Best Long-Shot Odds & Picks to Make the College Football Playoffs (2022)

Aug 18, 2022 - 1:21 PM

The college football season is right around the corner, and the favorites to win the NCAA Championship look very similar to how they have in the past. Perennial favorites Alabama, Ohio St and Georgia again have the most favorable odds to make it to the College Football Playoff.

However, after Cincinnati made it into the playoffs a season ago, many wonder who could be this year’s long shot with a chance to sneak into the playoffs. Below we look at the three best long-shot bets to make the College Football Playoff this year.

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Miami Hurricanes (+1200)

Could this be the year the Miami Hurricanes live up to the hype? With first-year head coach Mario Cristobal at the helm, the Canes rank No. 16 in the AP poll into the season. This isn’t new territory for Miami. It seems like every time they get a new head coach, which has been often in recent years, there is the expectation that they will win immediately. Yet, no coach has been able to produce.

However, with Tyler Van Dyke under center and playing in a weak ACC Coastal, the Canes have a clear path to the College Football Playoff. First, there is the schedule. The Hurricanes have three preseason-ranked opponents on their schedule, which gives them plenty of opportunities to get the big wins necessary to get to the College Football Playoff.

Second, there is the weakness of the Coastal. The Canes are currently favored, and if they can get by Texas A&M in Week 3, they could go into their Nov. 19 matchup with Clemson undefeated and potentially with the Coastal already wrapped up. And finally, Miami has the name recognition to get into the playoff even if they finish the regular season with a loss.

Oregon Ducks (+1200)

The Ducks’ outlook on the season is similar to that of the Hurricanes. They begin the year with their biggest game of the season, a road contest against No. 3 Georgia. The Ducks are 17.5-point underdogs in that game, but if they manage to keep it close or somehow win, their chances of making the College Football Playoff skyrocket.

Oregon should be able to take care of business in the Pac-12 North all before taking on Pac-12 favorite Utah on Nov. 19. The key for the Ducks is that game against the Utes will be played in Eugene, which is a huge advantage for Oregon.

Oregon will get one more ranked opponent when they welcome BYU on Sept. 17. The Ducks need to go 2-1 in their three games against ranked opponents. If one of those wins is over Georgia, they could be one of the surprise teams in the mix for the College Football Playoff.

North Carolina State Wolfpack (+1400)

The Wolfpack are one of the best longshots for the College Football Playoff based on the easiness of their schedule. Their opener at East Carolina could be tricky, but it’s a game they should ultimately win. They then head home for three consecutive games against Charleston Southern, Texas Tech and UConn.

They should be 4-0 heading into their road contest at Clemson. It’s the toughest game on their schedule and likely the game that will determine who wins the ACC Atlantic. NC State needs to win if they have any chance of making it to the playoffs.

After their game against Clemson, NC State should be favored for the remainder of the season. Could an 11-1 mark, with their only loss on the road in Death Valley, be enough to get the Wolfpack into the playoffs? A lot would have to happen around the country. Yet, at these odds, the Wolfpack are a solid play to be one of the four teams battling for a National Championship.

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Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.

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