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Not even a month removed from Alabama's exclamation point over Clemson in the 2016 College Football Playoff Championship, the odds for next season's contenders already are dangling for bettors.
For Michigan, who just had a 10-3 season under a Jim Harbaugh that's now fully-acclimated with his surroundings, it's evident that the Maize and Blue will be a viable contender next season. Bovada opened up the odds for the 2017 College Football Playoff just a handful of days after Alabama defeated Clemson to win the national title. It was no surprise that the defending champions and the runner-ups were No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, but it was more of a surprise that Michigan was tied for the third-best odds:
| School | Odds |
| Alabama | 7/1 |
| Clemson | 15/2 |
| Baylor | 12/1 |
| Michigan | 12/1 |
| Ohio State | 12/1 |
| LSU | 14/1 |
| Notre Dame | 14/1 |
| Oklahoma | 14/1 |
| Stanford | 14/1 |
| Florida State | 16/1 |
Now, National Signing Day has come and gone, and Harbaugh raked in the fifth-best recruiting class in 2016. As a result, the numbers have fluctuated and the current Bovada futures for the 2017 College Football Playoff are listed below. Though the Wolverines remain tied for the third-best odds, their pricing made a substantial leap:
| School | Odds |
| Ohio State | 6/1 |
| Alabama | 7/1 |
| Michigan | 15/2 |
| Clemson | 15/2 |
| Oklahoma | 14/1 |
| Tennessee | 14/1 |
| LSU | 14/1 |
| Baylor | 16/1 |
| Stanford | 16/1 |
| Notre Dame | 16/1 |
Yes, in less than a month, Michigan's odds have gone from 12/1 to 15/2.
Obviously, this list doesn't equate to what we can expect once a full year has been consumed. This could just be an alteration of the sportsbooks to avoid duplicating odds from that logjam in the top 10. Still, Michigan has jumped Baylor and is deadlocked with Clemson. And know this: Michigan's odds have every right to be where they now are.
Numbers will change, and hell, it's only February. But that shouldn't prohibit any premature excitement for fans because the Wolverines could be in the thick of things once 2017 rolls around. And it's never a negative to have the 'books on your side.