Bold Bets for College Football's Most Likable Teams

Here we are, at the start of a season that wonders if anyone's gonna break the Alabama-Clemson stranglehold on the top rung, and this poll shows up?

Likability?

Kinda shows how popular the sport remains when outlets are scrounging for content like that.

Popular games and teams aren't necessarily where the best bets are found, but what the hell. It's Week 1.

 

Unpredictabilty will reign until teams start showing who they're gonna be this season, so let's go with the silly stuff.

Some of it, anyway.

We were poring over the entire list before post time. Here are some of our previous thoughts and, in one instance, how they fared.

 

Not that we give credence to any sort of rankings around here -- as the Daily Player 12 vigil mocking the College Football Playoff system as it stands should confirm -- but those listed here are where teams landed in the Likability poll.

Left unsaid is how that poll avoided all of those teams' rivals.

6. Wisconsin Badgers: Total Wins 8½

Wisconsin reminds me of the stock market. Everyone is talking about a recession.

The Badgers should go through their own gridiron recession this season. The offensive line is rebuilding. The defense is a mess. Full disclosure: I liked the early +9½ on South Florida yesterday, but at least it was a win. One down, eight to go for the cover.

Result: Wisconsin 49 South Florida 0
Comment: Looks like Hurricane Badger beat Hurricane Dorian to the punch. Jonathan Taylor was alive, well, and on the loose.

 

8. Northwestern Wildcats – ATS versus Ohio State

We all need to work together and come up with a nickname for the Northwestern Wildcats. Maybe, NTW-Dub or something like that.

Nobody likes the Wildcats to cover football games this year. But, you know who they should like less to cover? The Ohio State University.

Really, dudes, you want to copyright The?

 

The government should allow the Buckeyes to do it so we can start to refer to them as The. In any case, Northwestern will cover the spread against The on Fri 18 Oct.

5. Central Florida Knights – ATS vs Stanford

Why’d those dudes drop Golden from the name? They were golden for so long. Then, as soon as They got really good, they decided to stop being golden and just be the Knights.

At least it's more all-encompassing.

 

I’m not sure if they'll go undefeated again, but they should definitely cover the -3 against Stanford on Sat 14 Sep.

9. Texas A&M Aggies – Moneyline vs Georgia

Jimbo’s team could be in a fat world of hurt if things don’t work out. The guess here is that things do work out this season.

A&M is strong. The Aggies are finally living up to their farming moniker. Dudes should sprout wins all season long.

The best? How about upsetting the Dawgs in Georgia on Sat 23 Nov?

 

Backing A&M on the moneyline could lead to a small fortune, which means you, too, could join the other half and know how they live.

4. Washington State Cougars – Wins Total Over 8

Thank goodness the Cougs went 11-2 last season. Football fans can finally start to forget about new ESPN analyst Ryan Leaf.

“What! What was that! What’s the best bet on Washington State!” I just threw a towel right now.

 

Really, how can you bet against Mike Leach? Dude can flat-out coach.

OK, Oregon wants to. Wazzu's won four straight against the Ducks. The Cougars may do it again on their way to a cover.

2. Oregon Ducks – Wins Total Under 8½

Wouldja look at that. No 2! This likability poll musta ignored the West Coast. This squad's been an acquired taste after they went full Nike.

Personally, I liked the Ducks more when Donald was their mascot instead of the weekly spandex fashion show, but …

 

In any case, this team's as overrated as CBD Oil, which is as overrated as patchouli. So, most definitely go under 8½ on the Nike Ducks’ total.

3. Texas Longhorns – Not to cover vs Oklahoma

Talk to any Texas fan, and they'll tell you how awesome it is to be in Austin, surrounded by fellow humans who prefer to live in nature and gigantic tech companies who run every facet of our lives.

Longhorn fans will also tell you why T-E-X-A-S is the best college football program of all time.

 

Newsflash, Longhorn McFly’s, you’ve only won five championships, and you haven’t taken one since 1981.

What’s the best bet on a Texas game? Oklahoma to win and cover against the Longhorns on Sat 12 Oct.

7. Georgia Bulldogs – Not to get CFP bid at -165

Right now, thousands of UGA fans are high-fiving themselves because they’re one of the most popular teams and Alabama, LSU, and Florida aren’t.

 

Dawg Fan, let me explain: you’re popular because your bulldog mascot is oh-so-cute!

What the hell is a Crimson Tide, anyway? And, Gators aren’t cute. Tigers can be if they’re not mauling you.

So, that’s why you’re popular. In regards to this season, you won’t be able to quote DeNiro in Cape Fear and say to Alabama, “I’m better than you! I’m smarter than you!”

 

That’s because you won’t make the CFP at overlay odds of -165. But, you'll always be able to say, “I’m more popular than you!”

1. Oklahoma Sooners – Wins Total Over 10½; Jalen Hurts to Win Heisman

The Sooners are the most liked team in the nation? Really?

I suppose it means most football fans could care less about defense. Not even a great defensive coordinator like Alex Grinch can run up the chimney with the presents that the Oklahoma defense keeps shelling to opponents each and every season.

 

Although Grinch might go back to the freaky home he’s got on top of the mountain overlooking Whoville, only the Sooners have a player named Jalen who can put the Hurts onto other teams.

Oklahoma’s a lock to go undefeated. So, crush it by going over 10½. And pick up some additional bucks by backing Jalen to take the Heisman.

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Sportbet Columnist: Josh Bailey

Aspiring to become the Mark Twain of sportswriting, Josh has been labelled as the up-&-coming sportswriter of the year by absolutely nobody and the new heavy hitter in sports handicapping by his mother.