After colliding in a classic championship game, Alabama and Clemson head into the offseason as the favorites to win the 2017 national championship.
The Westgate SuperBook installed Alabama as a 6-1 favorite to win the national title, followed by Clemson and Oklahoma at 7-1. William Hill's Nevada sportsbook has Clemson as the favorite at 6-1, with Alabama and Oklahoma right behind the Tigers.
Alabama knocked off Clemson 45-40 in a thriller Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T in Glendale, Arizona. But the Crimson Tide are expected to lose a lot of the cast that contributed to that victory, including quarterback Jake Coker and possibly also running back Derrick Henry, the Heisman Trophy winner, who is expected to turn pro. Alabama opens next season against USC in Arlington, Texas.
Clemson, on the other hand, could return as many as 17 starters, including electric quarterback Deshaun Watson, a Heisman finalist, who threw four touchdown passes against Alabama. The Tigers open next season at Auburn.
The Sooners, who lost to Clemson in a playoff semifinal, are the only other team with single-digit odds at the SuperBook. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield returns, but the Sooners lose some key elements on defense and face a challenging nonconference schedule featuring games against Houston and Ohio State.
The Buckeyes are listed at 10-1 and Baylor is 12-1. Notre Dame, Florida State, Tennessee, LSU and Michigan are all 15-1.
The 2017 College Football Playoff Championship Game will be held January 9 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.