When looking for early betting picks on the handful of teams that look like they’ll have the best chances of hoisting the 2018 NCAA college football national championship trophy this coming season, all you need to do is call Kevin Spacey.
Why call an Oscar-winning actor you ask? Because, just like the hit 1995 film he starred in, the top title contenders in all the land are a bunch of The Usual Suspects. That’s right college football gridiron gaming enthusiasts, you don’t need to go searching far and wide for championship value, when the top favorites are many of the same from a year ago. Now, let’s find out who they are.
Analyzing The Early Betting Picks To Win The 2017-18 College Football Championship
Florida State +600
Notice that I didn’t start with the favored Alabama Crimson Tide. That’s because I genuinely believe the Florida State Seminoles will be one of, if not, the top title contender in the nation in 2017. I know head coach Jimbo Fisher needs to find a replacement for gifted running back Dalvin Cook, but the Noles have a future star in young quarterback Deondre Francois and always get an abundance of elite Florida high schoolers each and every year, so, I expect them to lock down one of the spots in the four-team CFB Playoffs this coming season.
Alabama +300
At this point, I don’t think it matter how many All-Americans Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide loses every year. They simply replace them with more future All-Americans. Expect another powerful defense in 2017 and a likely berth in the playoffs thanks to the offensive contributions of young signal-caller Jalen Hurts and talented, but oft-injured running back Bo Scarborough.
Ohio State +450
The Buckeyes are +450 favorites to win the national championship, but I don’t know why, seeing as how I expect State to be the best team in the Big Ten in 2017. Still, the presence of quarterback J.T. Barrett and another class of elite high school recruits, Urban Meyer’s team should contend at the very least.
USC +600
If you didn’t see quarterback Sam Darnold in the Rose Bowl, then you missed seeing a guy that looks like a sure-fire NFL star at some point in the near future and the possible Heisman Trophy winner this coming season. Darnold has everything you’d look for in a prototypical NFL quarterback from size and arm strength to accuracy and poise under pressure. If USC’s defense is competent at the very least, I expect the Trojans to challenge for a berth in the four-tame playoffs.
Oklahoma +800
The Sooners have a Heisman Trophy contending quarterback in Baker Mayfield and what should be another explosive offense in 2017 because of his presence. The Sooners are the clear-cut favorites in the Big 12 and could be looking at a spot in the final four if their defense shows up.
Penn State +1200
I absolutely love the value that Penn State is offering as a whopping +1200 pick to win the national championship, seeing as how they have a quarterback in Trace McSorley and running back in Saquon Barkley that should both contend for the Heisman in 2017. After last season’s thrilling run to the Rose Bowl (they should have been in the four-team playoff) I expect the Nittany Lions to really challenge for a berth in the CFB Playoffs this coming season.
Michigan +1200
The Wolverines will be hard-pressed to replace do-it-all hybrid linebacker/safety Jabrill Peppers and tight end Jake Butt, but you should expect another stout defense in 2017 and a challenge for a spot in the playoffs – if quarterback Wilton Speight can build on his solid, but not overly impressive 2016 campaign.
Louisville +1600
Despite losing their final three games last season, the Louisville Cardinals should challenge for the ACC title win and a berth in the four-team playoff. Lest anyone forget, the Cards have a great offensive-minded head coach in Bobby Petrino and arguably the best quarterback in the country in 2016 Heisman winner Lamar Jackson.
