College Football Playoff 2017 Latest Odds: Alabama Slips vs. Washington, Ohio State vs. Clemson Steady

As the hours tick away until the kickoff for the College Football Playoff national semifinals Saturday, the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0) have seen their chances to defeat the No. 4 Washington Huskies (12-1) dip slightly while the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 3 Clemson Tigers betting line has remained steady over the last two weeks.

The latest odds show the defending champion Tide and head coach Nick Saban are now 14.5 point favorites, compared to a 16-point line on Dec. 15, according to Bovada.lv. The Buckeyes also remain 3-point favorites over the Tigers.

If oddsmakers are correct, the Tide and the Buckeyes, the only two programs to win the national title since the CFP’s inception in 2014, could clash for the crown on Jan. 9. Although, there could be a rematch of last year’s championship if the Tigers manage to overcome Ohio State.

Alabama will meet Washington Saturday afternoon at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and Ohio State and Clemson will battle several hours later across the country at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Clemson fell to Alabama 45-40 in a thrilling game that nearly saw the Tigers stage a comeback in the closing minutes.

It appears oddsmakers are favoring Alabama due to its incredible win streak – 25 consecutive victories dating back to last season – and its dominant defense over the Huskies high-powered offense while considering the Buckeyes and Tigers to be almost equally matched.

The Tide fielded the nation’s most devastating defense, letting up 11.8 points and 63.4 rushing yards per game, while also ranking No. 15 in the country with 184.5 passing yards allowed. Systematically shutting opponents down – eight of which were ranked in the Top 25 – while owning the rest of the loaded SEC does give Alabama a decided edge over Washington.

Meanwhile, Ohio State and Clemson each worked both sides of the ball well throughout the season. The Buckeyes finished third behind Alabama and Michigan with 14.2 points allowed and were ninth in the country with 42.7 points a contest.

The Tigers, led by two-time Heisman Trophy candidate and quarterback Deshaun Watson, were 14th in the country with 40.2 points scored per game and 12th with 18.4 points let up.

Besides statistics, the mental game will also be a major factor. How each team adjusts to the biggest spotlight in the sport and their attitudes prior to the playoff figures to play a significant role, according to Saban.

"What I've learned about this game is the mind-set of: Is this a bowl game or is this a playoff game, which I think every player has to decide for himself, every coach has to decide for himself," Saban told the Associated Press Monday. "Because we are trying to create a balance for everyone in our organization because it is a playoff game."