Alabama Opens as Biggest Favorite in College Football Playoff History
As the only undefeated team in the country and wire-to-wire No. 1 in the AP poll, Alabama enters the 2016 College Football Playoff as a heavy favorite to win its 17th national championship.
The Crimson Tide open a third-straight playoff appearance with a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl matchup against 4-seed Washington. Oddsmakers released the first point spreads on Sunday and Alabama opened as a 14-point favorite over the Pac-12 champs. If that number can hold, it would be the largest spread in CFB Playoff history, according to ESPN.
It looks very likely that the point spread will only increase from the opening 14 points. Sportsbook already has it up to 17 points while most places in Vegas has it at 15 or 16 points. Playoff history books remain limited after two years in existence but it still shows the dominant perception that Alabama has created in college football.
It also appears that the first semifinal matchup will be the most lopsided game of the entire bowl season if the oddsmakers are correct. The Alabama-Washington line is currently the largest of 39 bowl games that have a posted point spread.
The Crimson Tide is an impressive 9-3 against the point spread this season, which includes covering a 24-point spread in the SEC Championship game.