The Championship Odds – They Are a-Changin’

As we head into Week 3 of the college football season, it appears that some once proud programs are back in the mix with the big boys. Colorado, Texas, and Florida State have all had periods of dominance in college football, but not so much recently. That may be changing as all three teams are off to 2-0 starts in 2023.

In the NFL, all eyes were on new Jets QB Aaron Rodgers. He was the missing piece of the puzzle that was going to bring the Jets a deep playoff run and a possible chance at a Super Bowl title. Those dreams all came crashing down on Monday night when Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon on the fourth play against the Bills. 

As a result of the great starts by Colorado, Texas, and Florida State and the unexpected Jets injury; there have been some adjustments in the most recent championship odds in both sports. Let’s take a look.

Prime Time Making a Difference

A year ago, Colorado went 1-11. The Buffaloes haven’t had a winning season since 2016 (10-4), which happens to be the only winning season dating back to the end of the Gary Barnett era. Colorado’s administration is enjoying its hire of new head coach Deion Sanders. The Buffs are off to an impressive 2-0 start with a huge win in Week 1 over last year’s national runner-up, TCU.

The passing game is absolutely ridiculous with Sanders’ son Shedeur running the offense at quarterback. Colorado is second in the nation in passing offense averaging 453 yards per game. They have scored 45 and 36 points in their two victories. As a result, Colorado’s odds to win the College Football Playoff have fallen dramatically.

They dropped from +20000 to +10000 after the victory over TCU. After last week’s 36-14 dismantling of Nebraska, the Buffaloes odds to win the CFP now stand at +8000 at online sportsbooks. Sanders will lead his team against in-state rival Colorado State this week before back-to-back games against No. 13 Oregon and No. 5 USC. 

Texas Earns Statement Win

There was a lot of buzz surrounding the Texas Longhorns this season. QB Quinn Ewers was back along with eight other offensive starters, not to mention the six returning defensive starters. Both the offense and defense finished among the top 25 in scoring last season. Expectations are high in Austin and head coach Steve Sarkisian and his team has come through with a monumental win in the first two weeks of the season.

Texas went into then-No. 3 Alabama and pulled the upset, winning 34-24 behind three touchdown passes from Ewers. The Longhorns will face Wyoming, Baylor, and Kansas before its annual rivalry game with Oklahoma on Oct. 7. Texas, now ranked No. 4 in the nation, started the season listed at +2500 to win the national title. They are now among the favorites at +1000 at BetOnline.ag

The Seminoles Are Back on the Warpath

It’s been a minute since Florida State was relevant in college football. Head coach Mike Norvell has the Seminoles pointed in the right direction. Coming off a 10-3 season in 2022, FSU opened some eyes with a stunning 45-24 win over then-No. 5 LSU. QB Jordan Travis leads an offense that has put up 45 and 66 points in its two wins this season. FSU’s defense was one of the best in the nation last year and looks to repeat that in 2023.

The Noles are 2-0 and face Boston College (FSU -26 college football odds) this week before an ACC showdown with Clemson. That might not even be the toughest game on the schedule. No. 22 Miami is also on the rise and plays FSU later this season. After the 2-0 start, Florida State is also among the CFP favorites at +1000, just like Texas. The Seminoles are ranked third in the nation currently.

Jets SB LVIII Odds Shift Dramatically

The Jets lost six straight to end the 2022 season. Heading into 2023, the Jets opened at +4000 to win Super Bowl LVIII. When Green Bay allowed the Jets to talk to Rodgers, those odds fell to +1800. The Jets’ odds remained in that range until a deal was finalized to bring Rodgers to New York. When it was official, the Jets were given +1400 odds to win it all in 2023.

When Rodgers went down with the injury on Monday night, most sportsbooks scrambled and listed the Jets at +2500. When news of the Achilles tear was confirmed, the Jets odds lengthened to +5000 and +6000 at most sportsbooks.