The expanded College Football Playoff didn’t erase the flaws of the system.
It is still the best postseason college football has ever created.
We play football.” Las Vegas: Texas A&M (-3.5) over Usc The problem with being a wunderkind is it sets you up to become the oldest 41-year-old in college football.
Betting on College Football?
Best bets: Indiana, Penn State, Boston College, Missouri This season: 120-103-1 (19-25-1) (entering Thursday)
The College Football Playoff’s expansion did not make the system’s shortcomings go away. It created new ones.
It greatly undervalues schedule and record strength by encouraging teams to play soft schedules. For the unbalanced schedules brought about by conference realignment, it offers no remedy. Boise State and Arizona State, the ninth and 12th-ranked teams in the country, respectively, received half of the first-round byes. After four games in the most spectacular settings possible, it will move to more uninteresting neutral locations.
It remains the finest postseason football ever produced by college football.
Starting Friday at Notre Dame, one of the sport’s most iconic venues, in frigid temperatures that are unaccustomed to college football’s postseason, it’s a new world, with a team (Indiana) that would never have had the opportunity to play for a national championship before.
With 10 victories by a margin of at least two touchdowns behind the second-highest scoring offense in the country (40 points per game) and the sixth-ranked defense (15 points per game), the Hoosiers (11-1) set a school record for victories in Curt Cignetti’s first season as head coach.
With nothing to lose, Indiana (+7) shows up for the in-state contest. Notre Dame, a dark horse for the championship, is under more pressure because, in Marcus Freeman’s three seasons as a heavy favorite, they have lost three games at home.
For over a hundred years, Cinderella has been denied the chance. Cignetti, who spent 14 years as a lower-level head coach and 27 years as an assistant coach, has earned his reward for a life on the sidelines.
Several times, Cignetti has said, “Google me.”. I triumph. “.”.
Smu is surpassed by Penn State (-8.5).
The Nittany Lions might win their first national championship in almost 40 years without having to play one of the top five teams, despite James Franklin’s 1-15 record against them. With the weakest team in the field, Penn State starts the most advantageous route in the bracket. In the trenches, the Mustangs will be outnumbered.
More than Texas, Clemson (+12).
At many positions, the Longhorns have a considerable advantage, but turnovers could narrow the difference. Quinn Ewers has struggled throughout the season, throwing picks in seven of his 11 starts, including three interceptions in his last two games. Meanwhile, Texas has lost three of its last four games and allowed fewer than 21 points. With almost two takeaways per game on average, the Tigers are ranked eleventh in the country.
Over Tennessee, Ohio State is -7 points.
It was not surprising that the Buckeyes’ defeat at the hands of Michigan sparked such an outburst. The team that defeated Indiana, defeated Penn State, and ought to have defeated undefeated Oregon shouldn’t have a chance to win a championship. In the last two seasons, the nation’s top defense has only given up more than 17 points twice. The Vols barely scored 20 points per game against SEC opponents who scored 500 points or more.
Now for the bowls.
Ohio (-4.5) defeats Jacksonville State as the cure.
Both conference winners had their head coaches leave for better opportunities. The Bobcats, who have won seven straight games thanks to their eighth-ranked defense, will be fine without offensive-minded Tim Albin.
Gasparilla: Florida over Tulane (+10).
The backup quarterback Ty Thompson, a former five-star recruit who played behind Bo Nix at Oregon, is using the bowl as a showcase for his transfer portal against the 98th-ranked pass defense in the country after the Green Wave lost quarterback Darian Mensah to Duke.
Myrtle Beach: over Utsa, coastal Carolina (+10).
In addition to facing a team that has lost all of its road games this season, the Chanticleers will be without their two starting quarterbacks. “This isn’t a program,” said coach Tim Beck, summarizing the sport’s new reality. You simply create a team every year. “”.
Northern Illinois (-3) over Fresno State is the Idaho potato.
In addition to having a quarterback with over five career pass attempts and a top-10 pass defense, the Huskies will not have their starting quarterback.
Hawaii: San Jose State defeats South Florida (-3 points).
Nick Nash is the country’s top receiver in terms of yards and touchdowns. The Bulls’ pass defense, which is ranked 133rd, might make it his best game to date.
Toledo (+7) over Pittsburgh, per GameAboveSports.
Since October, the Panthers have not triumphed. They might now have to put David Lynch, a redshirt freshman with nine career passes thrown, under center.
Over Kansas State, Rutgers (+7) is the rate.
When the Wildcats failed to win a Big 12 championship, they frequently appeared unmotivated. They won’t be able to match the Scarlet Knights’ intensity or concentration, as they are 6-2 in bowl games under Greg Schiano.
68 Ventures: Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green (-7).
Compared to all but three teams in the country, the Red Wolves give up more yards per play (6.9). Harold Fannin Jr. from Bowling Green. — who leads all tight ends with 1,342 receiving yards and 100 receptions — has the ideal matchup to raise his draft stock.
Oklahoma (-4.5) defeats the Navy in the military.
Despite their lack of players, the Sooners still have enough elite players to impede the Navy’s triple-option assault. When it came to yards allowed per carry (2.9), Oklahoma was fourth in the country.
Birmingham: Vanderbilt loses to Georgia Tech (-2.5).
Despite having an unforgettable season, the Commodores faltered in the closing stages, losing four of their last five games. Haynes King has the advantage in the head-to-head dual-threat matchup with Diego Pavia. King led an upset victory over Miami and a near-stunner at Georgia.
Liberty: Arkansas vs. Texas Tech (+2).
The fact that coach Sam Pittman will be back next season has the Hogs, who finished 3-6 against Power Four opponents this season, so excited that five offensive starters have logged onto the transfer portal. As an underdog this season, Texas Tech, who have the seventh-ranked offense in the country, won three of four games.
Syracuse (-14) wins over Washington State on the holiday.
At least seven starters, including standout quarterback John Mateer, and the offensive coordinator will be absent for the Cougars. Before the game, Fran Brown, the first-year Orange coach, declares, “We don’t opt out around here.”. We have a football game. “.”.
Texas AandM (-3.5) defeats USC in Las Vegas.
Being a wunderkind has the drawback of making you the oldest 41-year-old in college football. You should purchase some Mike Elko stock if you have sold any Lincoln Riley stock.
Fenway: North Carolina beaten by UConn (+2.5).
The Tar Heels, who have had several starters use the transfer portal, finished the season as favorites with a 1-7-1 record against the spread. Bill Belichick was well-prepared for the future by his last years with New England.
Pinstripe: Boston College over Nebraska (+2.5).
Even though they lost five of their last six games, the Cornhuskers finished their mission and ended their seven-year bowl drought. If Grayson James had taken over sooner, who knows what Bill O’Brien’s debut season might have looked like. The Eagles have now won three of their last four games thanks to the FIU transfer.
New Mexico: Louisiana over TCU (-13).
With an offense that averages over 430 yards per game, Josh Hoover of the Horned Frogs led the country in passing yards, ranking seventh. Daniel Beale, a third-string, true freshman who has 98 career passing yards, no touchdowns, and a 38 point-5 completion percentage, will be too fast for the Ragin’ Cajuns to handle.
Pop-Tarts: Miami defeated by Iowa State (+3.5).
The Hurricanes defense will find a way to disappoint Cam Ward, even if he runs wild, against the only team in the country with multiple 1,000-yard receivers (Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel).
Colorado State (+3) over Miami (Ohio) in Arizona.
Chuck Martin, the RedHawks’ coach, has lost four of his five bowl trips with Miami, including the last two seasons, and he rarely steps up during the season.
Military: n. A. East Carolina is defeated by State (-5.5).
The Wolfpack relied heavily on their backfield in the closing games, averaging 210 yards per game. This is concerning for the Pirates, who have given up over 271 yards of rushing on average during their last four defeats.
Alamo: Colorado over BYU (-3).
Supporting Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner, and his son/possible No. 1 earns Deion Sanders points. One NFL draft pick, Shedeur, will perform again.
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Louisiana Tech (+16.5) defeats Army in an independent match.
The Black Knights have averaged less than 21 points in their last six games after playing a string of some of the worst defenses in the country during the first two months of the season. When the opponent switched from a soft Marshall front to Tech’s top-20 run defense, Army was dealt a bad break.
Missouri (-3) over Iowa is the music city.
With their only losses to teams that were still in the running for a postseason berth going into the last week of the regular season, the Tigers had the most subdued 9-3 season imaginable. The Hawkeyes do not have the same DNA as the opponents that cause Missouri problems, despite having another successful season and finishing 119th in the country in terms of total offense.
Missouri, Boston College, Indiana, and Penn State are the best options.
120-103-1 (19-25-1) (starting Thursday) for this season.
