We’re just a few weeks away from kicking off the 2022 NCAA football season and football fans around the country can’t wait for it to get started. As your leader in online sports betting, Bovada Sportsbook will have NCAAF odds available on all the action throughout the entire 2022 season.
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You should always start the year with a bit of handicapping homework, researching the top-ranked teams and players in order to gain some valuable insight into how the year will unfold. With that in mind, let’s review the NCAAF top 25 teams in college football heading into the 2022 season. The rankings are based on the current NCAAF Championship betting odds at Bovada Sportsbook.
Tennessee Volunteers +10000
Playing in the ultra-competitive SEC, there won’t be too many easy matchups for Tennessee this year. The Volunteers just squeaked out a winning record last year, finishing at 7-6 and posting an even record in conference play at 4-4. Vols fans are hoping to build on last year with starting quarterback Hendon Hooker coming back for his senior year alongside leading receiver Cedric Tillman. If Tennessee can get things straightened out in their secondary, the team will make a formidable opponent in 2022.
Mississippi State Bulldogs +10000
The good news for Mississippi State is that 8 of the team’s 11 starts on defense are coming back this year. Considering this stop-unit was just ranked fourth overall in the SEC, head coach Mike Leach is expecting big things from this defense once again. The bad news for the Bulldogs is that they’re dealing with a brutal schedule, facing off against the likes of Texas A&M, Georgia, Arkansas and Alabama.
Michigan State Spartans +10000
The Spartans had one of their best seasons in recent memory last year, finishing 11-2 in the Big Ten and ranking 9th in the nation. Stud running back Kenneth Walker is gone to the NFL, but Michigan State fans will get junior quarterback Payton Thorne back under center following a solid 27:10 TD to interception ratio in 2021. Aerial defense is the team’s primary concern, as the Spartans defense ranked 111th in the country against the pass last year.
Iowa Hawkeyes +10000
Kirk Ferentz is set to begin his 24th season as head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The team went 10-4 last year under Ferentz, enough for first place in the Big Ten West. They may have been beaten handily by Michigan in the conference title game but it was still a successful year for the program. Most of last year’s top defensive players are returning, giving Iowa the chance to make some real noise in the Big Ten if their offense can get on track.
Arkansas Razorbacks +10000
The Razorbacks football program took a big step forward last season. They finished 9-4 for their highest win total since 2011. Arkansas may not get all the headlines like SEC-rivals Alabama and Georgia, but the Razorbacks are playing well under head coach Sam Pittman. This team has dual-threat quarterback KJ Jefferson poised for a big year but will have to overcome the loss of star receiver Treylon Burkes to the NFL.
Kentucky Wildcats +10000
The Wildcats should be feeling confident after last year’s 10-3 season in the SEC East. The team ended things on a high note with a Citrus Bowl win over Iowa and will look to carry their success over to the 2022 campaign. Both their starting quarterback (Will Levis) and starting running back (Chris Rodriguez) are returning this year, but things may get tough for the Wildcats. They are without wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, as well as several offensive linemen and defensive players.
Baylor Bears +10000
Expectations are high for the Bears following last year’s 12-2 campaign, the best mark in the 122-year history of Baylor football. Head Coach Dave Aranda has turned this program in just two years at the helm and will look to build on that success in 2022. Blake Shapen will be back at quarterback, as will the majority of a defense that gave up fewer than 20 PPG last year, giving Baylor a legitimate shot at the Big 12 title in 2022.
Penn State Nittany Lions +10000
After finishing last year at 7-6 and outside the top 25, Penn State will be looking to bounce back in a big way with quarterback Sean Clifford returning for his senior year. Clifford threw for over 3,100 yards and 21 touchdowns but will need to make up for the loss of standout wide receiver Jahan Dotson to the NFL. With early matchups against Auburn and Michigan, it shouldn’t take long to see how the Nittany Lions are trending in 2022.
Oregon Ducks +9000
The Ducks seemed poised to make a run at last year’s College Football Playoffs, starting out with a 9-1 record before losing three of their final four games. The Ducks have lost head coach Mario Cristobal and also saw their leading rusher, Travis Dye, transfer to USC. It’s not all bad news for Oregon fans though, as the program hired coach Dan Lanning out of Georgia and had Auburn quarterback Bo Nix come aboard via the transfer portal.
Oklahoma State Cowboys +9000
The Cowboys are coming off their best season in nearly a decade, as the squad finished first in the Big 12 with a 12-2 record and capped the year off with a thrilling 37-35 Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame. Oklahoma State had an elite defense last year but will need to make up for the loss of coordinator Jim Knowles, as well as several contributors in the secondary. Despite those losses, the Cowboys remain the betting favorite to win this year’s Big 12 Championship.
Florida Gators +9000
Dan Mullen is out after going just 6-7 last year and new head coach Billy Napier will step in following a successful four-year stint as head coach at Louisiana. Napier brought his plans for a high-powered offense to Gainesville and has also attracted a number of talented players by embracing the NCAA transfer portal and NIL deals. Sophomore Anthony Richardson will start under center for the Gators this year as they look to bring this storied football program back to prominence.
Wisconsin Badgers +8000
Led by one of the best defenses in the country, Wisconsin went 9-4 and finished third in the Big Ten West in 2021. While there are still some questions surrounding the play of quarterback Graham Mertz, the Badgers have Braelon Allen returning following a monstrous freshmen campaign that saw him rush for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns. If Mertz can elevate his play and avoid costly turnovers, Wisconsin has the ground game and defense needed to make a serious bid for this year’s College Football Playoffs.
Miami Hurricanes +7000
The U has a new head coach with former Oregon coach Mario Cristobal taking over for his alma mater. The Hurricanes went just 7-5 last year in the ACC Coastal division but have a ton of talented players for Cristobal to develop. While the team lost some key contributors at receiver, quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is returning after throwing 25 touchdowns during last year’s freshmen season.
LSU Tigers +6500
Despite winning the College Football Playoff National Championship Game just three years ago, head coach Ed Orgeron is gone after posting a 6-7 record last season and finishing dead last in the SEC West. Former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly is taking over in Baton Rouge and he joins a program filled with talented playmakers. The Tigers have yet to name their starting quarterback from the upcoming campaign, but many believe Jayden Daniels will get the nod after transferring from Arizona State.
Utah Utes +6000
The Utes posted a 10-4 record in 2021, including an impressive 8-1 mark in Pac-12 conference play. After beating Oregon to capture the program’s first ever Pac-12 championship, Utah ended up pushing the Ohio State Buckeyes to their limit in the Rose Bowl before eventually losing 48-45. Starting quarterback Cameron Rising will be back, as will leading rusher Tavion Thomas, but the Utes will need to overcome the loss of several key players to the NFL such as receiver Britain Covey and linebacker Devin Lloyd.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish +4500
With Brian Kelly off to LSU, a new era of Notre Dame football is set to kick off under head coach Marcus Freeman. As the team’s former defensive coordinator, Freeman enters this season already familiar with the players and will look to equal or better the team’s 11-2 record from last year. It won’t be easy with quarterback Jack Coan gone to the NFL, as are the team’s leading rusher and leading receiver from last season. Don’t be surprised if there’s a bit of a learning curve for Notre Dame in 2022.
Texas Longhorns +4000
This year’s Longhorns team is a great example of how today’s college football programs can turn things around in a hurry. Texas went just 5-7 in the Big 12 last year but got a major boost from the transfer portal as the team landed former five-star quarterback recruit Quinn Ewers after just one season at Ohio State. Texas will also have running back Bijan Robinson and receiver Xavier Worthy back this year, which can only help Ewers’ development. With a Week 2 matchups against Alabama, this young Texas team will have an early opportunity to show the country what they can do.
Oklahoma Sooners +4000
The Sooners went 11-2 last year but will look like a much different team in 2022 as head coach Lincoln Riley has been replaced by former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables. While Oklahoma lost their top two passers (Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams) to the transfer portal, the team managed to lure quarterback Dillon Gabriel away from UCF. The Sooners are expecting big things from Gabriel and the team is the current betting favorite to this year’s Big 12 Championship.
Michigan Wolverines +4000
With last year’s 12-2 campaign and big win over rival Ohio State, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh finally had the breakthrough many expected when he first took the job back in 2015. As the third-ranked team in the country, Michigan made it into last year’s College Football Playoff but ended up losing to the eventual National Champion Georgia Bulldogs in the semifinals. While Harbaugh and much of last year’s offense are returning this season, the team has lost a majority of their defensive starters and could struggle against the top offenses in the FBS.
Texas A&M Aggies +2500
The Aggies shocked all of college football when they beat No. 1 ranked Alabama last season, but the team faltered down the stretch and finished outside the top 25 after losses to Ole Miss and LSU. The Aggies lost running back Isaiah Spiller and tight end Jalen Wydermyer to the NFL, but things are still looking up for Texas A&M after head coach Jimbo Fisher helped pull off one of the best recruiting classes in the program’s history.
USC Trojans +2000
With the transfer portal and lucrative NIL deals taking over college football, USC has become an even more attractive destination for players. In addition to landing Oregon running back Travis Dye and Pittsburgh receiver Jordan Addison through the transfer portal, the Trojans were also able to lure Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley to sunny California. After going just 4-8 last season, the former college football powerhouse seems to be trending in the right direction once again.
Clemson Tigers +1000
The Tigers finished a respectable 10-3 last season but head coach Dabo Swinney will need to improve on the offensive side of the ball if the team wants to make it to this year’s College Football Playoffs. Clemson remains stout on defense with NFL-ready athletes like Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy defending the line of scrimmage, but the Tigers will need a more efficient passing game for any chance at a national championship in 2022.
Georgia Bulldogs +400
Georgia enjoyed a dream season last year, going 14-1 and winning the College Football Playoff National Championship Game over Alabama, 33-18. The defending champs will have their work cut out for them this season, as only three starters are returning from last year’s dominant defense. The good news is that Georgia had no trouble recruiting a number of talented players to fill those spots. With head coach Kirby Smart still running the show and quarterback Stetson Bennett returning for another year, back-to-back titles is not out of the question for Georgia.
Ohio State Buckeyes +300
The Buckeyes head into the 2022 season with what is arguably the best offense in college football. Heisman finalist quarterback C.J. Stroud is back, as is star running back TreVeyon Henderson and leading receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Buckeyes went 11-2 last year but fans were left disappointed after losing to rival Michigan and just barely missing out on the College Football Playoffs. If new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles can improve this team’s stop unit, Ohio State has all the pieces needed to content for a national title.
Alabama Crimson Tide +175
No team in the nation has better odds of winning the 2022 CFP National Championship than Alabama. Head coach Nick Saban returns for his 16th season with the Crimson Tide and will be looking to win the 8th National Championship of his legendary coaching career. With starting quarterback Bryce Young back for another season and 8 of 11 starters returning on defense, this Alabama team is downright scary and has the potential to go undefeated in 2022.
*Odds subject to change
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There we have the NCAAF Top 25 rankings based on Bovada’s NCAAF Championship odds. So you can begin College Football betting, be sure to sign up to Bovada Sportsbook today. Once you create an account, make sure you claim your crypto sports welcome bonus.
