College Football Playoff Betting History & Trends

Kevin Rogers Sports Betting Expert

15 minute read

The 2023-24 College Football Playoff National Championship concluded on Monday January 8, 2024 as the Michigan Wolverines finished undefeated by beating the Washington Huskies, 34-13 for the title at NRG Stadium from Houston, Texas.

This was the 10th CFP Championship and since the event began in the 2014-15, this matchup was just the second encounter between Big Ten and Pac-12 schools. It was also just the second CFP title game that won't feature a school from the SEC.

Listed below are the betting history and results for the College Football Playoff Championship history.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HISTORY

SU - Straight Up
ATS - Against the Spread
O/U - Over/Under

Favorites-Underdogs (SU): 7-3
Favorites-Underdogs (ATS): 6-4
Totals (O/U): 7-3

(College Football Playoff Seeds)

2023-24
(1) Michigan vs. (2) Washington
Michigan -5.5 (55.5)
Michigan 34, Washington 13
Favorite-Under

2022-23
(1) Georgia vs. (3) TCU
Georgia -13.5 (61.5)
Georgia 65, TCU 7
Favorite-Over

2021-22
(1) Alabama vs. (3) Georgia
Georgia -2.5 (53)
Georgia 33, Alabama 18
Favorite-Under

2020-21
(1) Alabama vs. (3) Ohio State
Alabama -9 (75.5)
Alabama 52, Ohio State 24
Favorite-Over

2019-20
(1) LSU vs. (3) Clemson
LSU -4.5 (66.5)
LSU 42, Clemson 25
Favorite-Over

2018-19
(1) Alabama vs. (2) Clemson
Alabama -5.5 (57.5)
Clemson 44, Alabama 16
Underdog-Over

2017-18
(4) Alabama vs. (3) Georgia
Alabama -3.5 (45.5)
Alabama 26, Georgia 23 (OT)
Underdog-Over

2016-17
(1) Alabama vs. (2) Clemson
Alabama -6.5 (51.5)
Clemson 35, Alabama 31
Underdog-Over

2015-16
(1) Clemson vs. (2) Alabama
Alabama -6.5 (53.5)
Alabama 45, Clemson 40
Underdog-Over

2014-15
(2) Oregon vs. (4) Ohio State
Oregon -6.5 (72.5)
Ohio State 42, Oregon 20
Underdog-Under

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF HISTORICAL NOTES

2014-15

Ohio State, the No. 4 seed, won the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship by defeating Alabama in the semifinals and Oregon in the title game.

The Buckeyes were listed as underdogs in both games, cashing money-line odds as high as 7/2 and 2/1 in the postseason affairs. The ‘over’ went 2-1 in the 2014 College Football Playoff.

2015-16

Alabama bounced back in 2015 by knocking off Michigan State and Clemson to claim its fourth national championship in the last seven seasons. The Crimson Tide failed to cover in the National Championship against the Tigers in a 45-40 victory as 6.5-point favorites.

2016-17

In 2016, it was Clemson blowing past Ohio State and edging Alabama in a thrilling victory in Tampa, claiming its first title since 1981, and just the second in school history.

2017-18

The 2017 national semifinals were stark on contrast. Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma battled Georgia in the Rose Bowl, combining for 102 total points, most in the game's history. It was also the first overtime game in the Rose Bowl, as Georgia survived to move on. In New Orleans, Alabama used their suffocating defense to exact revenge on Clemson by a 24-6 score, setting up an all-SEC national title game.

Alabama rallied past Georgia in the title game in Atlanta, 26-23 in overtime as Nick Saban captured his fifth championship as head coach of the Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs picked up the cover as underdogs improved to 4-0 ATS in college football playoff championship games.

2018-19

The 2018 national semifinals were a pair of blowouts, as Clemson hammered Notre Dame 30-3 and Alabama routed Oklahoma 45-34 in a game which wasn't as close as the score might indicate. Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray was no match for the runner-up, Tua Tagavailoa, who led his team back to the title game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Alabama and Clemson exchanged early haymakers in a high-scoring first quarter, with the Tigers leading 14-13 after the first 15 minutes thanks to a missed extra point. However, the Tigers defense showed up when it mattered most and the Tigers started to some separation. They came out in the second half and capped off a 30-3 run for their second national championship in three seasons, becoming the first team in college football history to go 15-0. The underdogs moved to 5-0 ATS in college football playoff championship games, as the Tigers didn't need the 5 1/2-point spread.

2019-20

Clemson got off to a quick start against LSU in the title game Jan. 13, 2020 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. However, a 17-7 lead by Clemson, the largest deficit of the season for LSU, served as a wake-up call. Heisman Trophy winning QB Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers outscored the Clemson Tigers by a 35-8 count the rest of the way, and it was party time on Bourbon Street for the hometown side. 

The national title marked the first for Louisiana native head coach Ed Orgeron, and the fourth in school history for LSU, including the second in school history in this building.

2020-21

Alabama picked up its first title since 2017 in a 52-24 drubbing of Ohio State to claim the 2020 National Championship in Miami. The Crimson Tide covered for the first time in five tries in the title game since the format moved to the College Football Playoff.

Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith ripped through the Buckeyes' defense as the Crimson Tide wide receiver hauled in 12 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Underdogs covered in the first five CFP championship games, but the favorites have cashed easily in the last two opportunities.

2021-22

In 2021, Cincinnati made their maiden voyage to the Playoff behind star QB Desmond Ridder but quickly found themselves outmatched against Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and the Crimson Tide and didn't even score one touchdown as the Tide ran over the Bearcats 27-6.

In the other semifinal game, the underranked Bulldogs took on Michigan and handily defeated them behind what may be the single best defense in college football history with multiple NFL starters peppered over it. The Bulldogs would win 34-11 and set up a matchup in the title game vs. the Tide.

Alabama tried, but in the end, the Bulldogs outlasted them. Star wide receiver John Metchie was lost to a torn ACL a couple of games prior. Without his steadying force plus other star WR Jameson Williams' torn ACL during the championship game, the Tide fell behind Stetson Bennett and the Georgia team, who took down the title 33-18.

2022-23

The 2022 College Football Playoff championship game was a historic outcome, for a variety reasons. First, Georgia became the first school to repeat in the CFP era as national champions. Also, the 58-point margin and 65 points scored by Georgia were the highest results ever by a team in the CFP.

The Bulldogs led 38-7 at the break and the domination continued in the second-half with a 27-0 result. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett and Heisman Trophy finalist accounted for six total touchdowns (4 passing) and 343 total yards (304 passing).

Including the win by Georgia, the SEC has now won four straight and six of the first nine College Football Playoff championships.

2023-24

For the second straight season, each of the College Football Playoff semifinal games were decided by seven points or less. Michigan rallied past Alabama in overtime, 27-20, while Washington held off Texas, 37-31.

Michigan pulled away from Washington in a battle of unbeatens in the championship game, 34-13. The Wolverines rushed for 303 yards, which is the highest total in the history of the College Football Playoff.

Michigan became the first Big 10 team to win the College Football Playoff Championship since Ohio State in 2014, which was the debut of the new format.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF ALL-TIME BETTING RESULTS

2023-24 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

2022-23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

2021-22 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

2020-21 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

2019-20 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

2018-19 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

2017-18 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

2016-17 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

2015-16 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

2014-15 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

What is the College Football Playoff?

The College Football Playoff began in 2014 and is a four-team postseason tournament for NCAA FBS schools. A playoff committee selects four schools to compete in the semifinals with the winners meeting in the title game. All three of the games are played on neutral fields and the venues are rotated on an annual basis. Starting in 2024, there will be a 12-team playoff in place, consisting of the six highest-rated conference champions and the six highest-rated at-large teams.

The 2023 College Football season was filled with plenty of drama throughout as the College Football Playoff spotlighted some of the top teams in the country.

Those four teams selected by the committee are the following:

• Michigan
• Washington
• Texas
• Alabama

Starting in the 2024-25 College Football season, the College Football Playoff matchups will expand to a 12-team playoff.

According to the committee:

• The top five conference champions in the CFP rankings will get a guaranteed bid.
• The seven remaining bids will be at-large of the seven highest-ranked teams and that could could include additional conference champions.
• The top four ranked schools will receive first-round byes.
• The other eight teams will play at the venue of the higher seed in the first round with the below format.
  • 5 vs. 12
  • 6 vs. 11
  • 7 vs. 10
  • 8 vs. 9
• The quarterfinals and semifinals will be hosted by the New Year's Six (the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar bowls) on a rotating basis. The championship game will continue to be held at a separately determined neutral site.

2023-24 COLLEGE PLAYOFF MATCHUPS

CFP SEMIFINALS

ROSE BOWL

Matchup: (1) Michigan 27 (4) Alabama 20 (OT)
Date: Monday. Jan. 1, 2024
SU/ATS: Michigan -2.5, Over 45.5
Venue: Rose Bowl Stadium
Location: Pasadena, California

SUGAR BOWL

Matchup: (2) Washington 37 (3) Texas 31
Date: Monday, Jan. 1, 2024
SU/ATS: Washington +3.5, Over 61.5
Venue: Caesars Superdome
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Matchup: (1) Michigan 34, (2) Washington 13
Date: Monday, Jan. 8, 2024
SU/ATS: Michigan -5.5, Under 55.5
Venue: NRG Stadium
Location: Houston, Texas

Popular College Football History

• AAC
• ACC
• Big Ten
• Big 12
• C-USA
• MAC
• MWC
• Pac-12
• SEC

Kevin Rogers

Kevin has been handicapping professionally since 2007 at VegasInsider before shifting to ScoresAndOdds. He focuses on MLB, NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, and NHL and mainly uses trends, systems, and situations as his top handicapping angles. More from Kevin Rogers