For the fourth time in the last six seasons, an SEC team enters the upcoming college football betting season as national champions. It was Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide that took home the honors at online sportsbooks after pasting the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24 as near 10-point favorites in the National Championship Game. With little surprise, it’s the Tide that once again enters the regular season installed favorites to hoist the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy a second straight year. A similar cast of contenders line up right in back of the Tide with the Clemson Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners rounding the favorite tier out. Unfortunately, the college football landscape has become entirely too repetitive over the last handful of years with the same teams routinely battling it out for the right to earn championship glory. As of now, it doesn’t look like that will change entering 2021-22 but these are my favorite, underdog and longshot recommendations to win it all regardless.
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Alabama +250
Clemson +380
Ohio State +550
Georgia +600
Oklahoma +750
Iowa State +3000
Texas A&M +3500
USC, Oregon, North Carolina, LSU +4000
Wisconsin, Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame +5000
Miami +6000
Washington, Michigan +8000
West Virginia, Utah, UCLA, Ole Miss, OK State, Iowa, Indiana, Auburn, ASU +10000
Cincinnati, Tennessee, PITT, Kentucky +15000
UCF, TCU, Purdue, NC State, Nebraska, Mizzou, Miss State, Minnesota, Ville, FSU, Arkansas +20000
Wazzou, TX Tech, Stanford, MSU, GTECH, Colorado, Cal, BC +25000
UVA, K, State +30000
S Carolina, Navy, Maryland, Coastal Carolina +40000
Wake Forest, Cuse, Rutgers, ORST, Memphis, LA Tech, Houston, Duke, Boise State, Baylor, Zona +50000
Favorite to Bet: Ohio State Buckeyes +550
I wouldn’t fault you for taking a stab with Nick Saban’s squad. They’re the defending champs and return a number of players from last year’s title team. However, many players are now also cashing checks at the NFL level with six of the 10 departed being drafted in the first round. As for Clemson, its likely going to punch a ticket into the College Football Playoff with ease when taking a gander at the odds to win the ACC. They’re -900 favorites to win a seventh straight title for crying out loud - Mercy!
That takes us to last season’s runner-ups after Ryan Day’s kids got rolled up and smoked by arguably the greatest college football team in the history of the game. Like Clemson, the Buckeyes will have a cake walk to the CFP. They’re currently decided -190 chalk to win the conference and -380 favs to win the Big Ten East a third straight time. While the defense could still be an issue as it transforms into a new-look 4-2-5 base, the offense is going to thrive with arguably the best wide receiver corps and offensive line in the nation. The running game is likely to be nasty as well!
C.J. Stroud has some big shoes to fill, but he should go off without a hitch slinging pigskins to Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave while Thayer Munford and Harry Miller keep his uniform clean. It avoids Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern out of the West, and gets to host Penn State, Purdue and Michigan State. Should it shockingly fall at home to Oregon in Week 2, search out odds on whether the Buckeyes qualify for the CFP and hammer the “Yes.” They’ll be back!
Underdog to Bet: Ole Miss Rebels +10000
A bulk of the premiere teams in the SEC have seen a plethora of their PTPers from prior seasons either transfer or go on to play at the next level. While I entertained the thought of listing Texas A&M in this spot with it being the fourth season of Jimbo Fisher roaming the sidelines in front of the collegiate version of the “12th Man,” I have my concerns under center with the Aggies still deciding on whether it will be Zach Calzada or frosh Haynes King running the offense.
You know which team out of the West returns its QB in 2021-22? Why it’s none other than Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels who will have now had a full offseason to work with Matt Corral in hopes of improving his overall play. The kid threw for 3200+ yards and 29 TD last season. He’ll get the benefit of having both Dontario Drummond and Braylin Sanders back to catch passes as well as all three backs that formed the SEC’s best rushing attack. The straw stirring the drink will be a very experienced and deep O-Line that returns four starters.
But what about the defense that was gouged for 530+ yards and 40+ points per game? Hopefully the offseason workouts and practices have led to enough improvement that it puts at the very least a competitive unit on the field. If so, the Rebels will have the offense to put points on the board against anyone. Ole Miss will be a team to watch!
Longshot to Bet: Cincinnati Bearcats +15000
Like BYU, Coastal Carolina and San Jose State of a year ago, the Bearcats were in the conversation of punching a ticket to the College Football Playoff. Unfortunately for Desmond Ridder and company, they ended up just falling short regardless of putting forth a perfect 9-0 regular season campaign that afforded them a trip to the Peach Bowl where they would ultimately go on to lose to Georgia in a highly competitive matchup. I truly believe the “close but no cigar” experience will pay huge dividends for this program in 2021-22.
Since taking over the reins back in 2017, Luke Fickell has led Cincy to 4-8, 11-2, 11-3 and 9-1 records. He’s turned down bigger and more prestigious jobs to finish what he started. The Bearcats own by far the best defense in the AAC, and Ridder is likely to be a Heisman candidate come the season’s end. I’d seriously think about throwing some beer money down on him now at attractive 5000-1 odds!
This team is the owner of a 10-game season win total and will be heavy favorites to win the AAC a second straight season. It also has a showcase game in Week 5 when it travels to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. If it wins that game and goes undefeated, the selection committee will have no choice but to take this team seriously should some of the perennial powerhouse schools slip up. At 150-1, an investment – regardless of size – is a good bet and one that should be made now before the offering predictably shortens up.
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