As college football season creeps closer, fans and bettors are buzzing with anticipation. With future wagers already posted in Las Vegas, the energy is honestly contagious.
We’re diving into some of the best bets for the national championship, Big Ten and SEC titles, and the Heisman Trophy. If you want to dig even deeper, the original article is over at the Las Vegas Sun.
National Championship
Every year, the national championship draws wild speculation. Notre Dame is looking strong with +675 odds at Circa Sports.
The Irish have the top-ranked roster in returning production, which is pretty wild. Last season, they were so good that it’s hard to believe they didn’t even make the playoff field.
This year, the schedule looks a little kinder. Notre Dame probably won’t be an underdog in any game—at least, not by much.
Long Shot Consideration: Texas Tech
If you’re feeling bold, Texas Tech at 22-to-1 (South Point) is kind of interesting. Their roster is loaded, ranking 12th in returning production, and they’ve got the 10th highest-paid group according to College Football Front Office.
The Red Raiders have a soft schedule. They might just run through the Big 12 and land a playoff spot if things break their way.
Big Ten Championship
The Big Ten title race is shaping up to be a blast. Oregon leads the odds at +280 on BetMGM.
Quarterback Dante Moore’s decision to come back surprised a lot of people, especially since he could’ve been picked No. 2 in the NFL Draft. But with the talent he’s got around him—Dakorien Moore, Jeremiah McClellan, Evan Stewart—it makes sense.
Oregon does have to play at Ohio State, which isn’t exactly a cakewalk. Still, outside of that, their schedule’s not too intimidating. The Ducks’ only losses in the last three years have come against teams that made the national title game. That’s not nothing.
Long Shot Consideration: Penn State
Penn State, sitting at 20-to-1 (South Point), is a sneaky pick. They drew the easiest schedule in the Big Ten, which could help them sneak into the conference title game.
Matt Campbell is the new coach, bringing over most of his starters from Iowa State. That’s a big boost in experience for Penn State.
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman race is always a bit wild, isn’t it? This year’s quarterback class is stacked, so it’s probably going to a passer again.
C.J. Carr (Notre Dame, 7-to-1), Arch Manning (Texas, +825), and Dante Moore (Oregon, 12-to-1) are all getting plenty of attention. But, if history’s any guide, preseason favorites usually don’t walk away with the trophy.
Looking further down the board might just pay off.
Best Bet: Keelon Russell
Keelon Russell is 30-to-1 at STN Sports. He’s a sophomore blue-chip recruit, and he’s expected to start this season at Alabama.
There’s a lot of buzz about his potential. Maybe it’s worth a flyer?
Long Shot Consideration: Byrum Brown
Byrum Brown, listed at 70-to-1 (Circa Sports), is another name to watch. He transferred from South Florida and followed coach Alex Golesh to Auburn.
Brown’s got that dual-threat, stat-padding style like Russell. At that price, why not take a shot?
SEC Championship
The SEC race is always a bit of a brawl. This season, Texas is sitting at +330 at Boyd Sports.
The Longhorns face the toughest schedule in the country, so those odds are a little juiced. Still, with Arch Manning and a strong transfer class, Texas could survive the gauntlet.
Georgia’s favored for a third straight title, but if Texas puts it all together, who knows? That’s why we watch, right?
Long Shot Consideration: South Carolina
South Carolina sits at 55-to-1 odds at STN Sports. That’s not exactly front-runner territory, but it’s not impossible either.
The Gamecocks have LaNorris Sellers at quarterback, and most of last year’s starters are back. Sure, last season didn’t go as planned. But a year ago, they were as high as 15-to-1 to win the SEC.
With another shot, who knows? South Carolina could end up turning some heads this time around.
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