Ahead of a Conference realigned, 12-team CFP season, we've plucked five college football games of the year that you'll need to tune into!
Early odds list the Crimson Tide as home underdogs for the first time since 2007 in Week 5's Georgia vs Alabama tilt. Meanwhile, we could witness the longest active winning streak in college football come to an end in the early season meeting between Michigan vs Texas.
Top Five College football Games Of The Year Odds
Odds as of August 1, 2024
With only one college football game of the year listed with a double-digit spread, even sportsbooks have the early odds of these must-watch meetings tight.
texas longhorns vs michigan wolverines, week 2
Michigan hasn't dropped a regular season meeting since October 2021, riding a 31-game streak. The Wolverines current 15 consecutive wins, including a national championship title, is the longest active streak in college football.
But, this Week 2 meeting could be when it all comes to an end.
Michigan isn't expected to be unbeatable this year, carrying plus-money odds to make the college football playoff and sitting well outside the top of the oddsboard to defend their title. That's what happens when you lose your head coach, starting quarterback and lethal offensive components (hi Blake Corum) to the NFL.
That isn't the case for Texas, comfortable under the leadership of a Heisman Trophy contending quarterback and posed to make a national championship run.
I doubt Michigan drops its Week 1 outing with Fresno State (if they do, all hell will break loose). But, Week 2 is where we watch the fall of the Wolverines and the rise of the Longhorns.
georgia bulldogs vs alabama crimson tide, week 5
The Tide is turning. As mentioned earlier, this may be the first time Alabama sees an underdog spread while hosting in Tuscaloosa since 2007. Just like Michigan, a modern-day legacy is left in the dust and the future is a giant question mark for the Crimson Tide. After a 16-year tenure, Nick Saban won't be on the sidelines for Alabama.
Georgia, picking up two of the last three national championships, is aiming for vengeance after a loss ironically to Alabama left them out of last year's CFP.
Kirby Smart will need to navigate a pretty stout schedule, seeing possible threats like Clemson, Texas, Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee. This matchup could alter the trajectory of the Bulldogs season and be a factor deciding whether they can respark the dynasty.
georgia bulldogs vs texas longhorns, week 8
Two of the top three early national championship favorites battle it out at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at the halfway mark of the year. The stakes are high!
Not to mention, this matchup will have serious Heisman Trophy and NFL draft implications as this performance can sway the Carson Beck vs Quinn Ewers debate.
These two better get used to eachother with the Longhorns now jumping into the SEC. Not much history to consider as the programs last met in 2019, with Texas edging a seven-point win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
One thing is for certain, this game is guaranteed to shake up the AP Poll rankings and futures odds.
florida state seminoles vs notre dame fighting irish, week 11
This outing in South Bend will truly highlight the effects of the conference realignment. In just about every other college football piece I've written, including my win total predictions, I'm backing Notre Dame to cruise through the year.
Nobody wants to schedule a skilled non-conference opponent. Why risk the loss? But, the Irish don't mind being intimidating — it makes their route to the CFP a heck of a lot easier.
This meeting could possibly be the only ranked opponent Notre Dame meets all year. Sure, there's possibility that Texas A&M or USC crack in the top 25 at some point. But, this is arguably Marcus Freeman's truest test in his third year as head coach.
After going 13-0 last year, many thought the Seminoles were snubbed a postseason berth. There's been an overturn from that successful roster. DJ Uiagalelei replaces Jordan Travis and key offensive names like Keon Coleman and Trey Benson aren't around anymore.
However, praise has been given to Uiagalelei's development and the prowess of the defensive line throughout training camp.
Could lack of competition throughout the season cause Notre Dame to go rusty? I guess we'll see in Week 11.
Michigan wolverines vs Ohio State buckeyes, week 14
There's no better way to close out college football games of the year than with . I don't care how low expectations are for Michigan, this rivalry trumps it all.
According to our college football database, the Buckeyes has lost three straight against the Wolverines. It's time to flip the script. With Ryan Day's bench favored by 10-points, this is the first double-digit line featured in the historical rivalry since 2017.
Listed at +260, Ohio State has the best odds to go undefeated this year. Earlier competitors like Oregon (Week 6) and Penn State (Week 8) could put a dent in a spotless record. But, I'm thinking this is the meeting that will determine whether those Buckeyes accomplish their first perfect regular season since 2012.