The college football betting bowl season is underway, and we are now only five days away from one of the strangest National Championship games in recent memory. Despite playing in the same conference, and one team not playing for that conference’s championship, LSU will take on Alabama in a rematch of a game earlier this year. However, if Alabama pulls off the win against LSU, price per head fans may see the rare feat of a split National Championship. Essentially, thanks to their thrilling Fiesta Bowl victory Monday night, the Oklahoma State Cowboys would technically have the same record, as the Alabama Crimson Tide should the latter win the National Championship. In other words, even though they were placed in the biggest bowl game of the year, Alabama may end up a co-national champion with Oklahoma State, based on win loss record, and final AP rankings.
The last time bookie software agents witnessed two National Champions in the same season, was 2003. That season, LSU took home the BCS National Title, while USC was named AP National Champion after their victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl. During the 2003 season, the Trojans ended the year as the number one team in the nation according to writers and media in the AP polls. Yet, LSU was put in the National Title game, because the computers awarded the bids to the second and third placed teams overall.
As it relates to this betting season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys could technically be named co-National Champion, if they win and Alabama Crimson Tide win, based on how the two teams finished in the standings. Looking at the points system, NFL handicappers will notice, that the Cowboys were only 18 points behind Alabama. Meaning to say, if Alabama wins against LSU by a close score, Oklahoma State may tie them in the final standings, because each won a Bowl game.
What’s interesting to note, is that even if LSU loses to Alabama, they could still technically finish off the season as the top team in the nation. Yes, they lost the National Title game, but given the Tigers body of work throughout the season (only team to be undefeated) and who they defeated (Alabama, Oregon, Arkansas) the poll creators could still acknowledge them as the best overall team in the standings. If this were to happen, fans and other media alike may wonder if the NCAA is about picking the best team as champion, or the most deserving team.
