Some NCAA football betting fans might say that a list of top 10 teams for a given season would be by definition subject to change. And they might me right. Nonetheless, here are the top 10 college teams for people who plant to place one or two online football bets this 2016 season.
Alabama Crimson Tide. The Bama Roll Tide is once again the odds-on favorite to win not only the SEC championship game but also the NCAA football national championship. A group of 17 returning starters will be back in 2016 – seven on offense, five on defense, and five on special teams.
Clemson University Fighting Tigers. Clemson had an impressive 14-1 record in 2015 (like Alabama) thanks in no small part to a long-running program under head coach Dabo Swinney (also like Bama with head coach Nick Saban). Both have similar, if not identical, NCAA football odds. The difference is that the Roll Tide defeated the Tigers 45-40 in the 2016 national championship. Talk about the proverbial chip on your shoulder.
Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners are the favorites to win a second straight Big 12 Conference championship in 2016. Unfortunately for the program, its core defense was lost in the NFL draft. On the plus side, 12 starters are returning from 2015, including senior QB Baker Mayfield, junior running back Samaje Perine, and sophomore running back Joe Mixon.
Florida State Seminoles. The Florida State Seminoles will begin the 2016 season ranked #4 in the preseason Coaches Poll – their second-highest ranking since head coach Jimbo Fisher took charge of the FSU football program in 2010.
Ohio State Buckeyes. The OSU football program was named the Associated Press (AP) Number One All-Time program. Additionally, the Buckeyes solved their half-shirt situation with the selection of running back Ezekiel Elliot by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL draft.
LSU Fighting Tigers. The Louisiana State University college football program was voted No. 6 in the Amway Coaches’ Preseason Poll, their highest preseason ranking since 2012.
Stanford Cardinal. When it comes to NCAA football betting, Stanford is a lock because it keeps on winning PAC 12 titles and covering the spreads.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish had a very successful 2015 season, and while they lost seven players in the NFL draft, the biggest question for head coach Brian Kelly is who his starting QB will be – a now healthy Malik Zaire or last season’s starter DeShone Kizer?
Michigan Wolverines. The 2016 Wolverines will be short a few players from last year, such as center Graham Glasgow and QB Jake Rudock. Even with these absences, however, Michigan remains a favorite.
Houston Cougars. Head coach Tom Herman signed a contract extension last December, but that’s not the only source of optimism for Houston fans. Starting QB Greg Ward Jr. will also be returning – albeit he will be without favorite target wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers – and five-star recruit defensive tackle Ed Oliver will be making good on his commitment with the Cougars.
