (+1800), and Clemson (+2000). The Ducks pulled in former Oklahoma/UCF QB Dillon Gabriel from the transfer portal and he’s expected to be one of the top Heisman Trophy contenders. Meanwhile, the Seminoles pulled in former Oregon State/Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei while the Tigers will have Cade Klubnik back for his second full season as the starter. The Rebels are an interesting team to watch as they pulled in the No. 1 transfer class this offseason, although they ended up losing the aforementioned Judkins to Ohio State.

A true dark horse to keep tabs on is Missouri, who opens with +6000 odds. The dynamic duo of Brady Cook and Luther Burden III will return next season and this is a team that could make some noise if it gets into the 12-team field. Another under-the-radar team to keep an eye out for is Arizona, who has +7000 odds entering its first season in the Big 12. The Wildcats were one of the bigger surprises in the nation by winning 10 games this season and QB Noah Fifita will enter the year as a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate in his own right.

Given the playoff field has expanded, depth is going to play a critical factor as more games will be required of these teams to reach the national championship game. It will be imperative for one of these powers to be ranked in the top four following conference championship weekend just so they can get some rest with a first-round bye. Given these factors, I’m inclined to lean towards the early favorite Georgia a year out from the title game. The Bulldogs barely missed this year’s playoff and with the level of talent that Kirby Smart on the field, they are the safest bet to hoist the CFP trophy next season.

Here are the full opening odds to win the 2024 College Football Playoff from DraftKings Sportsbook.