Madness: Mid-Majors to Look Out for in NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Tournament is only a few weeks away and the Madness is set to begin soon. The tournament field is coming into focus, but that can still change over the final few weeks of the season as sports betting favorites reveal themselves.

While much of the debate centers around the top seeds in each of the four regions, this tournament is known as March Madness for an entirely different reason. It’s the mid-majors that make this tournament fun. There are some terrific mid-major teams that have emerged this season.

Some of the top mid-major teams might have trouble even sneaking into the field. This is because they often get overlooked by the committee.

Here are some of the best mid-major programs to keep your eye on as the brackets are unveiled.

Beware of the Mountain West Conference

The Mountain West Conference is usually a league that has some solid football teams. Most people tend to overlook this conference when it comes to basketball, but that might be a mistake this season.

This league could potentially get three teams in the NCAA Tournament, maybe four depending on the conference champion. Boise State looks like the clear favorite in this league, but Colorado State and Wyoming aren’t too far behind.

All three of these teams appear to have what it takes for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. However, each team does have some flaws as well. The fact that there are so many competitive teams in the Mountain West Conference will come into play as these teams are battle tested.

Colorado State and Wyoming look like teams that can win at least one game in the NCAA Tournament. Boise State might be able to get to the second weekend.

Atlantic 10 Teams Poised For Run

The Power 5 Conferences tend to get most of the attention when it comes to college basketball. But the Atlantic 10 might be the best league in the country. This conference has five teams that could receive an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. They all could go on a big run.

Davidson currently leads the A-10 Conference, and the Wildcats are a program that has had success in the NCAA Tournament in the past. The Wildcats might not have Stephen Curry anymore, but this is another loaded roster that can win some games.

VCU and Dayton are two other teams in the A-10 that can win some games in the NCAA Tournament, and each team still has a shot to win the league. The Dayton Flyers are arguably the best team in the A-10, and they will be a force in March Madness.

There is always one mid major conference that has a great NCAA Tournament and it seems like this could be the year for the Atlantic 10.

Familiar Faces Set to Return?

We’ve made it all this way in the article and haven’t even mentioned the Gonzaga Bulldogs yet. Even though the Bulldogs are likely going to be the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, they still have to be considered a mid major.

Another team that has now become a consistent threat in the NCAA Tournament is the Loyola Chicago Ramblers. This team has made some terrific runs in recent seasons, and they are one of the best teams in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.

The other team in the MVC that could be a team to watch out for is the Drake Bulldogs. If Drake can get into the field as the MVC Champion, they could make a deep run.


Early Odds to Win 2022 Masters Tournament

Even though the calendar still says it is February, it is never too early to start thinking about the Masters. This is one of the biggest golf tournaments of the season, and it attracts a large amount of sports betting enthusiasts.

The odds to win the Masters are out, but these odds will be changing every single week. Golf is a hard game to predict, but the golfers that come into this week with some momentum will usually be up at the top.

If history is any indication, you can expect this to be a loaded leaderboard and come down to the final few holes. This event is not always won by the best players in golf, but rather those players that are able to play this unique golf course well.

Big Names at the Top

The early odds have a clear betting favorite up at the top, but there is a loaded group of golfers right behind him. Jon Rahm is the betting favorite at +850, and he just delivered an amazing year of golf in 2021.

Rahm has three top-10 finishes in his four starts at the Masters, and it is clear that he knows his way around this golf course. Jordan Spieth is next on the list at +1100, and he is going to be a betting favorite at Augusta for as long as his playing career is.

Here is a look at the next group of golfers that could factor into the mix at the Masters:

Justin Thomas +1200
Collin Morikawa +1200
Dustin Johnson +1200
Rory McIlroy +1400
Xander Schauffele +1600
Bryson DeChambeau +1600
Brooks Koepka +1900

That is a loaded list of names, and the future of golf is in that list above. Not all of these players have played well at Augusta National in the past, but all of these golfers have won some huge tournaments along the way.

Terrific Second Group

You might think that it would be a surprise if someone outside of the group of favorites won at the Masters, but that is not how this even works. There are surprises every year, and you will see some interesting names on that leaderboard over the weekend.

This also provides a great betting opportunity as there is some value when looking outside of the loaded group of favorites. Here is a look at those golfers:

Patrick Cantlay +2000
Viktor Hovland +2000
Hideki Matsuyama +2600
Cameron Smith +2700
Patrick Reed +2900
Tony Finau +2900
Daniel Berger +3700
Will Zalatoris +3700

This group of golfers also features the two golfers that finished first and second in the 2021 Masters. Matsuyama outlasted Zalatoris a year ago, and each golfer will be looking to play well again.

Will Tiger Woods Play?

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Masters Tournament is the status of Tiger Woods and his potential to play. Woods has absolutely dominated opponents at Augusta National throughout his career, and his presence will greatly impact how this whole thing plays out.

Tiger Woods currently has odds set at +4200, but those odds will change if he is able to play at close to full strength. It’s hard to envision Woods winning the Masters this year, but it’s also hard to see him showing up at Augusta National and not playing well.

Bubba Watson (+6500) and Phil Mickelson (+10000) are two other golfers that have had plenty of success at this golf course during their careers. It would be a huge upset to see either of those two men win, but they have so much history here that it might be worth it to make a bet on either of them.


March Madness: Projected Top 8 Seeds in 2022 Tournament

We are less than a month away from Selection Sunday, and that is always one of the biggest days of the year. This is when the NCAA Tournament field is finally revealed, but the projections have already started to roll in.

There is a great honor that comes with being a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament, even though that doesn’t guarantee any success. Getting a number two seed is also a big advantage for teams as there usually aren’t many 15-2 upsets.

You are going to see plenty of March Madness projections over the next few weeks, but we are just going to focus on the top eight seeds in this article. There can still be some movement at the top, but a couple of teams are pretty locked in at this point.

Some Seeds Seem Locked Up

Unless something crazy happens over the final few weeks of the season, the Gonzaga Bulldogs should be the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament again. This is a familiar position for Gonzaga, but it hasn’t always led to success in the tournament.

After Gonzaga, there is still some debate over the other three number one seeds. It’s likely going to come down to which teams win their respective conferences, but the Arizona Wildcats are starting to feel like a lock.

Arizona has come out of nowhere to lead the Pac-12 Conference this season, and they have just two losses on the year. The Wildcats would likely get shipped out of the West Region if the Gonzaga Bulldogs are the top overall seed.

The Duke Blue Devils could also be in line for a number one seed, especially if they win the ACC Tournament. Duke is playing in the final season under Coach K, and they are a team that is loaded with talent.

In the SEC, the Auburn Tigers and Kentucky Wildcats could be playing for a number one seed as well. The SEC Tournament will be one to watch, and that is where the final top seed could come from.

Plenty of Movement on the Two Line

Obviously, all teams are wanting to be named a number one seed, but settling for a number two seed isn’t that big of a deal. There are as many as 8-10 teams that could still have a legitimate shot at claiming a number two seed, depending on how they finish the season.

The second-place finisher in the SEC should be in line for a number two seed, and the Baylor Bears look like a threat to end up in that position as well. After those two teams, that is where the real drama should begin.

We haven’t even mentioned the Big Ten Conference yet in this article, and that league is loaded with terrific teams. Purdue is a team that could challenge for a number one seed, but Illinois and Wisconsin might actually win that league.

The UCLA Bruins are another team that has looked like a top-eight team for much of the season, and there are also some loaded teams in the Big East Conference as well. There might not be a ton of drama when the number 1 seeds are announced, but there will be when the 5-8 teams are announced.

The Final Projections

A lot can change over the final few weeks of the season, but there is enough information to make a projection on the top eight seeds.

Here are those projections, with the teams ranked #1-8:

  1. Gonzaga
  2. Arizona
  3. Kentucky
  4. Duke
  5. Kansas
  6. Auburn
  7. Purdue
  8. UCLA

Keep up with your latest NCAAB news coverage and sports betting previews at SportsGambling.US.


Betting Odds to win 2023 Super Bowl

The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals, and it is immediately time to start looking at next year. The betting odds are already out for the next Super Bowl champion, and these odds will be moving over the course of the next few months.

There will be plenty of action on this specific bet over the next few months, and that will continue throughout the regular season as well. Here is a look at the current betting odds to win Super Bowl 57, with a breakdown of some of the teams.

AFC Teams Leading the Way

The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are the current favorites to win the Super Bowl next season, with odds set at +700 for each team. The Bills and Chiefs met up in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this season, and it was a game for the ages.

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and they will each be back to lead their respective teams next season. Only one of these teams can represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, but they will have some competition as well.

It is the Los Angeles Rams that are next on the list, with odds set at +900. The Cincinnati Bengals are right behind them at +1000, and each team should be talented enough to make another run to the Super Bowl.

These four teams appear to have the most talent in place, but things can always go wrong in the NFL during a season. Based on what took place this season, don’t expect to see any of these four teams fall too far down the list of betting favorites.

NFC Could Be Interesting

There are three teams in the AFC that clearly stand out above the rest, but that isn’t necessarily the case in the NFC. After the Los Angeles Rams, there are a number of teams that should have a shot at making a run to the top of that conference.

The San Francisco 49ers (+1400), Green Bay Packers (+1500), and Dallas Cowboys (+1600) are all currently in the mix to win the Super Bowl next season. The 49ers and Packers could have some major questions to answer at the quarterback position, and Dallas must find a way to end a slump in the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have opened up at +2200 to win the Super Bowl, and this is directly related to the retirement of Tom Brady. Brady could be willing to come out of retirement to join a different team, and that would have a pretty massive impact on the betting lines.

Here is a look at some of the odds for the rest of the teams that are expected to be in the mix to win the Super Bowl:

  • Denver Broncos +1800
  • Baltimore Ravens +2000
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers +2200
  • Tennessee Titans +2200
  • Arizona Cardinals +2500
  • Indianapolis Colts +2500
  • Los Angeles Chargers +2500
  • New England Patriots +2500
  • New Orleans Saints +3000

The Bottom Half

There are also some teams with plenty of questions heading into next year, and those questions affect the betting odds. You will see some interesting teams included in the bottom half, but those teams could make a move before the season even begins.

Here are the current odds for the bottom 16 teams in terms of betting odds:

  • Cleveland Browns +3500
  • Minnesota Vikings +3500
  • Seattle Seahawks +3500
  • Miami Dolphins +4000
  • Philadelphia Eagles +4000
  • Pittsburgh Steelers +4000
  • Atlanta Falcons +5000
  • Carolina Panthers +5000
  • Las Vegas Raiders +5000
  • Washington Commanders +5000
  • Chicago Bears +6500
  • New York Giants +6500
  • Jacksonville Jaguars +8000
  • Detroit Lions +15000
  • Houston Texans +15000
  • New York Jets +15000

Keep up with your latest NFL news coverage and sports betting previews at SportsGambling.US.


Final Super Bowl LVI Betting Preview

Super Bowl LVI is now just days away, and betting on the event is really starting to heat up. The Los Angeles Rams are still the betting favorites as they are set to take on the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium.

Will the Los Angeles Rams or Cincinnati Bengals walk out of Super Bowl LVI with the coveted Lombardi Trophy?

This will be the third straight game in which Cincinnati will be playing the underdog role. The Bengals won the AFC North this season after winning ten games, and they stunned the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game to reach the Super Bowl. 

The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West this season after going 12-5, and they have been one of the betting favorites since the season began. Los Angeles had some close calls in the playoffs, but picked up a 20-17 win in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. 

The betting line has shifted slightly, and the Los Angeles Rams are now four-point betting favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. 

Burrow Thrives Under Pressure

Joe Burrow has been putting up some massive numbers since coming into the NFL, and he always seems to get better in the biggest games. Burrow threw for over 4,600 yards during the regular season, and he will be looking to put on a show in the Super Bowl. 

Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been terrific during his rookie season as well, racking up 1,455 receiving yards and catching 13 touchdown passes.

The Rams are going to do everything they can to slow down this connection, but that’s easier said than done. 

The Bengals will also have to play well on the defensive side of the football in this game, and that unit has some momentum. Cincinnati completely shut down the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half of the AFC Championship Game, but it’s going to take a complete effort in this one. 

Cincinnati was not supposed to be in the Super Bowl, and that will allow them to play loose and free on Sunday

Rams Have to Get Stops

The Los Angeles Rams have a loaded offense as well, but they want to win this game on the defensive side of the football. Los Angeles has spent a ton of money putting together that defense, and it has to find a way to get some pressure on Burrow on Sunday.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford was brought to Los Angeles after a rough career in Detroit, but the veteran has thrived with his new team. Stafford threw for over 4,800 yards during the regular season, and he has found a favorite weapon in Cooper Kupp.

Kupp is the best wide receiver in the NFL, and he had 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. The Rams struggle to run the football at times, which will put plenty of pressure on the quarterback-wide receiver connection. 

Can’t Pass Up the Points

There is so much to like about each team in the Super Bowl, but each team still has some flaws. This game could easily come down to which quarterback plays the best, and Stafford does have more NFL experience.

Playing at home should give the Rams a slight advantage, and that defense also can completely take over a game. The Bengals have been thriving in the underdog role all season long, and they won’t be afraid of the challenge in this matchup. 

This should be a terrific battle on Sunday, and don’t expect to see a ton of separation either way. 

Because of this, the best option is to take the four points and bet on the Cincinnati Bengals to cover in Super Bowl LVI, and not worry about picking a team to win. 


NCAA Basketball Games to Watch This Week

We are now in the second week of February, and Selection Sunday is only a few weeks away. This is now crunch time for several college basketball teams as they look to build up their NCAA Tournament resumes.

Conference title races are also heating up across the country, and those races will be affected by some big games taking place this week. With that in mind, here are four of the best NCAA basketball games to watch this week.

Tuesday: Illinois Fighting Illini at Purdue Boilermakers

The biggest NCAA basketball game of the week takes place on Tuesday night as the Purdue Boilermakers host the Illinois Fighting Illini. First place in the Big Ten Conference will be on the line, and this could be a Top-10 matchup when the latest rankings come out.

Purdue won the first meeting of the season at Illinois, but that games was a double-overtime thriller. This game should be just as tight as both of these teams have what it takes to go on a deep run in March.

Kofi Cockburn has dominated teams all season long for the Illini, but Purdue has plenty of size to throw at him. Purdue is a team that is loaded with talent, and they can put up points in a hurry.

Illinois is finally starting to get healthy again, and they have what it takes to beat anyone on the road. The Boilermakers aren’t just a normal team, though, and they are going to take care of business and beat the Illini to sweep the season series.

Friday: UConn Huskies at Xavier Musketeers

The Big East Conference title race is starting to shape up a bit, but top teams continue to be upset on a regular basis. Xavier hosts UConn on Friday night for what should be a great matchup of Top 25 teams.

Both teams are holding opponents to right around 64 points per game, and this matchup could be played at a slow pace. UConn has been the better offensive team this season as they are pouring in 78 points per game.

Home court advantage plays a key role in most Big East Conference matchups, and that will come into play in this game. Xavier is going to find just enough offense to pick up a much-needed win.

Saturday: Texas Longhorns at Baylor Bears

The Baylor Bears have started to show some cracks in the armor of late, but they return this weekend for a huge showdown with the Texas Longhorns. These two teams have had an impressive rivalry over the last few years, and that should continue in this one.

Texas is an elite defensive team that is holding opponents to just 55 points per game. Baylor is pouring in nearly 78 points per game, and this will be a matchup of two teams with different styles.

The Longhorns have what it takes to win this game, but they just won’t be able to keep up with the explosive Baylor offense. The Bears hold serve at home to pick up a huge win in the Big 12 Conference.

Saturday: UCLA Bruins at USC Trojans

The Pac-12 Conference has three Final Four caliber teams this season, and two of them are set to meet up on Saturday night when USC hosts UCLA. Not only is this game big for the current conference race, but this is also a massive rivalry game.

USC has a ton of size to throw at the UCLA Bruins, but the visitors have a roster that is loaded with talent. Each team will be attempting to establish their identity in hopes of picking up a significant win on Saturday night.

The Trojans are having a terrific season, but proving it against a team like UCLA is going to be a real test. Look for USC to give UCLA a great battle on Saturday night, but the Bruins are simply the more complete team.

Stay tuned for more NCAAB sports betting content over at sportsgambling.us!


NBA Rookie of the Year Current Betting Odds

The NBA division races aren’t the only thing that is heating up now that the calendar has flipped to February. Individual awards races are also starting to get tight across the league, and there are some big awards handed out at the end of the season.

The Rookie of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious in the NBA, and there are always some great rookies in the league. That is the case again this season as well, but it appears that one player has started to pull away from the pack.

The betting odds for this award are announced as soon as the NBA Draft is complete, but they are constantly changing throughout the year. Here are the latest NBA Rookie of the Year betting odds:

  • Evan Mobley (Cleveland) -250
  • Cade Cunningham (Detroit) +600
  • Scottie Barnes (Toronto) +650
  • Franz Wagner (Orlando) +1400
  • Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City) +3500
  • Jalen Green (Houston) +6600
  • Chris Duarte (Indiana) +6600
  • Ayo Dosunmu (Chicago) +6600
  • Alperen Sengun (Houston) +10000
  • Davion Mitchell (Sacramento) +15000
  • Jalen Suggs (Orlando) +15000
  • Cameron Thomas (Brooklyn) +25000

These are the odds entering February, but you are going to see some players drop off of the list as the season moves along. Injuries can also have a significant impact on this race, and that will be something to follow as the season moves along.

Where Did Mobley Come From?

Cade Cunningham was the top overall draft pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Detroit Pistons. The top overall picks aren’t always the betting favorites to win this award, but that was the case with Cunningham before the season began.

The rookie guard has had a solid season for Detroit, but he is no longer the favorite as Evan Mobley has risen to the top. Mobley has been terrific during his first season in a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform, and he has his team near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

The big man is averaging 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while also being a dominant presence on the defensive end of the floor. If Mobley continues to play that well for the Cavs, then it is going to be hard for Cunningham or anyone else for that matter to catch him.

Scottie Barnes (+650) of the Toronto Raptors is another player that is still in the mix, but his team is struggling to remain in the playoff race. These three players are clearly the favorites to win the award, but there is still plenty of season remaining.

Rising Stars Rookie Team Announced

The NBA All-Star Game is coming up, and that has turned into a weekend-long event. One of the top events that weekend is the Rising Stars Challenge, and the rookie squad was just recently announced.

Here are the 12 rookies that were chosen to represent the rookie class:

  • Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
  • Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
  • Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls
  • Chris Duarte, Indiana Pacers
  • Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Jalen Green, Houston Rockets
  • Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
  • Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings
  • Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
  • Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
  • Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

Underdogs Lurking?

The Rising Stars Rookie team looks very similar to the current betting odds to win the ROTY Award. The fact that there are three clear betting favorites has been established, but there are some underdogs that can still make a run.

Ayo Dosunmu of the Chicago Bulls is one of those players, and his odds continue to get better as time goes on. Dosunmu is now listed at +6600, but there is plenty of value there as he is now starting in Chicago, and that team is leading the East.

Josh Giddey (+3500) of the Oklahoma City Thunder is another name to watch out for, but his team isn’t going to give him much help.

Stay tuned for more NBA sports betting content over at sportsgambling.us!


Early Super Bowl LVI Betting Preview

Super Bowl LVI is set for February 13, and it will be a matchup that almost no one predicted before the regular season began. It will be the Los Angeles Rams playing in their home stadium, and the Cincinnati Bengals will be coming to town.

Cincinnati was predicted to finish in fourth place in the AFC North this season, but the Bengals were able to win that division to reach the postseason. The Bengals then pulled off two straight playoff upsets, including a stunning comeback win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Los Angeles was on the shortlist of Super Bowl betting favorites, and they seemed to get better as the year moved along. The Rams upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs and then beat the 49ers to win the NFC Championship Game.

The Rams have opened up as 4.5-point betting favorites over the Bengals in the Super Bowl.

Bengals Beating Teams With Offense

The Bengals have been getting good work from the defense at times during the postseason, but this team wants to win games on offense. Cincinnati has a superstar quarterback and wide receiver combination, and running back Joe Mixon has been terrific as well.

Joe Burrow threw for over 4,600 yards during the regular season, and he just continued to get better as the season went along. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been terrific as a rookie, and he racked up nearly 1,500 receiving yards during the regular season.

The Cincinnati defense gave up 21 first-half points to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, but then that unit completely shut down Patrick Mahomes and company. The secondary of the Bengals will have to play well in the Super Bowl, especially trying to find a way to slow down Cooper Kupp.

Cincinnati is a young team that is riding the momentum wave at this time. If the Bengals can take care of the ball, then they will have a chance.

LA Loaded With Talent

The Rams are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and the roster is full of players looking for their first title. Aaron Donald leads a relentless defense, and quarterback Matthew Stafford has been terrific when leading the offense.

Stafford threw for nearly 4,900 yards and 41 touchdowns this season, but taking care of the football is sometimes an issue for the veteran. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp is the best in the NFL, and he just continues to find ways to get open against defenses.

The Rams don’t always run the ball well, and that can present some issues against a strong defense. Los Angeles will need to mix in some runs if they want to keep the Bengals honest in the Super Bowl.

Donald leads a defensive line that can get pressure on Burrow, and that is going to be a huge key in this matchup. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey will be matched up against Chase, and that matchup could ultimately determine the outcome of this game.

Rams Roll to Victory

The Cincinnati Bengals have been on a remarkable roll in the postseason, but that momentum is going to run out eventually. Cincinnati is going to have a tough time scoring enough points to win this one as they are facing a relentless defense.

The Rams are attempting to win this Super Bowl with hardly ever running the football, but that strategy has been working out well for them up to this point. Stafford to Kupp continues to be a combination that is impossible to slow down, and then the Rams defense will do its job as well.

This game will be entertaining for a half, but the home team will take complete control in the second half. Take the Rams -4.5 as they roll over the Bengals at home in Super Bowl LVI.

Stay tuned for more NFL sports betting content over at sportsgambling.us!


Way Too Early Odds to win 2023 College Football Playoff

The dust has barely settled on the 2022 College Football Championship Game, with the Georgia Bulldogs knocking off the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the title. Even though we are still 12 months away from the next title game, it’s never too early to start looking ahead at the odds for 2023.

You will see plenty of the same names when looking ahead at the future odds. There can always be some surprise teams that make a run, but the same programs always seem to rise to the top. 

Without further ado, here is a look at those odds:

Title Game Rematch?

The early college football playoff odds make it seem like a rematch will take place in 2023, with Georgia and Alabama squaring off. Even though these are conference foes, there always seems to be a path for two SEC teams to reach the College Football Playoff. 

The Alabama Crimson Tide is currently the betting favorite to win the 2023 College Football Playoff, with odds set as low as +325. Alabama is normally the betting favorite in every season as Nick Saban continues to recruit better than anyone else in the country. 

Alabama is once again the favorite to win the National Championship in 2023.

Georgia is right behind Alabama in terms of betting odds, as those odds for the Bulldogs are at +350. This college football program hasn’t been as successful as Alabama over the past decade, but they have been extremely close. 

Some college football fans might be getting tired of seeing the same matchup every year, but these two programs just continue to put out terrific teams

Who Can Contend?

Georgia and Alabama might be the current betting favorites, but there is still plenty of time before next season even begins. Things can also go wrong for the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide once the year starts, and that will give teams a chance to sneak in and challenge for a title.

Three teams look like the most prominent challengers, and here are the current odds for those teams:

Ohio State +700

Clemson +1200

Michigan +1200

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Clemson Tigers have routinely been in the College Football Playoff, but each team fell short this season. The oddsmakers are looking for both programs to bounce back in a big way, potentially with a College Football Championship. 

Michigan finally became a title contender again this season, but there might be a chance that their head coach bolts for the NFL. The Wolverines do have a loaded roster and a great recruiting class coming in, and they should factor into the outcome next year. 

Best of the Rest

It’s going to be hard to get past the top five teams on the list, but the College Football Playoff is not going to include two teams from two separate conferences. If you are looking to bet on this type of Futures market, you will want to take a close look at the teams we will mention below. 

Notre Dame is always a team that appears to be in the mix, and they have odds set at +2000. Oklahoma and Oregon are two other programs that are usually considered for a spot in the College Football Playoff, and these teams have odds set at +2000 and +3300 respectively

What you won’t see on the list below is any team from the Group of Five. Cincinnati made a stunning run to the College Football Playoff in 2022, but don’t expect that to become a normal occurrence. 

Here are the rest of the College Football Championship odds for the next nine teams on the list:

Texas A&M +1600

Notre Dame +2000

Oklahoma +2000

Oklahoma State +3300

Oregon +3300

Texas +3300

USC +3300

Utah +3300

Wisconsin +3300


NFL Opening Round Playoff Betting Previews

The opening round of the NFL Playoffs is set to begin this weekend, and there are six games on the schedule. These games will span from Saturday through Monday, which will create plenty of terrific betting opportunities.

Here is a quick rundown of the six games on the schedule, and a betting preview for each matchup. 

Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals -5.5

The Raiders enter the postseason with a ton of momentum after winning their last four games. Las Vegas has a tough matchup this Saturday though, as they take on the surging Cincinnati Bengals.

If you are a fan of points, this is the game to watch. Both teams can light up the scoreboard in a hurry, but the Bengals have the better quarterback-wide receiver duo.

Ja’Marr Chase has racked up 1,455 receiving yards this season, and Joe Burrow threw for more than 4,600 yards. Las Vegas has some issues in the secondary, and the Bengals win and cover the spread because of it

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills -4.0

The Buffalo Bills will host the New England Patriots on Saturday night. These teams split the regular season meetings this year

Buffalo wants to use the passing attack to take control, but New England has a history of getting stops in the postseason. 

The Patriots stumbled down the stretch, losing three of their last four games. New England put up some big offensive numbers, but the defense is dealing with too many injuries.

Buffalo did not have as dominant of a season as they had hoped, but this will provide a chance to reset. The Bills will win this game, but look for a late field goal to be the difference.

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers -8.5

The defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers begin their title defense by hosting the Philadelphia Eagles. Injuries are a significant concern for the Bucs, but this team is still loaded with talent

Jalen Hurts threw for 3,144 yards this season for the Eagles, but he doesn’t always get a ton of help. The Eagles’ defense has shown the ability to give up big plays, which will impact this one as well. 

This one might get out of hand in a hurry as the Buccaneers roll into the second round with a win

San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys -3.0

The 49ers and Cowboys used to have a terrific NFL rivalry, and things will get heated back up on Sunday. Dallas is going to look to throw their way to a win, while the 49ers feature a ferocious defense

The biggest difference in this matchup will come on the offensive side of the ball, and few teams have been able to slow down the Cowboys. San Francisco can keep this close for awhile, but they just don’t have the talent to keep up.

This one will be tight, but the Cowboys win this game by a touchdown, at least

Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs -12.5

The Chiefs are not the top seed in the AFC, but they still enter the playoffs as the betting favorite to win the conference. Kansas City can still score points in a hurry, but the defense has taken the most significant step forward this season. 

Pittsburgh had to sneak into the playoffs, and this doesn’t feel like a team with a real shot to win the AFC. The Steelers are a proud franchise with plenty of recent postseason success, and they should keep this one close.

This could be Ben Roethlisberger’s final game in the NFL.

The Chiefs win, but look for the Steelers to battle, and taking the 12.5 points is the way to go

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams -4.0

The best game of the opening round might be taking place on Monday night as the Los Angeles Rams host the Arizona Cardinals. These two NFC West rivals have both struggled a bit of late, but both teams feature terrific offenses that can score in a hurry.

Throughout the year, Los Angeles has been the better defensive team, and quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown for nearly 5,000 yards. Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray has been solid as well, but teams have started to slow him down. 

There doesn’t appear to be much separation between the rivals, but the Rams will win this game and cover the spread