After an incredible conference championship game weekend, the College Football Playoff committee crunched the numbers, analyzed the film, and filled out the new 12-team format. The rankings weren’t without controversy (are they ever?), but what was left after the initial shock was a competitive field vying to make history. I’ve gone through this loaded bracket and, below, shared my favorite futures for this upcoming spectacle on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Are We Sure Penn State Lost?
In a crucial spot, Penn State fell short again. A win against Oregon would’ve earned the program its first Big Ten crown since 2016, a guaranteed bye, and the top seed in the Playoff. The Nittany Lions lost a thriller against the Ducks, marking the second blemish on their campaign and slipping to the number six seed. They didn’t try to lose, but maybe they should’ve.
Penn State gets the best draw by far, getting SMU in the first round, with Boise State on the horizon. The Pony Express has been an incredible Cinderella story throughout its first year in the ACC, but they don’t have the athletes to compete with James Franklin’s squad. It’s a similar script for the Broncos, who have Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty but lack defensive playmakers to slow down this high-powered offense.
This group is far from perfect, but they have NFL guys at every level. This sport has never been more balanced, but Penn State simply outclasses these opponents.
The Bet: Penn State Over 1.5 CFP Wins (-205)
The Dawgs Get Another Bone
Less than two weeks ago, Georgia survived an eight-overtime disaster class at home against hated rival Georgia Tech. It was the latest underwhelming Bulldogs performance that immediately faded into obscurity once they outlasted the Longhorns to win the SEC and catapult to the two seed. The victory came at the expense of losing veteran signal-caller Carson Beck, who left early with a gruesome shoulder injury. His status is unclear, but backup Gunner Stockton is more than competent to take the reins.
Regardless of who is at quarterback, Georgia avoided the big three (Texas, Oregon, Ohio State) on their side of the bracket. The Dawgs, instead, likely have to deal with Notre Dame and Penn State—impressive teams that are deeply flawed. Whether it’s Beck or Stockton, Kirby Smart just needs his quarterback to be a game manager to win games.
If they faced a different path, this group would face an early exit. This dream route is too favorable for the best coach in the field who won’t take this opportunity for granted.
The Bet: Georgia to Reach CFP Championship Game (+150)
Oregon’s Quest for Perfection
Oregon has hundreds of thousands of jersey combinations but has never won a national title. It’s a jeer that has gone triple-platinum in social media comment sections and a permanent reminder that despite their threads, the Ducks have never been able to sit at the head of the table. That likely bothers everyone in Eugene—except for Dan Lanning and his program.
It starts with the man under center—no one’s had more collegiate starts than Dillon Gabriel. It extends to the perimeter, where Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart are two of the most dangerous receiver duos in the country. They have the ground game, with Jordan James and Noah Whittington, both bruisers with home run speed. After a rough start, the offensive line has kept Gabriel clean and opened plenty of prosperous rush lanes. The defense is inconsistent, but it has the two best pass rushers in their conference and always makes a play when they have to.
This is the best team in America. They have the infrastructure and tools ready to elevate this brand to the next level. It’s the Ducks’ chip to lose.
Best Bet: Oregon Wins the National Championship (+350)
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is xaiver-aguiar) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
