CFP Odds: Ohio State Popular Pick, Bettors Cautious With Michigan

USA Today
Ohio State Football Photo credit USA Today

If you bet $50 on Ohio State to make the 2024 College Football Playoff, the potential profit is $6.67, a return of barely 13% that BetMGM bettors are loving.

Earlier this year at the online sportsbook, the Buckeyes opened with the shortest odds (-550) of any team to make the 12-team playoff, barely ahead of Georgia (-500). They still have the shortest odds, though the gap has widened as bettors make Ohio State the most popular pick to make the field.

As of Tuesday, Ohio State has only 2.5% of the CFP tickets — tied for the 14th among all teams and fourth in the Big Ten — but those tickets account for a staggering 30.9% of the handle. That’s nearly double the share of the next team (Utah, 15.6%) and 29 percentage points more than Michigan (1.3%).

The Wolverines opened at -110 and haven’t moved. Seven teams have shorter odds:

Ohio State: -750

Georgia: -500

Oregon: -250

Texas: -225

Notre Dame: -165

Ole Miss: -130

Penn State: -130

Three of those teams have generated less betting interest than Michigan, however. The Wolverines’ handle share of 1.3% is higher than Georgia (0.2%), Texas (1.2%), and Penn State (1.1%).

Oregon is the only team with shorter odds than Michigan that has a handle share greater than 3%. The Ducks have 8.6% of the handle (third) on 5.1% of the tickets (sixth).

Visit the BetMGM online sportsbook for updated playoff odds and more college football betting throughout the year.

If you’re in Michigan or Ohio, check out sportsbook promos for a potential welcome bonus and other offers: Michigan sportsbook promos and Ohio sportsbook promos.

Featured Image Photo Credit: USA Today