College football is just around the corner, and there’s no shortage of betting options available on the menu at DraftKings Sportsbook. This week the market for the Bear Bryant Award went live in certain states, with DraftKings Sportsbook proud to be first to market. It’s a rare award to have access to betting, which can always provide some intriguing options.
Bear Bryant Award Winner (CFB Coach of the Year)
The Bear Bryant award essentially represents the coach of the year in college football, and has been given out since 1986 after each team plays their Bowl Game. Okay, fun history lesson. Let’s get to some betting.
Mike Norvell (FSU) is the reigning award winner, taking FSU to a perfect 13-0 record before it was left out of the College Football Playoff, and eventually trounced by Georgia in a Bowl Game. The same happened back in 2017, when Scott Frost (UCF) won the award with the Knights going 13-0, but not being given a chance to participate in the CFP.
There’s been kind of a theme the last few years, as the award has gone to the “surprise team” that’s snuck into the CFP, or at least gotten extremely close in FSU’s case — but that changes this season with the field expanding to 12 teams. I’d be stunned if the Bear Bryant Award winner was not the coach of a team that reaches the CFP, especially with the new format. In 2022 Sonny Dykes (TCU) won the award after leading the Horned Frogs to a 12-0 regular season. TCU went on to make the CFP at 12-1, and even upset Michigan to reach the National Championship game. The year before, in 2021, the award went to Luke Fickell (Cincinnati), after leading the Bearcats to 13-0 and a trip to the CFP.
While recent awards have gone to more traditional powerhouses like Nick Saban (Alabama) in 2020, Ed Orgergon (LSU) in 2019 and Dabo Swinney (Clemson) in 2018 as well, there’s something to having more room to surpass expectations that can help a coach’s chances. Let’s breakdown some notable names on the board.
While Georgia and Ohio State are the favorites to win it all, it’s Dan Lanning (+700) of Oregon that’s priced as the Bear Bryant favorite. In fact, seven names are priced ahead of Kirby Smart (+1200) and Ryan Day (+1200). Kyle Wittingham (+900) of Utah is one that jumps out, and a former winner of the Bear Bryant Award. Utah is in a pretty good spot, moving from the PAC-12 to the Big 12, and favored in 11 games this season.
However, of the favorites, my eyes were drawn to Kalen DeBoer (+900), who takes over for Saban at Alabama. Yes, this is more of a traditional powerhouse, but expectations are at a low according to the market. ‘Bama moved from +600 to +1400 since Saban has retired, and the Tide typically have a win total of 11.5 or 10.5, and it’s down to 9.5 this year. Not to mention, DeBoer probably had just as good a case as Norvell for the award last season — he took Washington to 13-0 and reached the National Championship Game. If he can win 10 or 11 games at ‘Bama and make the CFP, DeBoer has a great shot.
As for the long shots, we want to look at teams that have the potential to be significantly better than the betting market suggests. And no, while all of you seem to be backing Colorado futures, I’m not talking about Deion Sanders (+2000). Brent Pry (+2500) from Virginia Tech, Kirk Ferentz (+2500) of Iowa, Mike Gundy (+3000) from Oklahoma State and Dave Doeren (+3000) of NC State are some that jump out in that regard. All four teams have a chance to go over their win total by multiple wins, and potentially even crack the CFP.
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All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
The contents contained in this article do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment.
