The 2024 season will be the first under the new College Football Playoff format, and the usual suspects are at the top of the odds board. Georgia, Ohio State, Texas and Oregon are considered the favorites to win the national championship.
With the advent of the new 12-team structure, the stage is set for some unexpected twists.
Teams beyond the top tier of contention now have a real shot at making a Cinderella run.
Who are these potential bracket-busters? Let’s delve into some of the best value teams that could potentially upset the odds and win this year’s national championship.
College Football Playoff predictions
Ole Miss (20/1, BetRivers)
While Georgia and Texas are considered the favorites to win the SEC, another team in the conference is poised for a huge year.
After an 11-2 season, Ole Miss got busy in the transfer portal, adding 24 players to make up the consensus top-ranked class in the country.
That transfer group includes seven four-star players and five-star defensive tackle Walter Nolen, the top-ranked recruit overall in the 2022 class.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart is back in Oxford after a season in which he had 31 total touchdowns and just five interceptions.
He’s flanked by Tre Harris, who had nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and South Carolina transfer Antwane “Juice” Wells.
There’s always a potential downside to the mercenary approach with a transfer-heavy roster, but this looks like Lane Kiffin’s most talented team since arriving at Ole Miss.
If the defense can take another step forward in Pete Golding’s second season as the defensive coordinator, this team has all the makings of a serious contender in 2024.
Penn State (25/1, BetMGM)
As former five-star prospect Drew Allar prepares for his second season under center, Penn State fans should be very excited.
Recognizing a flawed offensive scheme from last season, coach James Franklin brought former Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki to run the show in Happy Valley.
Kotelnicki will be a breath of fresh air with his schematic brilliance and willingness to emphasize the downfield passing game.
Defensively, Penn State has been one of the best teams in the country in recent years, and it should be more of the same with former Indiana head coach Tom Allen taking over as defensive coordinator.
The Nittany Lions return plenty of production on that side of the ball, headlined by defensive ends Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
The Nittany Lions also have a favorable schedule.
They might only be underdogs in one game this season — a home matchup against an Ohio State team that may be more vulnerable than their current +430 odds imply.
Utah (66/1, Bet365)
If you’re looking for a real long-shot contender, it’s hard to ignore Utah at 60-1 odds.
After years of competing in a Pac-12 whose top teams cannibalized each other, the Utes now join a Big 12 ripe for the picking.
If Utah can win its conference, it will earn a critical first-round bye. However, it’s unlikely two teams from the Big 12 will be represented in the postseason.
The Utes are coming off a year from hell in terms of injuries, and Kyle Whittingham still managed to lead them to eight wins.
Whittingham remains one of the best coaches in the country, and he’ll get quarterback Cam Rising back for a seventh season.
There’s plenty of excitement in Salt Lake City surrounding wide receivers Money Parks, Mycah Pittman and USC transfer Dorian Singer.
The Utes avoid Kansas, Kansas State and Texas Tech on their schedule.
Betting on College Football?
- Check out the best College Football betting sites
- Read our expert’s guide on how to bet on College Football
- Get the latest College Football National Championship winner odds
They also get Arizona and Iowa State at home, and they likely have the best home-field advantage in the conference at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Utah would still be heavy underdogs against the top teams from the Big Ten and SEC, but a 60-to-1 ticket would be pretty hedgeable if Utah makes the CFP.