To the surprise of almost no one, one sportsbook sees a relatively easy path for Alabama-Clemson, The Threequel.
Top-ranked Alabama, in the College Football Playoff for a fifth straight season, will square off with No. 4 Oklahoma, now a three-time playoff participant, in the Orange Bowl Dec. 29 in one of the two semifinal games. In the other that same day in the Cotton Bowl, No. 2 Clemson, a semifinalist for the fourth year in a row, will face third-ranked Notre Dame, in the playoff field for the first time ever.
In its first set of odds for the two semifinal games, Bovada.lv has the Crimson Tide listed as a 14-point favorite over the Sooners. The Tigers, meanwhile, have been installed as an 11.5-point favorite on the Fighting Irish. The over-under on the UA-OU game is currently set at 79 points, while CU-ND is at 55.
Overall, Alabama has been given 4/9 odds to win the 2018 College Football Playoff championship, while Clemson is at 2/1. Both Oklahoma and Notre Dame are listed at 14-1 to win the title.
Alabama and Oklahoma have met five times previously -- the Sooners lead 3-1-1 -- the last coming in the Sugar Bowl following the 2013 regular season. Clemson leads the all-time miniseries with Notre Dame 2-1, including 24-22 win in October of 2015.