College Football Playoff Futures: Best Bets as of Week 0
Betting

College Football Playoff Futures: Best Bets as of Week 0

With Week 0 of college football kicking off this weekend, take a look at John Supowitz's three favorite futures bets on teams to make the playoff.

Published Updated

Do you feel that? There’s a slight crispness in the air; back-to-school sales are everywhere. That means only one thing: football is back.

We’re just days away from meaningful football, meaning weekends in front of our televisions. College football Week 0 kicks off Saturday with eight games.

Although we’re four months away from knowing who will be in the College Football Playoff, it’s a good time to look at who could make the 12-team tournament.

Top College Football Playoff Futures to Bet

Notre Dame (-800)

This feels like clapping the erasers after class chalky, but it would be surprising if it didn't hit.

Notre Dame didn’t get a spot in the College Football Playoff last year despite finishing in the top 12. Because of that, the CFB Playoff committee promised Notre Dame that if they finish in the top 12 this season, they are guaranteed a playoff spot.

Looking at their schedule, this is highly possible. Since they aren’t affiliated with a conference, they choose their opponents, and they chose to eat cake. According to college football expert Phil Steele, the Fighting Irish are ranked 67th in strength of schedule. They face one team currently ranked in the top ten, No. 7 Miami, in South Bend.

They could run the table with the talent they have. Quarterback C.J. Carr is an early Heisman Trophy candidate, and the defense is returning eight of its starters.

Texas (-200)

This feels like a bargain at this price. The Longhorns appear to be the most loaded team heading into the season. This is a program that some felt should have made the playoffs despite a 10-3 record.

They are returning most of their starters on a defense that ranked 20th in points allowed per game (20.2) and 27th in yards allowed per game (338.8).

More importantly, Arch Manning will return behind center. After a tough start to the 2025 season, he improved and finished the year with 300+ passing yards and 2+ passing touchdowns in three of his final six games. 

Manning’s top target last year, Ryan Wingo, who led the Longhorns with 834 receiving yards, is also back. 

They get their chance at revenge early in the year when they take on No. 1 Ohio State in Week 2. That could be an early statement win they carry into the conference schedule. 

They have a favorable SEC schedule that’s on the lighter side, as they avoid playing Georgia and Alabama. They do have some tough road games, including at Tennessee, at LSU, and at Texas A&M. 

They cannot have a bad loss; what likely kept them out of the playoffs last season was losing to a 4-8 Florida program that fired its coach.

Ole Miss (+200)

The Rebels were close to reaching the National Championship Game, eventually losing to Miami in a last-minute drive in the semifinals. 

The team must feel good knowing they got that far without head coach Lane Kiffin, who left at the end of the regular season to take the head coaching job at LSU. They ripped the interim tag off head coach Pete Golding, and he will lead this team.

They bring back some of their key players from last year’s run. After a lengthy battle to regain eligibility, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss will return and be among the country’s top players to watch with his dynamic dual-threat ability. Also returning is running back Kewan Lacy, who ranked second in the country in rushing touchdowns (20) and ninth in rushing yards (1,279) last year.

They have a tough schedule this year, with four games against teams currently ranked in the top 11, including road games at No. 5 Texas and No. 10 Oklahoma. 

They open the season with a challenging non-conference game, hosting No. 25 Louisville. If Ole Miss can secure the win, it could be a great boost to their resume.

Published Updated