Alabama Open as Favorites for 2020 CFP National Championship

• Alabama has been established as the favorite to win the 2020 CFP National Championship
• Alabama lost 44-16 to Clemson in the 2019 title game
• The Crimson Tide have played in the last four national championship games

You didn’t expect people to turn on the Tide, now did you?

BREAKING: Clemson routs Alabama 44-16 for second #nationalchampionship in three seasons, Crimson Tide’s biggest loss under Nick Saban. https://t.co/Bu7vDgkT4Q pic.twitter.com/tnn5ob42cZ

— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) January 8, 2019

Alabama was embarrassed 44-16 by the Clemson Tigers in Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game, the Crimson Tide’s worst loss since a 48-23 setback at Ole Miss in 2003, and the most resounding defeat of head coach Nick Saban’s Alabama career.

Regardless, odds quickly posted on the 2020 championship contenders, and right there at the top of the list was Alabama.

Odds to Win 2020 NCAA Football Championship

*Odds as of 1/8.

The odds have shifted in a big way, seeing Clemson now listed as the +175 favorite.

This shouldn’t be all that surprising. The Tide are like the New England Patriots of NCAA football. They are right there, either winning it all or on the cusp of winning it all every season.

You can count on them to contend, so why would you ever count them out?

Nick Of The Tide

Monday was supposed to be a coronation.

An Alabama victory would have given Saban his seventh national title, breaking the deadlock with legendary Crimson Tide head coach Paul (Bear) Bryant and making Saban the coach with the most national titles in NCAA football history.

The last coach to beat Alabama by 16+ was Nick Saban at LSU.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 8, 2019

Instead, it was a huge pratfall.

But you know what that means? Instant motivation for next season. A rallying cry.

And for teams that win constantly, anything that can be utillized to keep them from finding a comfort zone is a vital factor in long-term success.

Maybe Lose One Along The Way

Did you detect a pattern in Alabama’s performance these last four national championship games?

While oddsmakers may still see the Tide as the one, Alabama might be better served arriving at the last step along the path to glory as anything but No. 1.

Over the last 4 seasons Clemson and Alabama were both 55-4 with 2 national titles and 2-2 against each other.

— trey wingo (@wingoz) January 8, 2019

They are 0-2 in those last four title games when ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation. But the Tide won as a No. 4 seed and as the No. 2 seed.

So a piece of advice to Alabama – stub your toe at some point. Lose a game. It’s worked out well for you in the past.

Should You Hold Up On Those Tigers?

Clemson has never won back-to-back titles, but with two wins in three years, they are establishing themselves as more than just a lower-case Alabama.

The Tigers were 15-0 this season and won 13 of those games by 20+ points.

The first major college football team to go 15-0 since 1897!

The Clemson Tigers are national champions! pic.twitter.com/xJMyWw2roj

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 8, 2019

But Clemson loses a waft of seniors, a group that went 55-4 while at the school. Clemson’s 2020 recruiting class was rated No. 6 in the nation.

Is There Value Anywhere Else?

Ohio State will have a new head coach and a new QB after junior Dwayne Haskins declared for the NFL Draft.

Georgia lost to Texas in the Sugar Bowl. Notre Dame crumbles on the big stage.

MASCOT SHOWDOWN: The Texas Longhorns' mascot Bevo the steer charged Georgia's mascot Uga the bulldog before the 2019 Sugar Bowl Tuesday in a shocking moment captured on video. https://t.co/xzvRC2otxO pic.twitter.com/vDIoBykMws

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 3, 2019

At this point, it’s difficult to make a case for another school.

Can You Turn Down That Price?

The Tide have the nation’s No. 1-rated recruiting class. QB Tua Tagovailoa will come back as Heisman Trophy favorite and with a chip on his shoulder.

There is a realistic scenario that the No. 1 overall picks in the next three NFL Drafts are on the field tonight.

2019: DT Quinnen Williams
2020: QB Tua Tagovailoa
2021: QB Trevor Lawrence

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 8, 2019

They are the only team to be in the college football playoff in all five years, winning a pair of titles and narrowly missing out on a third.

Alabama at +210 – are you kidding me? Get on board the Tide train quick, before that value leaves the station.