The college football season is about to get underway this weekend. We’ll see four games on Saturday – all of which we already have previews up for – and then we’ll have a full week of action starting next Thursday. Make sure you check out the podcast with Erik and EJ going over all of the games as they give you a rundown and provide picks.
Now it’s time to start off this year’s power ranking. As a reminder, the teams are ranked by what the odds makers say in terms of their odds to win the College Football Playoff. It should be no surprise who the top team is going into the campaign. However, there is a massive game that could really swing the power rankings early on.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Last Week: –
National Championship Odds: +350
The Crimson Tide are still smarting from their title loss to Clemson, but of course, they’re back on top as the favorites to win it all. Jalen Hurts played far more as a freshman than Nick Saban thought he would, and he combined with Damien Harris for almost 2,000 yards on the ground. They’re both back, while they’re loaded up front on the offensive and defensive lines. The Crimson Tide, once again, should have one of the best defenses in the country. They open up the season in Atlanta against Florida State, which is a very tough proposition.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Last Week: –
National Championship Odds: +500
The Buckeyes also lost to Clemson last year in the playoffs and it was even worse for them as they got smacked 31-0. But Urban Meyer knows how to use a loss like that to fire up a team and the Buckeyes will be ready to go from the jump this season. J.T. Barrett is back under center and with Mike Weber returning as well, the Buckeyes will have a great backfield. The defense lost a lot to the draft, but they have more talent coming in. Ohio State opens up the season next Thursday at Indiana.
3. USC Trojans
Last Week: –
National Championship Odds: +650
The Trojans are back in the national-title fold, at least to start the season, and that is thanks in large part to Sam Darnold. He had a great freshman season and looks to be a Heisman favorite, and the Trojans are playing in the relatively easy Pac-12. However, it could be their defense that pushes them into the playoffs and their back seven could be one of the best in the nation. USC hosts Western Michigan in their first game.
4. Florida State Seminoles
Last Week: –
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Seminoles should be able to win the ACC this year with Deondre Francois back with a year of season. However, there will be a lot of pressure on the backfield to make up for the loss of Dalvin Cook. The defense is fast and physical from front to back, and they might have to carry the load for the first couple weeks. However, they don’t have long to get it together as their matchup with Alabama is looming in Atlanta.
5. Oklahoma Sooners
Last Week: –
National Championship Odds: +1500
The Sooners have loads of talent, and Baker Mayfield should be well protected by the offensive line, which seems to be Oklahoma’s best in a long time. The defense is good for a Big-12 defense, but there will be plenty of eyes on them. The big question is Lincoln Riley, who takes over for Bob Stoops, who left after 18 years at the helm. Can Riley manage the massive expectations? The Sooners host UTEP in their season opener.
6. LSU Tigers
Last Week: –
National Championship Odds: +1500
LSU also has a new head coach, although Ed Orgeron took over for Les Miles in September and the “interim” tag was taken off. But the Tigers are still the same: they’ll have a great defense, Derrius Guice seems to be a decent replacement for Leonard Fournette, and their quarterback picture is fuzzy. They also have to get past Alabama, and good luck with that. LSU faces BYU in Houston for their first game.
7. Washington Huskies
Last Week: –
National Championship Odds: +2000
The Huskies have quietly put together a contender out west, and Jake Browning has to be the running for the Heisman this season. They also have one of the top coaches in the country in Chris Petersen. But the offensive line could take some time to gel and they’re really going to miss John Ross at receiver. The defense, however, could be surprisingly good. The Huskies open up the season at Rutgers.
8. Penn State Nittany Lions
Last Week: –
National Championship Odds: +2000
Penn State gave James Franklin a lucrative extension for the work he did, but now he has to prove it wasn’t a fluke. The offensive backfield should be very fun to watch with Trace McSorley under center and Saquon Barkley behind him, but the Nittany Lions have to start getting off early as they had to come back a few times in 2016. You can’t bank on that again. They’ll host Akron to kick off the season.
9. Michigan Wolverines
Last Week: –
National Championship Odds: +2000
The Wolverines are slowly getting there under Jim Harbaugh, and that’s a major reason they’re so high on this list. They have loads of talent on both sides of the ball, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. Wilton Speight has to have a big year at quarterback, and there are still a lot of places throughout the team where there isn’t a definitive starter. If a few players step up and grab their chances for a starting role, the Wolverines might get the second in the Big Ten, and the season doesn’t start with a cupcake as Michigan faces Florida in Arlington.
10. Auburn Tigers
Last Week: –
National Championship Odds: +2000
The Tigers will welcome Jarrett Stidham coming in from Baylor, and Kamryn Pettway could be one of the best running backs in the country. The defense is good, but it’s not SEC good and that is a problem when you’re in a division with Alabama and LSU, both of whom have the ability to pitch shutouts defensively. The Tigers will open up the season at home against Georgia Southern in a game where they’ll be aiming to avoid injuries.
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!
