2026 CFP Futures Report: Books Rooting For Powerhouse Programs

Just days from now, the college football season kicks off. That’s got sharp bettors and the public masses giving more scrutiny to College Football Playoff futures odds.

And interestingly, Caesars Sports is rooting for three teams that it usually wouldn’t be, including the favorite.

"Ohio State is a good position for us. Georgia and LSU are also good for us," Caesars head of football trading Joey Feazel said. "That’s not usually what we see, especially with LSU."

Feazel dives into the state of CFP futures odds, including insights on the two teams drawing the most action so far.

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Taking Tickets, Making Money?

That’s the question for backers of Notre Dame and Texas. 

At Caesars, the Fighting Irish are No. 1 in ticket count and money to win the national title, and the Longhorns are No. 2 in both measures.

Notre Dame is the +600 second choice in 2026 college football national championship odds, right behind +575 favorite Ohio State. Texas is the +700 third choice.

"The obvious teams that have been bet all year long will continue to get bet, and that’s Notre Dame and Texas," Feazel said. "Notre Dame’s schedule is crazy easy. They’ll be double-digit favorites in every game they play in, except against Miami."

And even against the Hurricanes, on Nov. 7, lookahead lines have the Irish as 6.5-point home favorites.

Conversely, Texas has a top-five strength of schedule. But that’s not keeping early bettors off the Longhorns in CFP futures odds.

"For Texas, it’s really the anticipation of Arch Manning getting in his groove and this team living up to its potential," Feazel said.

Backing The Buckeyes

Favored Ohio State is drawing the third-most tickets and fourth-most money in College Football Playoff futures at Caesars. Feazel understands the attraction, particularly this season.

"Year after year, the Buckeyes are a powerhouse," he said. "This year, they’ve got a quarterback in Julian Sayin who’s not being talked about enough. And they probably have the top wide receiver in next year’s NFL Draft, with Jeremiah Smith."

In the 2024-25 season, Ohio State won the CFP championship, topping Notre Dame 34-23 in the title game. Last year, the Buckeyes bowed out in the quarterfinals, losing to Miami 24-14.

Entering this season, along with being the CFP favorite, Ohio State is atop the AP preseason poll.

"Ohio State is expected to be the No. 1 team in the Big Ten and expected to get revenge vs. Indiana," Feazel said, while noting that we’ll see how good the Buckeyes really are in Week 2. "They’re gonna be tested with that second game at Texas."

And Ohio State’s Oct. 17 road clash vs. Indiana looms large, as well. The defending national champion Hoosiers — who beat Miami 27-21 in the title game — are the +750 co-fourth choice in CFP futures, along with Oregon.

And speaking of Oregon …

Lucky Ducks?

In early August, Feazel noted that in Big Ten futures, Oregon was much more popular this season than the past two years, following the Ducks’ 2024 exit from the Pac-12.

Similarly, Dan Lanning’s squad is pretty popular in 2026 college football national championship odds, as well.

"They’re betting Oregon, which is unusual. The Ducks are getting a little more attention. They’re fourth in ticket count and third in money," Feazel said.

As noted above, Oregon is the +750 co-fourth choice in Caesars’ College Football Playoff odds.

"Oregon is usually a good position for us. But that’s not the case this year."

Feazel cited one other notable liability for Caesars.

"Bettors are gonna look really good if Oklahoma gets it done," he said. "The Sooners were really competitive last year, and people believe in [quarterback] John Mateer."

At +2400 — 11th on Caesars’ CFP oddsboard — Oklahoma is certainly an attractive payout. A $100 bet would profit $2,400.

Favorable national championship outcomes, as noted above, include Ohio State, Georgia and LSU. Georgia is the +825 sixth choice at Caesars, followed by Miami at +1000, then LSU at +1600.

LSU tends to draw massive support from Caesars’ Louisiana customer base. But apparently, even with all the excitement around new coach Lane Kiffin — who darted from Ole Miss — Tigers backers are keeping their powder dry for the moment.

I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie

One big bet on one huge long shot can easily create a sportsbook’s largest liability. That’s a regular occurrence, and it’s repeated this season at Caesars with this wing-and-a-prayer wager on a Big Ten bottom-feeder.

"We took a $3,000 bet on Rutgers at 500/1, to pay out $1.5 million," Feazel said, before stating what might be obvious. "That’s not something we’re concerned about."

Other notable national championship bets at Caesars, all on legit contenders:

• $15,000 Ohio State +600. If the Buckeyes win their second title in three years, then the bettor profits $90,000 (total payout $105,000).
• $10,000 Oregon +800. A Ducks crown would net $80,000 profit (total payout $90,000).
• $10,000 Texas +725. If the Longhorns break through, then the customer profits $72,500 (total payout $82,500).