College football futures are continuing its trend of being a broken record.
Shocker alert: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia are favorites to win the college football championship.
For a time that many are pointing to parody in many college and professional sports, it feels like college football is reverting back to its old ways of featuring less than a handful of teams capable of winning a title.
What’s the fun in picking one of those teams to win the title anyway, especially with the Crimson Tide going off at a ridiculous +175 to win the championship, which is an overwhelming favorite against the other three teams mentioned?
If you want some value, and maybe a sneaky pick to make some noise this season, check out these three sleepers in college football futures.
Texas Longhorns, +4500
In Tom Herman I trust.
College football is all about the head coach and Herman is one of the best coaches in the country. That’s why the Longhorns went to a bowl game in 2017 and the improvement should continue in 2018.
The Longhorns were the best defense in the Big 12 in 2017 and that shouldn’t change this season. The biggest issues from last year stemmed from the offense, and with Herman at the helm as an offensive guru, that should change for the better in 2018.
Is Texas as good as the previously mentioned teams? On paper, no. But the Longhorns should compete for a Big 12 title, putting them in the category of teams that can compete for the playoff.
Texas will make major strides on offense, and with a solid defense to depend on, expect the Longhorns to make some noise in 2018.
Washington Huskies, +2200
Just outside those top-four picks rests the Huskies, with solid value as the most talented team out West.
Washington is loaded on both sides of the ball, especially on the offensive line. Both offensive tackles are NFL prospects to help keep veteran starter Jake Browning off the ground.
Defensively, the Huskies are loaded in the secondary.
The Huskies have the talent to win the Pac-12, so that’s encouraging in picking them to win the national championship. The biggest question mark rests with Browning to make sure his junior season isn’t a predictor for his senior campaign.
Washington has as much talent as the top teams in the country, so it offers tremendous upside in college football futures.
TCU Horned Frogs, +10000
If you’re looking for a major sleeper entering the 2018, check out the Horned Frogs.
TCU will have one of the better defensive units in the Big 12, and have assembled a roster filled with talented skill position players.
What I like about the Big 12 is that I’m not buying into Oklahoma again, based on the Bob Stoops effect. One year removed from Stoops was good, but much like what has happened in the past with major college football programs, the longer that mainstay is gone, the further down the program goes.
So naturally, I’m looking for some value, and the Horned Frogs have as much talent as any program in the Big 12. TCU has to break in a new quarterback and offensive line, but there’s enough around those positions to make a mark in the wide-open Big 12.
