No college football expert will disagree with the notion that Alabama, Florida State and Ohio State all deserve to be considered favorites to compete for a College Football Playoff berth and a national championship this season. However, those same experts will also agree the potential is there for at least a couple of overlooked sleeper teams to play themselves in to contention throughout the year.
We took the time to identify a handful of teams with the potential to surprise. Keep in mind that we specifically stuck to teams that are priced at +5000 or higher in terms of the College Football Playoff betting odds. It’s easy to predict someone like USC or LSU might show up in the CFP but we specifically wanted to go further off the map and zero in on some teams at 50/1 or greater, so that they’re true sleepers. Here is a look at five sleeper teams that could contend for College Football Playoff spots this season.
Notre Dame
Odds To Win College Football Playoff: +4000
Notre Dame’s 4-8 record last season looks brutal on paper. However, it doesn’t tell the full story of how close the Fighting Irish were to turning so many of those losses in to wins. Notre Dame’s schedule included a three-point loss in overtime to Texas, an eight-point loss to Michigan State, a three-point loss to Duke, a seven-point loss to North Carolina State, a seven-point loss to Stanford, a one-point loss to Navy and a three-point loss to Virginia Tech. If even three of those seven losses swung in favor of the Fighting Irish then they would have posted a 7-5 record. Better luck and improved play in close games will be the keys to Notre Dame bouncing back this season. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush has drawn rave reviews. He will be surrounded by enough talent on both sides of the football to lead the Fighting Irish to a bounce back season. If Notre Dame can perform better in close games, they could easily live up to their potential as a sleeper pick to contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff as a 10-win team.
North Carolina State
Odds To Win College Football Playoff: +20000
The Wolfpack would be receiving a lot more attention had they won a close game against Clemson last season. NC State nearly upset the eventual national champion Tigers when kicker Kyle Bambard missed a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. Instead, the game went to overtime and Clemson wound up winning 24-17. Later on in the year the Wolfpack led Florida State in the fourth quarter before the Seminoles rallied for a four-point win. Those two losses have allowed NC State to remain under the radar heading in to the 2017 season. The Wolfpack have a defensive line that could wreak havoc for opponents in the ACC. They also have plenty of experience on the other side of the football with more than enough talent on offense to compete with the top dogs. NC State will have to travel to Florida State but will host both Louisville and Clemson. If the Wolfpack could produce a better record in close games against their top opponents then they could emerge as a darkhorse playoff contender in the ACC.
Oregon Ducks
Odds To Win College Football Playoff: +10000
It will be very interesting to see what happens with the Ducks this season. On paper, they have the talent to make some major noise in the Pac-12. However, a daunting schedule could make it difficult on them to reach their potential. Quarterback Justin Herbert is ready to take another step forward after impressing as a true freshman last season. Running back Royce Freeman is back while playmakers Tony Brooks-James and Charles Nelson have the potential to put up big numbers. Oregon is looking up at three potential top-25 teams in its own division in Stanford, Washington and Washington State. They will have to play both the Huskies and the Cardinal on the road. The Ducks have the talent to contend as a dark horse in the Pac-12. It will be very interesting to see if they can bounce back and take that next step against some tough competition this season.
TCU Horned Frogs
Odds To Win College Football Playoff: +10000
The TCU defense should be better this season. Quarterback Kenny Hill is back with an improved cast of wide receivers that have the offense in position to make a marked improvement in 2017. If Hill can improve at the most important position on the field, then the Horned Frogs will have an opportunity to surprise this season. The Big 12 is a major question mark. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the conference favorites. But we know that Oklahoma lost head coach Bob Stoops. How will that impact the team? And the Pokes have an explosive offense – as per usual – but will their defense be worth anything this season?
A case can be made for TCU as the third-best team in the conference on paper. The Horned Frogs have the talent and a decent enough schedule that they could surprise in 2017.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Odds To Win College Football Playoff: +5000
The Hokies first year under head coach Justin Fuente went about as good as could have been expected including a 6-2 mark in ACC play. Virginia Tech fell just short against Clemson in the ACC championship game but there were many positives to build off of heading in to the 2017 season. The Hokies were forced to replace their quarterback. However, Fuente has done an excellent job grooming passers over the years and there is a good chance he will have his No. 1 quarterback ready for the season opener. It will help that senior wide receiver Cam Phillips is back. The defense also has the potential to be better. Virginia Tech took a major step forward in their first year under Fuente. If they can build off the momentum they generated last season then they could surprise as a dark horse college football playoff contender out of the ACC this season.
Click here to bet on the college football futures for the 2017 college football season right now. DSI will have all of the latest lines, spreads and props for this year’s action!
