Michigan's Odds to Make College Football Playoff in 2020 Noticeably Behind Rival Ohio State

The 2019 college football season is right around the corner, as programs across the country are figuring out how preparing to make their runs toward a National Championship.

The Michigan Wolverines are expected to be among the top contenders this season, but have opened the year from the outside looking in when it comes to their +280 odds of making the final, four-team 2020 College Football Playoff, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

If the Wolverines are able to make the playoff, it would be the school's first CFP appearance in program history. With the return of Shea Patterson at quarterback, a stout defense, and the absence of Urban Meyer in Columbus, Michigan should have a fantastic chance to make history this season.

While Michigan is likely an opponent few teams want to face this year, the Wolverines have only the sixth-best odds to make the playoff. The top school on this category isn't much of a surprise, with the reigning champion Clemson Tigers boasting -750 odds to make it again in 2020, while Alabama (-235) is right behind them.

There is a steep drop-off after those first two favorites, with the remaining two spots seemingly wide open. Georgia has the third-best odds at +130, with Ohio State just behind the Bulldogs at +140. Other schools currently in the race include Oklahoma (+198), LSU (+950), Florida (+1000) and Nebraska (+1400).

In what is expected to be a competitive Big Ten conference, the Wolverines have their work cut out for them. And thanks to the strength of the conference, an undefeated or one-loss Big Ten champion should have a solid claim to one of the four bids in the 2020 CFP.

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