Ohio State overtakes Alabama as favorite to win CFB title
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) runs the ball Michigan Wolverines defensive end Chris Wormley (43) over to defend in the first quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
It's all just for fun right now, but Bovada gave some Big Ten football fans something to brag about on a cold winter afternoon in the Midwest.
The latest odds has Ohio State as the new favorite to claim the next College Football Playoff National Championship.
The Buckeyes rose to 6-1 odds after being 12-1 on Jan. 13.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}They passed the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide, whose odds remain at 7-1.
Tied with the third-best odds are Michigan and Clemson. The Wolverines moved up from 12-1 a month earlier.
The rise for the Buckeyes and Wolverines comes after they signed recruiting classes ranked in the top 10 nationally, but then again Alabama ranked No. 1 according to Scout.com. That was one spot ahead of Ohio State and five ahead of Michigan.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ohio State will head into spring practice having lost nine players early to the NFL. Only six starters are scheduled to return for coach Urban Meyer's team.
Michigan is in much better shape as far as returning experienced players, but the Wolverines will have a new starting quarterback and a retooled defensive front seven in coach Jim Harbaugh's second season in Ann Arbor.
Also moving up in the latest odds was Tennessee. The Volunteers improved from 22-1 to 14-1, joining LSU and Oklahoma, who held steady at that mark.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Slipping since Bovada's mid-January release were Baylor, Notre Dame and Stanford. All checked in at 16-1 this time around.
Florida State dropped from 16-1 to 20-1 while Mississippi moved up from 22-1 to 16-1.