By: Travis Pulver
Alternate NCAAF National Championship Bets: State of Winning Team
Ask most college football fans in Texas what state has the best teams, and they will be quick to say the Lone Star State does. Fans in Florida would probably say the same about their teams as would fans in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and even California.
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- New Jersey
- Most popular
- Pennsylvania
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Colorado
- Illinois
But things get tricky when you ask if they would be willing to bet on one of the teams from their state to win the national championship. They say the football in their state is the best, but will they put their money where their mouth is?
Some would, without a doubt. As often as Texas fans like to claim the Longhorns are ‘back’ and the pride Texas A&M fans have in their Aggies, many Texas football fans in Texas would probably do it. Yes, even though no Texas-based team was anywhere near the national championship conversation last season.
But that is what fans do. They back their team even when they should know better. However, at the same time, depending on the state, betting on a team from the state could be a wager worth taking.
A Different Type of NCAAF National Championship Bet: Is There A State Worth Betting On?
The appeal is not hard to understand. If you can place a single wager on several teams, your chances of winning are better. The odds may be lower and subsequently, the payout as well, but winning something is always better than losing everything.
BetMGM.com is offering odds on several states:
- Alabama +390
- California +3500
- Florida +1200
- Georgia +850
- Indiana +1800
- Louisiana +1400
- Michigan +3500
- Mississippi +10000
- New York +20000
- North Carolina +9000
- Ohio +310
- Oklahoma +2200
- Pennsylvania +3500
- Texas +1800
- Any Other State +175
So, which states are worth betting on?
If you think there is safety in numbers, then betting on states like California, Florida, North Carolina, and Texas with numerous programs would be the way to go. However, while they may have several FBS programs (seven, seven, seven, and 12 respectively), they don’t have too many teams viewed as legitimate contenders.
California has USC and UCLA. While USC has decent odds (+4000), UCLA does not (+20000). Florida has the Gators (University of Florida) and Miami (and technically, Florida State who is far from ready to contend). While North Carolina has several programs, none are considered contenders.
Texas has several good teams, but the best odds among them are +4000 (Texas), followed by Texas A&M at +5000. Now, there is always the ever-present possibility that an underdog explodes and comes out of nowhere. But is that a good reason to put money down on a state?
If you think a state with more quality teams is the way to go, there are several states with at least two contending teams. Alabama has the Crimson Tide and Auburn among its five FBS programs. California does have USC and UCLA. In Florida, the Gators and Hurricanes are considered contenders.
Fans in Texas would say their state belongs under that umbrella as well. There are states like Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, with multiple teams but only one real contender.
However, several good teams also fall under the ‘any other state’ umbrella, like Clemson, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Iowa (to name a few).
Conclusion
So, how should you bet? It all depends on what sort of strategy you want to take. There are several states a good argument could be made for if you prefer to go with more schools. At the same time, if you like to put quality before quantity, some states fit that bill, as well.
Just like in life, there is no easy answer here.
