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The 2014-15 college football season saw an FBS champion crowned for the first time through a playoff format. The Ohio State Buckeyes faced off against the Oregon Ducks on the biggest stage, and it was the former that walked away victorious, 42-20.
NCAA Football Gambling Lines
- NCAA Offseason Polls
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This season, OSU will enter the field as the favorites. That’s the natural transition from champion to championship-seeker, but there will certainly be questions for the program to answer throughout the year.
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Here’s a look at the Buckeyes, as well as the contenders that are projected to challenge the champs during the 2015-16 season.
Ohio State Buckeyes (7/2)
The Buckeyes will have to answer the question of the three-headed monster that they have at quarterback. Where is Braxton Miller in his rehab process, and will he be considered a candidate to start as a one-time Heisman hopeful. What about Cardale Jones, who just won a championship last season, but was able to ride the hot streak of Ezekiel Elliott late in the year? And how about J.T. Barrett, who looked as if he was going to be the one to give OSU its championship before getting hurt?
The good news? Ohio State really can’t go wrong. It has a championship squad in place to make up for any adjustments the team is forced to make, and there’s really no wrong answer with these guys behind center.
Elliott also can’t be ignored here. Getting hot at the end of last season has put him in Heisman contention this year, and there’s no reason to believe that hot streak will slow down.
The Buckeyes are the favorites to win next year’s championship for good reason. Expect them to be in this position most, if not all of 2015.
Alabama Crimson Tide (7/1)
The only reason Alabama wasn’t in the title game last season was because of the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Crimson Tide lost to OSU in the semifinals, which means only the eventual champions could get in the way of Alabama’s chase for the crystal trophy.
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As long as Nick Saban is coaching this squad, there’s no reason to believe it’ll fall off the map of championship contention. Alabama was ranked No. 1 overall at the end of last year’s regular season, and if they’re able to roll through the conference in 2015, it’s conceivable to believe they could do the same.
This team does have considerable losses to consider. Quarterback Blake Sims and wide receiver Amari Cooper are no longer on the roster, but Saban has done a solid job of preparing the team for their departures. ESPN lists this team’s 2015 recruiting class as the best in the nation.
You also can’t count out Lane Kiffin as the offensive coordinator, who has seemingly settled into his role as a behind-the-scenes man who can make a difference — so long as he’s not expected to run an entire team.
TCU (10/1)
The TCU Horned Frogs didn’t qualify for the College Football Playoffs last season, but that hasn’t stopped oddsmakers from considering them a top-three favorite going into the 2015-16 campaign.
TCU finished sixth in the rankings last season after going 11-1. Although strength of schedule is always considered, the subjectivity of the rankings led to the debate as to whether or not this squad deserved a shot to prove itself worthy of title contention.
This year, the team might be tougher to ignore if Trevone Boykin has as promising of a year as he’s expected to have. He’s a top Heisman Trophy candidate, and if he puts together a true Heisman-worthy season in another one-loss campaign, this group could make the playoffs without much debate.
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Without a single ranked opponent on the schedule to start the year, the discussion won’t disappear altogether. But look for this group to push a perfect record.
Odds To Win 2016 NCAA Championship
Ohio State 7/2
Alabama 7/1
TCU 10/1
Auburn 12/1
Florida State 14/1
USC 18/1
Baylor 20/1
Notre Dame 20/1
Clemson 22/1
Oregon 22/1
Georgia 25/1
LSU 25/1
Michigan State 25/1
Oklahoma 25/1
Stanford 33/1
Texas A&M 33/1
UCLA 33/1
Arkansas 40/1
Michigan 40/1
Mississippi 40/1
Tennessee 50/1
Arizona State 66/1
Florida 66/1
Mississippi State 66/1
Nebraska 66/1
Oklahoma State 66/1
Texas 66/1
Miami 75/1
Wisconsin 75/1
Check out our Updated College Football Odds.
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