Ohio State has fourth-best odds of winning 2016 championship

The 2015 College Football Playoff Championship may have concluded less than 48 hours ago, but Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has already released its odds on which programs are in line to win the 2016 title. Alabama, the reigning champions, have the best odds to repeat at 6-to-1, while their foe in the national title game, Clemson, is tied with Oklahoma with 7-to-1 odds. The bookmakers in Vegas have given the Ohio State Buckeyes 10-to-1 odds — fourth-best in the country — of winning their second national championship in three years.

The rest of the top 10 goes as follows:

1. Alabama: 6/1
2. Oklahoma: 7/1
3. Clemson: 7/1
4. Ohio State: 10/1
5. Baylor: 12/1
6. Notre Dame: 15/1
7. Florida State: 15/1
8. Tennessee: 15/1
9. Michigan 15/1
10. Michigan State 20/1

Unlike the 2015 Buckeyes, the 2016 version will feature plenty of unknowns. With nine players leaving early for the NFL Draft and eight senior starters gone as well, Ohio State will have a whole host of young talent on the field come fall. The 2016 season will also be Greg Schiano’s first year as defensive coordinator and associate head coach.

The Buckeyes non-conference schedule has been questionable in the past, but that will change in 2016 as they will start a home-and-home series with the Sooners of Oklahoma, the No. 4-ranked team in the country heading into this season’s College Football Playoff. Their trip to Norman in Week 3 will not only be a big test for the scarlet and gray, but could also have major implications for the 2016 edition of the NCAA’s season-ending tournament.

While many positions are up for grabs, Urban Meyer’s squad already has three guaranteed starters, all of whom have already been named captains: quarterback J.T. Barrett, center Pat Elflein, and linebacker Raekwon McMillan. With three great recruiting classes since coming to Columbus, Meyer’s off-season recruiting work will finally have a chance to showcase themselves. Urban Meyer has a 50-4 record since arriving in Columbus.