From a betting perspective, it should come as no surprise that the Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) earned the No. 4 seed in this year’s College Football Playoff field despite not winning a conference championship.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

After all, how could the Crimson Tide sit as 1.5-point chalk against the top-seeded Clemson Tigers (12-1) if they did not belong? The Crimson Tide and Tigers will square off for the third straight time in the CFP on January 1.

Alabama is still the favorite to win the national championship despite injuries and falling to the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl two weeks ago. That setback may have kept the Tide from playing in the SEC Championship Game, but the fact that it was only one loss allowed their dreams of winning the title continue versus the defending national champs in the Sugar Bowl, the later of the two national semifinals scheduled for primetime.