3 Favorite CFB Futures Bets for 2026
Betting

3 Favorite CFB Futures Bets for 2026

With the start of the college football season only a week away, Kody Malstrom shares his three favorite futures bets in CFB for 2026, including Miami to win the ACC.

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In less than seven days, college football makes its return to our screens with week zero satisfying our appetite for football. Before the new year kicks off, now is the time to round out your portfolio. Below is a breakdown of three of my favorite season-long futures, including a bet on Miami to win the ACC, as well as a wager on North Carolina to stay under their win total in Bill Belichick’s second year with the Tar Heels.

My 3 Favorite CFB Futures For 2026

Miami to Win the ACC (-146, DraftKings)

After losing key pieces on offense to the NFL Draft, the Miami Hurricanes have been able to successfully re-tool their roster, bringing in Darian Mensah to captain their star-studded offense. Mensah was efficient in Duke’s system last year, finishing the season with 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns while averaging nearly eight yards per throw.

Even though the losses in the trenches on both sides of the ball are alarming, the lack of talent in the ACC will help brush aside regression while Miami integrates new pieces at various positions, lowering the chances of getting burned by a conference loss early in the year. This will also give Mensah a fairly clean pocket to operate in, reducing the amount of Havoc in his throws.

While their long odds to win the ACC look unappealing for a season-long wager, it’s worth noting the Hurricanes will be priced as a heavier favorite in the conference title game, creating a profitable hedge scenario to help secure a profit. If you want to cut through the juice at the expense of security, you can also parlay the Hurricanes to win the ACC with Texas Tech to win the Big 12 as well.

North Carolina Under 4.5 Regular Season Wins (-105, theScore Bet) 

It was as ugly as it could get in Bill Belichick’s first stint with North Carolina, finishing his 2025 campaign 4-8 overall and 2-6 in conference play. Their lack of production on offense made it nearly impossible to be competitive, fielding a group who ranked near dead last in Success Rate, Explosiveness, Finishing Drives, and Havoc Allowed.

Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, their struggles on offense are poised to persist this season with journeyman Billy Edwards Jr. lacking the arm talent needed to stretch the field while protected by a front five who possess glaring red flags across the line. With no fear of getting burned through the air, opposing defenses can stack the box at a high rate and neutralize the Tar Heels' ground game.

In regard to their schedule, North Carolina is projected to be the favorite in just three games, including a coin flip against Syracuse. In the off chance UNC can secure four wins by the final game of the year, you will be able to hedge your bet by betting their moneyline as a sizable underdog to NC State.

Penn State to Win the Big Ten (+2200, DraftKings) 

In a loaded Big Ten, no one is in a better position to make a run to the conference championship than the revamped Penn State Nittany Lions. Even with question marks looming over their identity under new head coach Matt Campbell, Penn State hit the schedule lottery, dodging Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana.

While a matchup against Michigan on the road looks tough on paper, Bryce Underwood has shown no signs of improvement this offseason, handicapping the Wolverines' offense in the process. Back the Nittany Lions to win the Big Ten now at their lofty odds before they crash down as the season progresses.

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