Futures Bets

Toledo is not just a favorite to win the MAC — they’re in a class of their own this season. When most teams in the MAC are being gutted by other schools for their talented players, the Rockets are actually improving significantly from last year, returning more production than any team in the conference, and it’s not particularly close (63% - 34th in the nation). They’ve paired that continuity with two massive backfield additions: redshirt senior transfers Chip Trayanum (former Kentucky & Ohio State back) and Kenji Christian. Trayanum, a former high 4-star recruit, with a Power 4 pedigree, brings physicality and experience to a ground game that’s already been a MAC strength.

Beyond the talent at running back, Toledo boasts the most talented and deepest roster in the MAC, and it’s backed by the top recruiting class in the conference, according to 247 Sports. Add to that a coaching staff that’s proven and now operating with elite continuity — and you’ve got a true conference bully. Even better? The Rockets also have the easiest schedule in the MAC (ranked just 133rd hardest in college football), with a path to Detroit that avoids several of the more dangerous crossover games other contenders have to navigate.

Given all that, the fact that Toledo is still available at +250 to win the MAC feels almost criminal. By comparison, Liberty is -115 to win Conference USA, in a league where the disparity between the top team and the rest of the league feels similiar. If you told me Toledo would be -110 or shorter, I wouldn’t blink. At +250, it’s the kind of number that makes you want to mortgage the farm.

Ohio State’s win total of 10.5 feels inflated given the turnover and uncertainty surrounding the program heading into 2025. The Buckeyes lost Jim Knowles, their defensive coordinator, to Penn State — a shocking move given the traditional hierarchy between the two programs. On offense, Chip Kelly’s quick stop as offensive coordinator has already ended, as he’s back in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders. Pair that staff upheaval with the fact that Ohio State is returning just 48% of its production (92nd nationally) and relying on an inexperienced quarterback, and suddenly this team looks far less polished than last year’s 10-2 team, so how are they expected to win more than 10 regular season games this year!?

The schedule compounds the challenge. Ohio State faces the top two ranked teams in the country and travels to Michigan, a matchup that’s become their kryptonite in recent years. Add in other potential pitfalls across the Big Ten slate, and the margin for error shrinks quickly. Expecting an 11–1 season out of such a young roster with unproven leadership seems impossible. I don’t like tying up money for the whole season at -135 odds, but I will for what I see as free money… Great return on investment.

You be the judge. Who’s got the sharper take?

Head-to-Head Season Record: Chris 0 - Clay 0

The chalk is boring. Let’s go hunting for chaos—and cash. Here’s one longshot from each Power 4 conference that could make a dark-horse dash to NYC.

Branch brings track speed and highlight reel juice to Athens after transferring from USC. A return wizard and explosive slot weapon, he gives Georgia something they’ve lacked: a true game-breaking WR. If Branch racks up splash plays and Georgia stays in the title picture, he could be this year’s DeVonta Smith-type riser. At 350-to-1, you’re betting on fireworks—and he's got the fuse.

🔥 Why it could hit: Georgia has a Heisman-sized stage, without a Heisman-contending quarterback, and Branch has electric upside.

Former 5-star recruit, and we believe, ELITE talent without the proper opportunity & coaching. SEC experience. Now QB1 in a new-look Houston offense with nothing to lose. Weigman has the tools and the narrative—resurrecting his career in a new conference, slinging it all over the field. If Willie Fritz, in his second year, can take full advantage of a wide-open conference, his QB will have a chance to be in New York.

🚨 Sleeper Alert: Voters love a comeback story—and Weigman has one locked and loaded.

Sophomore Bump? It’s rare for a Sophmore to win the heisman, but not impossible. Raiola is that level of recruit—a program-changing QB with NFL pedigree and is already being compared to Patrick Maholmes 😉. If Nebraska can flip the script on one score losses, a category that they have led for quite some time (34 one-score losses since 2018), they could easily reach the playoffs, and Raiola will be given the credit. The storyline will write itself: The Savior of Lincoln. And the legacy of a program like Nebraska means maximum spotlight.

Haynes King enters the season as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country, coming off the most efficient year of his career. He completed 72.9% of his passes and threw just 2 interceptions—numbers that would’ve earned national recognition if not for lingering injury issues. But it’s not just the arm that makes him dangerous—King’s mobility adds another layer, making him a true dual-threat. And if you watched that wild 8-overtime thriller against Georgia last year, you saw the moxie, toughness, and leadership that define him. He’s the kind of guy you root for—the kind you want to see in New York. And as a Dawgs fan, it hurts to admit that.

⚡ Dual-Threat Danger: If Tech surprises, King’s numbers will demand a look.

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