2015-16 NCAAF Futures – Big 12 Offers Big Returns

HOW GREAT WAS THE FIRST EVER COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF?!?!

Well, you may have forgotten because it was months ago, or because the championship game was a blowout, or because there was still controversy over who got in, but the inaugural run of CFP system worked out pretty well. The BCS-winning Ohio State Buckeyes – ranked fourth heading into the playoff – wouldn’t have had a chance at the title if not for the expanded system. But, at the end of the day, no one will argue that Urban Meyer’s squad wasn’t the best team in the NCAA last season, and thanks to the four-team playoff, we got to see the Buckeyes strut their stuff all over Alabama and Oregon.

According to the oddsmakers, the Buckeyes – who will return a trio of Heisman candidates at the QB position alone – are the favorites to repeat as national champs (7/2).

Meyer will have the luxury of choosing between Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, and Cardale Jones – three of the best QBs in the nation – for his starting pivot. But Ohio State won’t have an easy road back to the playoffs thanks to challenges from Michigan State, Jim Harbaugh’s new-look Wolverines, and another season opener against the Virginia Tech Hokies (the team that handed them their only loss last season). Ohio State is well equipped to overcome these obstacles, but betting the favorite is never fun, so lets skip down the line.

The best value at this stage could come from the Big 12. Both TCU and Baylor finished last year with identical 12-1 records, but because they were deemed co-conference champions, the CFP Selection Committee passed them over.

TCU returns 16 starters including star quarterback Trevone Boykin, while Baylor returns 18 starters, with junior Seth Russell taking over under center.

A two-year back-up, Russell has looked alright when called upon and should be able to put up similarly gaudy numbers that Robert Griffin III, Bryce Petty, and even Nick Florence posted before him. Currently at 20 to 1 odds to win, the Bears should get strong consideration from bettors. Keep an eye on their Nov. 27 date with TCU: the winner of that should lock up one of the four CFP berths as long as they don’t make other missteps.

As always, though, it’s a long season and upsets are bound to happen. Give us your thoughts: should we have taken USC? What about that jerk-face Nick Saban and his always strong Crimson Tide? Or the Famous Jameis-less Seminoles?

Every team is undefeated until September but in the end only one team will pay out. (And that team will be Baylor. Don’t say I didn’t tell you.)

Odds to win the 2016 BCS Championship:

• Ohio State – 7/2
• Alabama – 7/1
• TCU – 10/1
• Auburn – 12/1
• Florida St. – 14/1
• USC – 18/1
• Baylor – 20/1
• Notre Dame – 20/1
• Clemson – 22/1
• Oregon – 22/1

(Photo Credit: Adam Glanzman (Flickr: asg.fbc.vsOSU.11.30.131077 copy) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)