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It has been eight years since oddsmakers anointed a team other than Alabama or Clemson as the preseason favorite. That streak is over, as Georgia is firmly the consensus betting favorite to win the College Football Playoff at sportsbooks around the nation.

The Bulldogs, vying for a third consecutive national championship, enter the season with the fifth-shortest odds of any preseason title favorite in more than two decades, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. On Thursday, Georgia was +240 to win the College Football Playoff at Caesars Sportsbook. Alabama is next at +550, followed by Ohio State (+800) and Michigan (+850).

Alabama had been the preseason favorite or co-favorite with Clemson in seven of the past eight seasons.

Georgia’s short odds — and unproven starting quarterback Carson Beck — have not been as attractive to the betting public as a pair of 10-1 contenders in LSU and USC, though.

At Caesars, LSU had attracted more bets than any other team to win the national championship. At the SuperBook, USC had garnered the most bets and most money from bettors.

“USC has just been getting hammered,” said John Murray, executive director of the SuperBook, where the Trojans’ odds have improved from 16-1 to 10-1.

Michigan and Ohio State also have received significant support. At FanDuel, the Wolverines had attracted approximately twice as much money as had been wagered on the Buckeyes. Ohio State, on the other hand, had garnered the most money at DraftKings.

Georgia is the only team that is an odds-on favorite to make the College Football Playoff and remains the highest-rated team among oddsmakers. Ohio State, Michigan and Alabama have the next-best playoff odds at Caesars Sportsbook. Ed Salmons, a veteran Las Vegas oddsmaker with the SuperBook, told ESPN he would have Georgia favored by six over Michigan, his second-ranked team in his power rating.

Outside of the top tier of contenders, one long shot has emerged as a notable liability for some bookmakers. Colorado, with new coach Deion Sanders, poses the biggest liability to multiple sportsbooks in their national championship futures odds. The Buffaloes are 500-1.

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USC QB pulls off fake punt wearing No. 80 jersey

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USC QB pulls off fake punt wearing No. 80 jersey

LOS ANGELES — No. 20 USC pulled off a remarkable fake punt against Northwestern in Friday night’s 38-17 win by sending out third-string quarterback Sam Huard in the same uniform number as the Trojans’ punter.

Wearing a No. 80 jersey, Huard came on the field with the punt team in the second quarter and completed a 10-yard pass to Tanook Hines. The first down extended the Trojans’ second drive, which ended with a TD run by Jayden Maiava.

This bit of trickery was quite legal, apparently: Huard wore No. 7 earlier this season for the Trojans, but he is listed as No. 80 on the USC roster for this week after Lincoln Riley’s team quietly made the change.

USC punter Sam Johnson also wears No. 80. College football teams frequently feature two players wearing the same number.

Huard, who is a couple of inches shorter than the 6-foot-3 Johnson, grinned widely as he high-fived teammates on the way off the field. He is a former five-star recruit who began his college career at Washington.

Bowling Green pulled off a similar stunt in last season’s 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Third-string Falcons quarterback Baron May switched his uniform number before the game from 8 to 18 — very similar to punter John Henderson‘s No. 19 jersey.

Late in the first quarter, May came on the field instead of Henderson and threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Johnson Jr. — although Arkansas State overcame it for a 38-31 victory.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Missouri’s Norfleet (shoulder) ruled out vs. A&M

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Missouri's Norfleet (shoulder) ruled out vs. A&M

No. 22 Missouri will be without star tight end Brett Norfleet (shoulder) when the Tigers host undefeated No. 3 Texas A&M on Saturday in Columbia.

Norfleet, a junior from O’Fallon, Missouri, has started in each of the Tigers’ eight games this fall and enters Week 11 leading all SEC tight ends with five touchdown receptions. His 26 catches on the season rank third-most among Missouri pass catchers, trailing only wide receivers Kevin Coleman Jr. and Marquis Johnson.

Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz told reporters that Norflett sustained a separated shoulder in Missouri’s 17-10 loss at Vanderbilt on Oct. 25. Drinkwitz later described Norfleet as “day-to-day” during the Tigers’ bye in Week 10, and the veteran tight end was listed as questionable in Missouri’s student-athlete availability report Thursday night.

Norfleet’s absence comes with Drinkwitz and the two-loss Tigers essentially facing a playoff elimination game against the Aggies on Saturday. Missouri will also be without starting quarterback Beau Pribula in Week 11 after the Penn State transfer dislocated his ankle at Vanderbilt. Freshman Matt Zollers, ESPN’s No. 6 pocket passer in the 2025 class, is set to make his first career start Saturday, facing Texas A&M coach Mike Elko and an Aggies defense that ranks 18th nationally in defensive pressures (137), per ESPN Research.

“For our team, it’s really about us focusing on helping Matt execute at the highest level possible,” Drinkwitz said this week. “We’re excited about Matt’s opportunity and what he’s earned. He has done a really good job in practice of leadership, stepping up, embracing the moment, embracing the opportunity.”

Missouri (6-2) kicks off against Texas A&M at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Sources: Kansas State RB Edwards leaves team

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Sources: Kansas State RB Edwards leaves team

Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards has left the Wildcats and is expected to enter the transfer portal, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Edwards has been hampered by injuries this season and has played in just four games. He has only 34 carries for 205 yards.

In 2024, Edwards finished with 546 rushing yards while averaging 7.4 yards per carry with seven total touchdowns.

He began his career in 2023 at Colorado before transferring to K-State.

The Wildcats (4-5, 3-3 Big 12) are off this weekend.

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