Michigan football has top-5 odds to win National Championship

This fall, few teams around the country have the expectations that Michigan football does. After winning two-straight Big Ten Championships, appearing in the College Football Playoff twice, and more, the Wolverines are looking to finally break through their new glass ceiling and win it all in 2023-24.

Heading into the season, Michigan football opens with the fourth-best odds to win the National Championship (12/1). The Wolverines are the second-highest Big Ten team on the last — the top Big Ten team is the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are 3rd on the list and have 7/1 odds.

Way too early odds to win the national championship

Georgia +250
Alabama +450
Ohio State +700
Michigan +1200
USC +1600
Clemson +1600
LSU +1800
Florida State +2000
Notre Dame +2000
Penn State +2000
Texas +3000
Tennessee +3000
Oregon +3000
Utah +3600
Oklahoma +5000
TCU +6000

— CFB Home (@CFBHome) February 11, 2023

Ahead of both Michigan and Ohio State are two SEC teams: Georgia and Alabama. The Bulldogs — who have won two-straight National titles — sit at the top of the list, with Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide close behind.

Michigan football has a chip on its shoulder

Having the fourth-best odds to win a title is never bad; however, Michigan football deserves to be higher. The Wolverines return the 5th-most production in the nation (1st in Big Ten), with 81% returning to Ann Arbor this fall. Additionally, Michigan’s coaching staff looks elite, has the experience, and is mostly intact from the 2022 season.

In the backfield will be a veteran five-star quarterback (JJ McCarthy) and the best running back duo in the country (Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum). If that was not enough, the Wolverines have an offensive line capable of winning a third-straight Joe Moore Award and an elite defense. Michigan football also boasts one of the best transfer portal classes in the country.

I am not saying that the Wolverines should be No. 1 on the list, but being behind Ohio State — a team with many question marks and that Michigan has blown out twice in a row — is disrespectful.

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