College Football Championship Predictions: Favorite, Contender & Long Shot for Jan. 20

The College Football Playoff is starting to take shape with only a few games left to decide the field that will compete in the postseason’s new format.

My college football championship predictions look at the college football championship odds to examine three potential winners. I’ve chosen one favorite, one contender, and one long shot I believe can make a run during the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

Here is the latest College Football Playoff Bracket as of conference championship week.

Best college football championship predictions

College football odds subject to change. Track the college football scores for the latest line movement and matchup info.

• Texas ()
• Penn State () 
• Indiana ()

College football championship prediction: Favorite

Texas Longhorns (+425)

Best odds: +425 via bet365 | Implied probability: 19.05%

The Longhorns have been dominant this season. They’re one of just three teams, along with Oregon and Tennessee, to rank inside the Top 15 in total offense and defense. They have NFL talent across the board, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and Quinn Ewers is the perfect quarterback to run Steve Sarkisian’s offense.

Texas’ strength in the trenches is also similar to that of recent national champions, which makes it an appealing pick over other favorites. The Longhorns have the experience after appearing in the big dance last season — a quality Oregon lacks.

bet365 offers the longest odds among the best college football betting sites at +425. This means a $10 wager on Texas would return $42.50 should the Longhorns lift a title for the first time since 2005.

Don't miss our guide for how to bet on college football or this week's best sportsbook promos.

College football championship prediction: Contender

Penn State Nittany Lions (+1000)

Best odds: +1000 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 9.09%

One of the biggest advantages of the new 12-team playoff format is first-round home playoff games. While the top four seeds get one-week byes, the so-called best of the rest get to welcome their fellow playoff contenders to their home stadiums. Few — if any — benefit from this more than Penn State.

The Nittany Lions’ home-field advantage is unique. Not only is Beaver Stadium one of the most electric atmospheres in the country, but it’s also one of the coldest places to play in December. The latest list Penn State as the No. 5 seed, which means it’ll get to stay home for the first round and welcome the last team in. Further, it'll get the lowest-rated conference champion should it advance to the next round, setting it up nicely to make a deep run.

The common perception of James Franklin is his teams cannot win big games. His bowl record with the Nittany Lions, 4-5, does little to disprove this theory. However, he knows how to defend his home turf. Penn State is 63-15 in Happy Valley over the last decade under Franklin. The Nittany Lions were 4-4 their first year under the veteran head coach, which means they’re 59-11 over the last nine years.

All of this is to say Penn State will welcome opponents with open arms when the time comes. They’ve been fantastic this season, climbing over every hurdle aside from Ohio State, which narrowly edged out the Nittany Lions. Franklin will have his men ready to play come playoff time, and at +1000 with FanDuel, they’re one of the best values on the board.

College football championship prediction: Long shot

Indiana Hoosiers (+4000)

Best odds: +4000 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 2.44%

There are few things more dangerous than a team playing with house money. Indiana won nine games during the last three years of Tom Allen’s tenure. Last year, the Hoosiers were at home for the holidays as their opponents prepared for bowl season. Now, Curt Cignetti has his squad sitting pretty at 11-1 as they await their College Football Playoff draw. It is an understatement to say they weren't supposed to be here in year one.

The Hoosiers have been under the microscope as of late for their relatively weak schedule. Conventional wisdom says teams can only beat those put in front of them, and Indiana has done a good job of that this season. The Hoosiers’ average margin of victory on the season is 33.4 points per game. How’s that for an eye test?

Indiana ranks No. 24 and No. 2 in total offense and defense, respectively. The Hoosiers have proven that the environment doesn’t matter as they’ve weathered cross-country travel, injuries, and the elements throughout Cignetti’s debut campaign in Bloomington. 

A new-look Big Ten proved little trouble for Indiana. Therefore, if DraftKings is going to give me College Football Playoff odds that carry an implied probability of 2.44%, I’m going to take them with a smile. The Hoosiers are long shots for a reason, but there’s enough spirit and talent there for a Cinderella run from Cignetti’s team.

Don't miss our guide for how to bet on college football or this week's best sportsbook promos.

College football championship odds

College football championship FAQs

Who is the CFP National Championship favorite?

Oregon is the favorite by the 2025 college football championship odds. The Buckeyes' shortest odds (+350) imply a 22.22% probability they'll win it all according to our odds calculator.

When will the CFP National Championship be decided?

The 2025 CFP National Championship will be decided on Monday, Jan. 20.

Where will the CFP National Championship take place?

The 2025 college football championship will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.

College football betting odds pages

Here are our best college football betting sites:

• Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
• BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
• bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
• FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
• DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

Related pages

• Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)