College Football Power Rankings Based on National Championship Odds (Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia Way Ahead)
By Reed Wallach
We have arrived.
The 2022 college football season is here and we at BetSided have you covered with everything looking ahead to Week 0 and beyond, but let's first take a look at the top 25 teams in the country.
Where does each team stack up in the College Football Playoff race? We got you covered with our weekly power rankings!
All odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook:
1. Alabama (+180)
The Crimson Tide enter the season as the team to beat, returning arguably the two best players in the country in Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and pass rusher Will Anderson.
Alabama has some holes to fill at wide receiver, but the offensive line hopes to take a step forward and give Young more time to operate.
2. Ohio State (+300)
The best offense in the country returns Heisman favorite C.J. Stroud and star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as well as running back TreVeyon Henderson.
However, the unit to watch is the defense, who hopes to improve under first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State.
The Buckeyes have the upside of a National Championship team, but the defense will tell the story, and we will see quickly as they host Notre Dame in Week 1.
3. Georgia (+350)
The defending champions are still firmly in the mix for the National Championship.
While the defense needs to reload after posting one of the best seasons in college football history, the offense should take a step forward.
Stetson Bennett will operate under center with a budding group of receivers headlined by tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
Need help with your college football futures bets? BetSided's Reed Wallach welcomes Ken Barkley, AKA "Locky Lockerson" of You Better You Bet to the debut episode of "The Early Reed!"
4. Clemson (+800)
Despite a down year for the Tigers, they still went 10-2 last year! They enter as the odds on favorite to win the ACC in 2022 as they hope D.J. Uiagalelei can find the level he showed in 2020 in a limited sample size.
The defense should be nails again despite losing famed DC Brent Venables as the team returns one of the most feared defensive lines in the country.
However, all eyes will be on Uiagalelei and new OC Brandon Streeter. If the QB play is there, Clemson is a College Football Playoff team.
5. Michigan (+5000)
While the Wolverines need to replace Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, I expect the offense to make up for it.
Yes, both Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy are expected to split reps at quarterbacks, but that doesn't concern me as the team has a pair of stud running backs in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards.
The Wolverines have a very manageable schedule that includes Penn State and Michigan State at home before traveling to Ohio State on the road.
A one loss Wolverines team making the CFP isn't that farfetched given the sports landscape.
6. Utah (+8000)
Cam Rising returns at quarterback after leading the Utes to a PAC 12 Championship and a Rose Bowl berth.
He has Tavion Thomas alongside him at running back and a loaded offensive line that includes three returning starts.
On defense, Pac 12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Junior Tafuna returns with a typically stout unit.
The Utes are the most likely PAC 12 CFP team in my eyes, but need to survive an early test at Florida in Week 1.
7. Oklahoma (+5000)
Some of the faces may be different, but Oklahoma still has the upside of a CFP contender.
Dillon Gabriel transferred in from UCF and reunites with his OC Jeff Lebby, giving the Sooners offense a very high ceiling.
Meanwhile, the defense gets new head coach and the best DC in the country in Venables from Clemson. Venables has talent on hand, but it could take some time to gel in his complex system.
8. Texas A&M (+2500)
The Aggies boast elite recruiting classes under Jimbo Fisher, but will it translate on the field?
The offense still has question marks, they haven't announced a starting quarterback yet, and need to replace Isaiah Spiller at running back.
A&M goes to Alabama this season which could lead to trouble navigating the CFP top four. Can the team get in as a one loss team that doesn't play in the SEC Championship game if they lose to the Crimson Tide?
9. Notre Dame (+6000)
The Irish have a new coach in former DC Marcus Freeman and will be catching more than two touchdowns on the road at Ohio State, but this team remains a dark horse CFP candidate as a one-loss club.
The team has a top 10 talent grade and enter as the preseason No. 5 team. They get opportunities to prove themselves against elite competition in BYU, Clemson and at USC.
10. USC (+2000)
USC is overrated in the market due to the star power on hand, including head coach Lincoln Riley and star quarterback Caleb Williams, but the defense still has a ton of question marks that need to be answered.
The Trojans schedule is manageable, but with zero contunity anywhere, I don't expect this team runs through their schedule as expected. The biggest game comes at Utah which makes the CFP berth even tougher.
For more on USC, read our season preview
11. Texas (+8000)
The Longhorns are moving forward with transfer freshman Quinn Ewers as their quarterback, raising the ceiling of the team, but also lowering the floor as he has zero experience at the college game despite being a top recruit last year.
Texas' offense isn't the question either way, but the defense is. The team allowed more than five yards per carry in 2021 as they sputtered to a 5-7 season in Steve Sarkisian's first season.
12. Oregon (+12000)
Considering I'm not a believer in USC, I see a reason to be bullish on Oregon.
Similar to Notre Dame, Oregon enters the season as a double digit underdog to Georgia in Week 1.
However, the PAC 12 schedule is incredibly favorable, hosting UCLA off a bye, Washington and Utah, so it's not out of the question to see this team as a one loss conference champion.
13. North Carolina State (+15000)
The Wolfpack have a ton of momentum heading into the season, a top 10 defense and returning stud quarterback Devin Leary.
The path is there for NC State to reach a high ceiling as there are questions with how Clemson responds to a down season and replacing both offensive and defensive coordinators.
14. Tennessee (+10000)
The Vols have one of the highest ceilings this season with a loaded offense.
Hendon Hooker is a trendy Heisman longshot and talent all over the field, but the schedule is relentless. The team goes to Pittsburgh in Week 2 and also has to play at LSU and Georgia.
If there is a team that can unseat Georgia in the SEC East, it is the Vols, making them worthy of a top 15 tag.
15. BYU (+50000)
BYU is a top 20 team by most power ratings and I also am a believer in the Cougars. Can they make the CFP? Maybe not, but the schedule opens up the opportunity.
The team plays one of the toughest schedules in the country despite being an independent: Baylor, at Oregon, Notre Dame in Las Vegas, Arkansas, at Boise State, at Stanford.
The team returns a top 10 offensive line and dual threat quarterback Jaren Hall. While the defense has a ton of concerns, there are worse 500-1 bets to make then this team that may be in the discussion come November.
16. Miami (+10000)
The Hurricanes have a new head coach in Mario Cristobal and a big arm quarterback in Tyler Van Dyke. While the team will eventually run into Clemson, can they navigate their schedule and give themselves a chance in an ACC Championship Game to play for their spot in the CFP?
Miami has the talent on hand to make a run, but do need to go to Clemson and knock off Pitt while also travelling to College Station to play a top 10 team in Texas A&M.
17. Wisconsin (+10000)
The Badgers are the favorite to win the Big Ten West, so the path is there, which includes winning the conference title.
Braelon Allen burst onto the scene last year as a 17-year-old tailback, rushing for 1,268 yards last season. However, the onus is on former top recruit Graham Mertz to take the next step as a passer to carry Wisconsin to new highs and into the CFP.
18. Oklahoma State (+10000)
Off a banner year in Stillwater, Mike Gundy looks to take the next step. The team missed the CFP by a yard in the Big 12 Championship game last season and now needs to replace DC Knowles, who is now with Ohio State.
However, Spencer Sanders is back under center as he looks to put together his best season and take control of a wide open Big 12 title race.
19. TCU (+25000)
Can Sonny Dykes revitalize the Horned Frogs?
The SMU head coach and one of the best offensive play callers comes to Forth Worth with a ton of talent, including star receiver Quintin Johnson, and a favorable schedule.
The team draws Oklahoma and Oklahoma State at home early in the season that can jumpstart a special season, and also get tentpole games at Texas and Baylor.
It's a long shot but there is a high ceiling with this team.
20. Washington (+20000)
Similar to Oregon, Washington has a new head coach and plenty of opportunities to prove themselves as a CFP contender.
The team hosts Michigan State and goes to Oregon, but avoids USC and Utah in PAC 12 play. There are questions on the roster, but the conference is so open that a few bounces can see this team playing for their top four hopes in the PAC 12 title game.
21. Mississippi State (+20000)
Can the Bulldogs be the dark horse of the SEC?
They host Georgia on November 12th and have a third year quarterback in Will Rogers while the top 15 defense returns nine starters.
22. Minnesota (+25000)
In the wide open Big 10 West, can Minnesota find themselves in the Big Ten Championship Game as a one loss team?
The Gophers avoid Michigan and Ohio State in crossover play, and they get back offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, who was the play caller when Tanner Morgan and the Gophers won 11 games.
23. Houston (+30000)
The Cougars have the highest win total in the AAC and could take the Cincinnati mold if a fourth team doesn't emerge for the CFP.
Clayton Tune and Nathaniel Dell are back to anchor the offense and the defensive line projects as a top 20 unit.
24. LSU (+10000)
Can Brian Kelly work magic in his first year in Baton Rouge?
There is plenty of talent on hand that underachieved last season, but the team must find their true quarterback if they want to be a real contender. Currently, the QB competition is between Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier.
25. Penn State (+10000)
This was a top 10 team before Sean Clifford got hurt, so can they take the next step with Clifford back at QB?
This is a talented bunch that has future pros in the secondary like Joey Porter Jr, but the team must go to Michigan, host Ohio State and play at Auburn in non conference play. It won't be easy.