2023 College World Series Odds

Wake Forest (+450)

Coming into the NCAA Tournament, Wake Forest holds the best odds to win the 2023 College World Series. They enter the regionals as the top overall national seed after finishing the year 47-10. The main factor for their success is the dominant starting rotation, headlined by Rhett Lowder and Josh Hartle. Both have combined for a 21-1 record and over 100 strikeouts, with Lowder posting a 1.58 ERA in 15 starts while Hartle posted a 2.35 ERA in 14 starts. It goes beyond the rotation as they also have closer Camden Minacci, who’s recorded 13 saves while allowing only a .219 batting average against.

The Demon Deacons clearly have the pitching to carry them but they have some pop on offense that can help them go all the way. Brock Wilken has hit 27 home runs with 74 RBI, leading the team in both categories. He also has an OPS of 1.346. The first-baseman has a pretty good tandem going with Nick Kurtz, who has hit 23 home runs with 63 RBI while leading the team in batting average (.379), OBP (.545), SLG (.857), and OPS (1.402). These stats for both pitching and hitting tell you why they are the favorites to win it all.

LSU (+700)

To begin the season, LSU was number one in the D1Baseball rankings and was favored to win the College World Series for the majority of the season. They slipped to number seven to end the season but still hold strong odds to win it all. One of the reasons for that is that they have a dominant ace with Paul Skenes. In 15 starts, he posted a record of 10-2 with a 1.89 ERA and 167 strikeouts, averaging a whopping 16.6 K/9.

To go along with a dominant ace is an offense that provides two of the best bats in the nation. One of those is Dylan Crews, who batted .420 on the season with 15 home runs and 59 RBI. The second half of the dangerous duo is Tommy White, who was rated the number-one transfer heading into the season after coming over from NC State. He picked up right where he left off as he slashed .392/.451/.778 with 20 home runs with an outstanding 91 RBI. They also have a lot of great talent spread throughout both the infield and outfield that have played major factors in this team’s success. This lineup will be dangerous for any team to face.

Florida (+800)

While others have the pitching and offense as well, Florida might be the most complete team in the country. Starting with the pitching, the Gators have a pair of starters with 100+ strikeouts in Brandon Sprout (7-3; 4.71 ERA) and Hurston Waldrep (5-3; 4.83 ERA). They also have Jac Caglianone, who is 6-3 with a 4.14 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 63 innings. For the pitching, it goes beyond the starters, as Florida has a lot of good depth in the bullpen, having four relievers with an ERA under 4.00.

As impressive as their pitching is, the Gators’ offense has production up and down the lineup that has catapulted them to one of the best units in college baseball. They have six players with 11 or more home runs, with one of them being Caglianone, who tallied 28 home runs with 76 RBI and also, as mentioned, has been one of their best pitchers. The team finished with 119 home runs, the third-most in the country. Florida has the pitching and overall power with the bats to do a lot of damage in this tournament.

Arkansas (+1000)

Wake Forest, LSU, and Florida might’ve distanced themselves from other contenders but Arkansas isn’t a team to be taken lightly as a 2023 College World Series favorite. Like the teams ahead of them, the Razorbacks bring good starting pitching to the tournament. They have Hagen Smith, who’s 8-1 with a 2.69 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 10 starts. If they can get back ace Brady Tygart (2-1; 3.20 ERA and 26 Ks in 19.2 innings), who’s missed time with injury, Arkansas have a great 1-2 combo and staff that will be a tough task to get past.

To go along with their pitching is one of the best defenses in the country. With those two areas being the strongest of the team, opponents are going to have to try and figure out a plan to attack. While their offense doesn’t show flashy numbers like the others, they know how to get the job done. They have three players with over 10 home runs and 48 or more RBI. With their overall depth and experience, the Razorbacks are a team to watch out for.

Next Best Odds

Vanderbilt (+1500)
Virginia (+1500)
Stanford (+1600)
Tennessee (+1800)
South Carolina (+2000)
Clemson (+2000)
Oklahoma State (+3000)

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Top College World Series Dark Horses

5. Campbell (44-13), 2 seed

Campbell has had a phenomenal season and most people believed that the Camels were in a great position to host, however, the selection committee did not agree. The Camels won the Big South Conference regular season and tournament championship, along with some impressive non-conference wins. The Camels’ non-conference wins include a sweep over East Carolina, along with wins over Coastal Carolina, and North Carolina. 

Campbell is a No. 2 seed in the Columbia regional, which includes No. 1 seed South Carolina, No. 3 seed NC State, and No. 4 seed Central Connecticut State. 

A year ago, the Camels put up a fight against the No. 1 overall seed Tennessee and put the College Baseball world on notice. This season Campbell is hungrier than ever and I believe that they got a great draw, even though they are not a host. Campbell is a veteran team that always plays with a chip on their shoulder and I would watch out for the Camels.

4. Indiana (41-18), 3 seed

Indiana is a bit of a wild card. The Hoosiers are 30th in the RPI and finished second in the Big 10. Indiana’s only problem is they do not have that many ranked wins. Indiana has looked very good at times this season, but they have not played the toughest schedule either. 

Indiana is the No. 3 seed in the Lexington regional, which includes No. 1 seed Kentucky, No. 2 seed West Virginia, and No. 4 seed Ball State.

I like the matchups for the Hoosiers in the Lexington regional. Indiana has a very tough first game against West Virginia, however, the Mountaineers are not playing their best ball right now. I also like that Indiana has already played Kentucky this season so there is some familiarity between the two. Since Kentucky basically dominated Indiana the first go around it will be interesting to see how the Hoosiers respond if they play again. 

3. Southern Miss (41-19), 2 seed

Southern Miss was another one of those teams that had a good enough resume to host, but unfortunately did not end up being a host site. If there was a regional Southern Miss would like to go to, it would be Auburn. I believe the Golden Eagles have the best pitching in the Auburn Regional and that could play a big part in Southern Miss advancing.

Southern Miss is the No. 2 seed in Auburn regional, which includes No. 1 seed Auburn, No. 3 seed Samford, and No. 4 seed Penn.

Legendary coach Scott Berry announced that he is retiring after this season. Coach Berry has won a ton of games and made the postseason eight times, and even made a super regional a year ago. However, Coach Berry has never been able to take the Golden Eagles to Omaha. Southern Miss players have a lot more to play for this offseason, and I believe that the Golden Eagles will make a serious run.

2. Texas A&M (36-25), 2 seed

Texas A&M has had an interesting last couple of weeks. Heading into the SEC tournament, the Aggies were barely even in the NCAA tournament and headed into Hoover as a No. 10 seed. Texas A&M then went on to win four games and make the SEC championship game. The Aggies defeated Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, and Arkansas to help strengthen their resume heading into the postseason. 

Texas A&M is the No. 2 seed in the Stanford regional, which includes No. 1 seed Stanford, No. 3 seed Cal State Fullerton, and No. 4 seed San Jose State. 

The Aggies have had their ups and downs this season, but this team is coming to form at the perfect time. Texas A&M is one of the hottest teams in the country and they get to travel to Stanford, which is a very questionable team. I expect the Aggies to make it out of the Stanford regional pretty easily and make another run at Omaha.

1. Tennessee (38-19), 2 seed

Everybody knows how dominant that Tennessee team was a year ago, but this year’s Tennessee team is very different. The Vols were basically left for dead in mid-April, but since then they turned things around going 11-4 in the last 15 SEC games. Tennessee lost in the first round of the SEC tournament which hurt, but history shows that an early exit in the conference tournaments benefits teams later on. 

Tennessee is the No. 2 seed in the Clemson regional, which includes No. 1 seed Clemson, No. 3 seed Charlotte, and No. 4 seed Lipscomb.

Obviously, this was a terrible draw for Tennessee but an even worse draw for Clemson. Clemson is on a sixteen-game winning streak and the Tigers have been dominant since late March. However, the Vols still have one of the best pitching staffs in the entire country. I also think that the Vols getting upset a year ago will benefit them in this year’s postseason and cause them to play with a sense of urgency. I truly believe that if Tennessee can keep the bats hot along with their dominant pitching, the Vols have a great chance to go on a run and get back to Omaha.

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The Big 10 East has multiple games with both Big 10 and College Football Playoff aspirations on the line. Between Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State, all three have enough talent to win the Big 10 and/or make the College Football Playoff. And, even better, they all three play each other.

The SEC is a battle every single week, but some games have more on the line than others. There is so much parity in college football right now that there are so many good games week after week.

Here are the Top 10 most important games of the 2023 season:

The Most Important Games in the 2023 College Football Season

10. South Carolina vs North Carolina (In Charlotte)

There has been so much hype surrounding South Carolina this offseason and it is very important for the Gamecocks to start off the season on the right foot. North Carolina, on the other hand, has one of the best quarterbacks in all of college football and the Tar Heels will be no picnic.

These two teams met in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl just two years ago when the Gamecocks took down UNC, 38-21. This game could be one to keep an eye on because there is still some bad blood between these two even though they are not in the same conference anymore.

9. Tennessee at Alabama

The “Third Saturday in October” was a forgotten rivalry to most, but after last season’s instant classic, this rivalry is as amped-up as it’s ever been. This game means so much to so many people in both states and the college football world got a taste of what this rivalry means to people a year ago in Knoxville.

The Vols finally ended the long losing streak to Alabama in 2022 and are looking to win in back-to-back years for the first time since 2003-2004 seasons. With Alabama having a question mark at quarterback — and Tennessee continuing to get better under Josh Heupel — can the Vols beat Nick Saban in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever? The question is, who will be smoking cigars on the Third Saturday in October this season?

8. LSU at Alabama

LSU was not given much of a chance last season when they took down the Crimson Tide and ultimately took control of the SEC West and went on to play in the SEC Championship Game. This year’s game between LSU and Alabama will be much of the same with a lot more on the line.

The winner will definitely control their own destiny in the SEC West, but also in the College Football Playoff race as well. Both Alabama and LSU have National Championship aspirations and this game could make or break one another’s season.

7. USC at Oregon

The Pac-12 is as deep as it has been a long time with both Oregon and USC being at the top of the league. There is a ton of star power in this game with the main focus being the quarterback battle. Both Caleb Williams and Bo Nix are near the front in the 2023 Heisman race, and the two will be going head to head for the inside track at the Pac-12 Championship game and for both teams’ College Football Playoff hopes.

6. Penn State at Ohio State

With all due respect, this game could very well be a second-place game in the Big 10 East. Michigan is still the top dog of the Big 10 until dethroned. However, both of these teams could beat the Wolverines, so this game is very important.

The winner of this game still has hope of a Big 10 Championship berth and maybe even College Football Playoff berth, but the loser of this game will put themselves in a big hole for the rest of the season. Of course, do not rule out the obvious that all three teams (Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State) could all beat each other.

5. Florida State at Clemson

In my opinion, this is by far the best ACC game of the 2023 season. Clemson will be good as always. However, the Tigers have not played to their standard over the past couple years and we will see if Dabo Swinney can get them back on track.

If Clemson wins this game, they could very easily be on their way to another College Football Playoff berth. Florida State, on the other hand, is on the come-up and very quickly progressing under Mike Norvell. This would be a huge win for the Seminoles who have struggled mightily with Clemson for years now. Clemson is still the standard in the ACC, but Florida State is looking to make a run at the ACC Championship.

4. Michigan at Penn State

Michigan is usually worried about playing bitter rival Ohio State, but I believe Penn State is the Wolverines’ toughest test in 2023.

Penn State is a serious threat to Michigan to win the Big 10 East. The winner of this game will definitely have the inside track at the Big 10 Championship, but obviously, both teams have to play Ohio State as well.

3. LSU vs Florida State (In Orlando)

The hype around both of these teams this offseason makes this game even more meaningful than it already is. Both fanbases believe they can win a national championship and it starts in Week 1. This was one of the most entertaining games of the year a season ago and hopefully, it will be another classic this season.

2. Ohio State at Michigan

All eyes will be on “The Game” yet again in 2023. Both teams are coming off of College Football Playoff appearances. This rivalry was always bitter, but Ohio State always had the last laugh, until recently. As of late, the Wolverines have not just beat, but dominated the Buckeyes.

Michigan is looking like they will be right back in the National Championship discussion with a ton of talent returning. Meanwhile, Ohio State has some things to figure out including the quarterback position. This game is always insanely intense, but when National Championships are on the line, this rivalry gets even better.

Can the Buckeyes get the bad taste out of their mouth and beat the Wolverines in the Big House?

1. Georgia at Tennessee

Georgia has won back-to-back National Championships, but many Georgia fans believe that the 2023 version of the Bulldogs could be the best yet. With a pretty manageable schedule for Georgia, I believe that this will be the one game that can give them problems.

Tennessee will be very good again this season and, with the game being played in Neyland Stadium, anything can happen. This game was underwhelming a year ago when No.3 Georgia took down No. 1 Tennessee 27-13, and Tennessee is looking to get revenge on their home field. I think if Georgia were to lose a game in 2023, it would be to Tennessee.

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Regardless, the best principle in drafting would always be picking all-pro caliber talent over fit. Most NFL franchises know how they can juggle the growth of their new picks and maintain proper roles. If they do pick based on name recall and star potential, the best options are at the quarterback position.

Here are the quarterbacks that have the best upside in this year’s NFL Draft.

NFL Draft 2023: Cream of the Crop From a Quarterback-heavy class

1. Bryce Young, Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama has a huge hole to fill with Bryce Young declaring for the draft but that is for good reason. He broke multiple statistical records with the Roll Tide. These include the team’s single-season passing yards record (4,872 yards), single-season passing touchdowns (47 TDs), and career five touchdown games (5 games).

His accolades also do not fall short. Young is a Heisman Trophy winner in 2021, Sugar Bowl MVP in 2022, Manning Awardee in 2021, and a College Football Player of the Year Awardee. Arguably one of the most decorated players to make the transition to the professional leagues, Bryce is going to be either one of the top two picks.

Alabama’s QB1 is also not just good on paper — his game sense is the difference maker. His game characteristics involve swift defensive processing which makes him one of the more impressive playmakers. His body control is also something else given that he has minimal unnecessary movements in the pocket which makes him less prone to non-contact injuries. Overall, the Carolina Panthers or Houston Texans would surely be lucky to have him in their rotation.

2. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State Buckeyes

The debate for who goes first between C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young will only be settled once April 27 hits the calendar. However, a lot of draft experts project that Stroud will not translate well to the NFL. His accolades and statistics would disagree with those claims. He is Big Ten’s Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year in 2022, Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year during the same year, and is a Heisman Trophy finalist.

The Buckeyes’ offensive mastermind has also broken almost every record for his alma mater and the Big Ten conference. Some of those include the single-season passing yards in Big Ten games (3,193 yds), single-season passing touchdowns in Big Ten games (34 TDs), Big Ten career passing efficiency (182.39),  Ohio State single-game passing yards (573 yds), Ohio State single-game passing touchdowns (6 TDs), and the Ohio State single-season completion percentage (71.9 PCT).

A mean man with a cannon for an arm, Stroud cannot go lower than being the 2nd pick in this draft. It will be the Texans’ loss if they do not take a chance on him.

3. Anthony Richardson, Florida Gators

The Florida Gators’ athletic quarterback set the team record for the longest rushing touchdown by a Florida when he rushed for 81 yards. That statistic alone should speak for what he can bring to an NFL roster. An elite passer out of the blitz that can bail out broken plays through his rushing game, Anthony Richardson is a physical specimen.

Totals of 1,116 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 3,105 passing yards, and 24 passing touchdowns prove why he is the most versatile quarterback in this draft. Physically, he has the strength to overcome most pass rushers in the league. Mentally, he has great field awareness which allows him to find the open receiver swiftly or find a route for a quick first down.

Letting him slip past the lower top ten picks in the draft will be a regrettable choice given his massive upside.

Will Levis from Kentucky, Hendon Hooker out of Tennessee, Houston’s Clayton Tune, and even Jake Haener from Fresno State are also solid picks that are coming out of this draft. If there is anything this draft will be known for, it is the amount of talent that is prominent at quarterback.

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NCAA Tournament: Preview of the Final Four Teams

Florida Atlantic (9 Seed)

Out of the Final Four teams, nine-seeded Florida Atlantic is by far the most surprising to be left standing. In fact, they weren’t even expected to make it out of the first round but here we are. They went through eight-seed Memphis in the Round of 64, sixteen-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the Round of 32, four-seed Tennessee in the Sweet 16, and their latest victory against three-seed Kansas State in the Elite Eight. These weren’t cakewalk wins, they were against pretty tough opponents, and that includes Fairleigh Dickinson who knocked off the one-seed Purdue.

Florida Atlantic has had a handful of great performances throughout this tournament but Johnell Davis has probably been the best of them all. He’s had a 12-point performance, a 13-point performance, a 15-point performance, and above all a masterful 29-point performance against Fairleigh Dickinson that also saw him gather 12 rebounds with five assists and five steals. The Owls also got great games from the likes of Alijah Martin and Bryan Greenlee leading up to the Final Four.

This team has good depth and can put on pressure on both sides of the court. If Florida Atlantic can push its own pace, they have a real chance to be the first-ever nine-seed or worse to advance to the National Championship Game.

San Diego State (5 Seed)

In 2020, we saw a 30-2 San Diego State team and a likely number two seed get their unbelievable season cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fast forward three years later and the Aztecs have a chance to do what they didn’t get a chance to do in 2020 and that’s fight for a National Championship.

They are a game away from reaching the big game after defeating the likes the Charleston, Furman, Alabama, and Creighton to get to the Final Four. San Diego State has a few options to lean on, one of them being Darrion Trammell. He not only is probably their best player on the court but he’s come up big when needed, including scoring 21 huge points against Alabama to go along with five rebounds and two steals. Along with Trammell, San Diego State can look to Lamont Butler, who put together a couple of huge games in this tournament. Both of them together carried this team to a one-point win over Creighton in the Elite Eight.

San Diego State came into the NCAA Tournament with a distinct identity, defense. They’re not only great of that side of the ball but they’re elite and they’ve shown it. The Aztecs have held their opponents to average just 56.6 points per game since postseason play, including the Mountain West Tournament. A huge reason for this is their three-point defense, holding their four opponents in this tournament to just 17 percent shooting from behind the arc, and that’s with the opponents known for either shooting a lot of threes or making a lot of threes. The saying “defense wins championships” might very well still be a thing if San Diego State can keep up the stellar play.

Miami (5 Seed)

Out of the teams in the Final Four field, Miami has had the toughest test to get to this point. They beat 12-seed Drake in the first round, who many possibly saw as an upset, then four-seed Indiana, number one seed Houston, and number two Texas. Miami has had impressive performances out of many of their players throughout the NCAA Tournament. You can try to pick out their best player, but every game there’s a new contender for that honor.

Jordan Miller had by far the most impressive performance across the four games for Miami, scoring 27 points on 7 for 7 shooting and an impressive 13 for 13 at the free-throw line in the Elite Eight against Texas. He also scored 19 points in the round of 32 against Indiana. Miller wasn’t the only one putting up impressive numbers as throughout this tournament, Isiaah Wong also put up a 27-point performance in the Sweet 16 vs Indiana and also had a 20-point performance in the Elite Eight against Houston. His 20-point performance also was accompanied by a 26-point performance from Nijel Pack in the same game.

That’s not all, as the Hurricanes also have Wooga Poplar and Norchard Omier that are capable of taking over a game. This offense has been lethal and has shown why it’s been one of the best in the country, scoring 85 or more points over the last three games. The defensive end might be a liability and where they struggle the most, but their impressive offensive attack alone might be good enough to mask it the rest of the way. Miami will have another tough test in four-seed UCONN before they can think about a National Championship.

UCONN (4 Seed)

UCONN had dominated every team that has stepped in their way through the first four games, beating Iona, St. Mary’s, Arkansas, and Gonzaga by an average of 22.5 points per game. A big reason for that is Adama Sanogo, who has been the best player on the court for the Huskies. He’s scored 28 points, 24 points, 18 points, and 10 points in the four games played in this tournament. That combined for 80 points, the most of any player in the Final Four, while also shooting 66% from the field. Not only can he score but he makes an impact on the boards, averaging almost 10 rebounds a game.

There’s also Jordan Hawkins, who had a 24-point game and a 20-point game against Arkansas and Gonzaga. UCONN has the ability up and down this lineup and all around the court from playmaking, rebounding, defense, and more that makes this team the most complete of the Final Four teams. UCONN is by far the most experienced team left, making the Final Four for the sixth time in school history and winning four National Championships while the three other schools have never been to the Final Four before this year. They are the favorites to cut down the nets for the fifth time in program history but it will not be easy against Miami on Saturday.

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College Baseball Rankings: 2023 D1Baseball Top Five

5. Texas A&M (2022 Preseason Rank: Not Ranked)

Texas A&M went into the 2022 season not ranked and showed that was a mistake by year’s end. They went 44-20, including 19-11 in the SEC, and road that wave until they were one of four teams remaining in the College World Series. Unfortunately for them, that’s where it all ended but it was a very impressive run that earned them the number three spot in the final rankings to end the season. This was all done with their first-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle, who came in and immediately turned the culture around.

After all the success last season, Texas A&M is at number five in the college baseball rankings for D1Baseball to start 2023. This is in large part due to four of their top five hitters returning from last season, including their best hitter Jack Moss, who hit .380 with six home runs and 18 doubles.

Also coming back are notable starters Nathan Dettmer and Ryan Prager along with reliever Will Johnston, who had 4 saves with an ERA of 3.25. Not only do the Aggies have power coming back to the lineup, but more experience on the pitching side. That is a recipe for success when it comes to trying to accomplish what they did last year and maybe even more.

4. Ole Miss (2022 Preseason Rank: 5)

The Rebels enter the season at number four in D1Baseball’s top 25 college baseball rankings for 2023 after winning their first National Championship in program history. Although it’s no easy task, Ole Miss is looking to reclaim their thrown and that’s not out of the realm of possibility. The defending champs lost quite a few pieces from last year but they still have some key returns to be excited for.

Despite losing Tim Elko‘s power and leadership, Ole Miss might have a couple of returning players to fill that void. It starts with Jacob Gonzalez, who was second on the team in both home runs (18) and RBI (52) last season. That along with his good defensive ability will make him a top MLB draft prospect in the future. Mix that with designated hitter Kemp Alderman and Peyton Chatagnier, who both hit 11 home runs in 2022, and this Rebels offense has the pieces on offense to make another run.

Ole Miss feels like they have not only the pieces on offense but also the pitching side of things. They did lose an ace in Dylan DeLucia for the upcoming year but bring back Hunter Elliott, who is primed to be an elite arm to anchor this rotation. As a freshman last season, Elliott started in 12 games with a record of 5-3 and a 2.70 ERA to go along with 34 strikeouts and two shutouts.

The Rebels might have some question marks in the rotation but if what Elliott showed last season was real, he could propel the rest of the pitching and Ole Miss could find themselves competing in Omaha yet again.

3. Stanford (2022 Preseason Rank: 6)

Coming into 2023, Stanford has another year of high expectations to make a deep run. The Cardinals have made back-to-back College World Series appearances but haven’t gotten over the hump. They hope three times the charm as they enter the season at number three in the college baseball rankings as the only non-SEC team in the top five.

Stanford will be missing a mix of important hitters and pitchers from the 2022 team but they also bring back some key pieces. On the offensive side, the Cardinals will bring back three of their five top homerun hitters, including Carter Graham, who might be the focal point of this offense.

With departures came more players, who have filled out the depth around the diamond and made it one of the strongest areas of the team. With that, the return of several key pitchers will make this team even more dangerous, with four of their top five leaders in wins (along being atop of the leaderboard in ERA and strikeouts) returning.

Among them is senior Quinn Mathews (2022 team leader in wins and strikeouts), who should take on a starting role in 2023 after working a good amount of innings out of the bullpen last season. Stanford’s leadership and experience give them a high chance to make another deep run.

2. Tennessee (2022 Preseason Rank: 19)

2022 was very kind to Tennessee, winning the SEC regular season and tournament championship. They had a dominant record of 57-9, going 25-5 in conference play and that earned them a number one national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, the Volunteers’ stellar season didn’t even end in a trip to Omaha, as they lost in the Knoxville Super Regional.

It’s going to be hard to repeat their success from last season. Tennessee lost seven of their nine position starters while also losing key bullpen pieces, leaving several holes in that department.

The good thing is Tennessee still has one of the if not the best rotation in the country, being led by the three-headed trio of Chase Dollander (2022 SEC Pitcher of the Year), Chase Burns (2022 National Freshman of the Year), and Drew Beam (2022 SEC Freshman of the Year).

Although the offense is missing some big players from last season, Tennessee was able to bring in some well-experienced transfers to boost this lineup that includes Maui Ahuna and Colby Backus. There will be some questions throughout the team but from top to bottom, they should be able to carry their own weight and try to finish what they started last season.

1. LSU (2022 Preseason Rank: 8)

The LSU Tigers might have the biggest expectations of any team heading into the 2023 season as they enter as the number one team in the college baseball rankings. The collection of talent in Baton Rouge is special, landing four players who find themselves on D1Baseball’s top 100 impact transfers list. One of them is NC State transfer slugger Tommy White, hitting .362 with 27 home runs and 74 RBI in 2022, who finds himself number one on that list. The other three are pitchers Paul Skenes (2), Thatcher Hurd (7), and Christian Little (29).

Not only did LSU bring in star talent but they also retained star talent like outfielder Dylan Crews and first baseman Tre’ Morgan, who along with White and Skenes, were named Preseason All-Americans by many.

The offensive talent doesn’t stop there as they also have multiple other returning talents that were atop the leaderboard in 2022. Top to bottom, this lineup is the best in all of college baseball.

To go along with a dominant offense is a very exciting pitching staff that also has a lot of talent. As mentioned, the Tigers brought in three big impact transfers but also have developed some of their own talent on the mound. On paper, the all-around talent on display is like no other and now we’ll get to see if they can transfer that from paper to the field and make a run at the National Championship.

D1Baseball Top 25 College Baseball Rankings (6-25)

6. Wake Forest
7. Florida
8. Arkansas
9. Oklahoma State
10. Vanderbilt
11. East Carolina
12. North Carolina
13. Maryland
14. Virginia Tech
15. TCU
16. Louisville
17. UCLA
18. Southern Miss
19. Virginia
20. Alabama
21. NC State
22. Miami
23. South Carolina
24. Texas Tech
25. Oregon

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I’m not here to bore you with why Thanksgiving is underappreciated, but you need to be aware of something special this year. This is likely the best sports weekend we will have in some time, including… ever! We’ve got the breakdown for you, so make sure you get your schedules adjusted and find a TV at your in-laws! You don’t want to miss a potentially monumental occasion! Day-by-day breakdown incoming!

The Best Sports Weekend. Ever.

Thanksgiving Day

For all you sports fanatics that don’t mind missing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, boy do we have a day for you. This is arguably the greatest sports day in history and here’s why:

Four World Cup games.
Three NFL Games.
A nightcap of ranked college basketball teams.

What more would you want? From 5:00 A.M. until 10:30 P.M., there will be games starting within two to three hours of one another for your nonstop viewing pleasure. So, while you’re filling up on turkey or dressing, there’s a lot going on!

All times are Eastern Standard Time.

FIFA World Cup: Portugal v Ghana, 11:00 A.M.

Maybe you’re not the biggest fan of soccer, but may I interest you in a once-every-four-year tournament going on likely before your planned events of the day? There are four total on the day, this one being number three on the slate. If that isn’t enough for you, then understand this: it is likely the last time we will see Christiano Ronaldo, soccer’s most polarizing international star, play in a World Cup.

Like him or not, he has proven over the course of his adult life (and late youth for that matter) that he is a prodigy for the sport and is an athletic icon. He gets a favorable matchup against a Ghana team with only an 11% chance to win according to Google analytics. Could we catch lightning in a bottle and see him get a World Cup goal? Show some support for worldwide athletes and tune in for soccer’s greatest star.

NFL: Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions 12:30 P.M.

For your first NFL game of the day, we get a better-than-expected matchup between the preseason Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving at home!

The Lions come into this game on a three-game winning streak and have an opportunity to show that they can indeed hang with the big boys of the NFL. On the opposite side of things, the Bills come in this game just 2-2 since their big win over current AFC favorite Kansas City Chiefs.

Buffalo is the heavy favorite here, but it is a national TV game on a holiday weekend, so anything is possible. The Lions have been feisty all year and the Bills have been heavily scrutinized over the past few weeks, so there is an opportunity for the Lions to really capitalize on momentum here. Either way, tune in to the current fourth-place MVP betting favorite Josh Allen as he takes on a sub.500 team in a dome.

FIFA World Cup: Brazil v Serbia 2:00 P.M.

Maybe the star power isn’t in one single player of this game, but the Brazilian side of this matchup is loaded with talent young and old that even the casual soccer fan has to know.

We start with Neymar, a polarizing player in his own right and arguably the team’s most notable player. The PSG product has had a pretty good start to the 2022-23 season in Ligue 1 in France with 11 goals and nine assists in just 14 matches played.

After him, this team is loaded with Premiere League talent and other worldwide stars such as Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Casemiro, and Gabriel Jesus. Brazil is a 65% favorite to win according to Google Analytics.

NFL: New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys 4:30 P.M.

We can’t wait to see the @dallascowboys Thanksgiving throwbacks on Thursday 🔥🤩

📺: FOX 11/24 4:30pm ET pic.twitter.com/OD06mfop94

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 23, 2022

Almost as much of a tradition to Thanksgiving as turkey, Dallas Cowboys football is a popular cultural staple of this holiday. From the days of Aikman and Irvin to Romo and Owens, the Cowboys are no stranger to the lights of this stage, but they face a division rival in the Giants that have far exceeded expectations in the first year of head coach Brian Daboll.

The two teams are both 7-3, battling to keep pace with the surging Philadelphia Eagles in what has been the NFL’s toughest division this year. Both teams look to be firmly in the playoffs as of this writing, so this could even be a potential playoff game in the future. Enjoy that after-turkey nap with this bad boy on the TV and thank us later! An NFL division rivalry game with no obligations but to eat and give thanks? Can’t beat that!

NFL: New England Patriots vs Minnesota Vikings 8:20 P.M.

The third of the three NFL games features a team originating near Boston (a colonial town) taking on a Vikings team coming off the most embarrassing NFL loss of the year last week.

While the Patriots may not be as noteworthy since the departure of long-time signal-caller Tom Brady, they are a team that still scares opposing coaches because of the NFL’s greatest coach, Bill Belichick. Belichick is known for being able to take away the opposing team’s greatest weapon, forcing the team to win. The issue here? Who does he try to take away?

Will it be the NFL’s second-leading receiver in Justin Jefferson, or will he key in on the NFL’s number five rushing running back, Dalvin Cook? Either way, tune it to Primetime Kirk Cousins and make sure you watch what will ultimately be a war of attrition between these two teams.

NCAAB: 18 Alabama vs 12 Michigan State 10:30 P.M.

So maybe you’re more into basketball than other sports. Don’t worry, we have something for you too! Your nightcap is a ranked college basketball game featuring two top 20 teams!

On one side, you have familiarity with head coach Tom Izzo who has played arguably the toughest early-season basketball schedule in the country and sits 3-1 after four games. They’ve already defeated Villanova and the then #4 ranked Kentucky and their lone loss was a one-point heartbreaker to the then-ranked #2 Gonzaga Bulldogs. More of the same from Izzo who has once again proven that his teams can compete with anyone while he is coaching.

Meanwhile, Alabama will be facing its first real test of the season here. If you’re still wired from napping earlier, this will be a great way to wind down after a long holiday.

Black Friday

So maybe you aren’t the type to go out and fight the crowds of Black Friday (and we don’t blame you one bit). There’s still plenty to watch on your TV today. You have another World Cup slate featuring arguably the biggest USA soccer game in the last 10-15 years, some college football ranked and rivalry games, and even a little NBA action! Buckle up, this one is a doozy.

FIFA World Cup: Netherlands v Ecuador 11:00 A.M.

The third of four World Cup games gives us our first matchup of undefeated teams in the tournament. The Netherlands beat Senegal 2-0 in their first match of the World Cup. The soccer powerhouse now turns its attention to an Ecuador team who won their opening match 2-0 against host Qatar, being the first team to defeat a host country in their opening game, a record that stood for 92 years.

They played a first-time team, but the reality remains, they handled what was a home match for Qatar and dominated nearly every facet of the game. The Netherlands will be a much greater test for them. This is a great appetizer for what could be the world’s most-viewed matchup later in the afternoon.

NCAAF: 19 Tulane vs 24 Cincinnati 12:00 P.M.

Haven’t had your football fix yet? Well don’t worry, there’s a pretty good ranked matchup on. Cincinnati, coming into the season was fresh off a College Football Playoff berth but was lost key players to the NFL like Sauce Gardner and Desmond Ridder. This season was ultimately going to show whether it was NFL talent that led them to the promised land or team culture.

Well, this game could give us that answer. With a win, UC would go into Bowl season ranked for a fourth straight year. In order to do so though, they face their toughest test. Like getting up Friday after Thanksgiving and working out, this is going to be tough for the Bearcats.

FIFA World Cup: USA v England 2:00 P.M.

One of the World’s oldest rivalries. Dating back to July 4th, 1776, the United States and England will always go hand in hand throughout the history of our world.

Getting a World Cup game during a holiday weekend is almost poetic. Fox executives are already predicting this could be a top-five-ever viewed soccer matchup in the history of the United States. For context, in order to break into the top five, they would need to exceed 16.941 million viewers, no small task for a sport not exactly at the peak of popularity in the United States.

For the record, the #1 watched match was the Women’s World Cup final against Japan in 2015 which drew 25.4 million viewers. All that being said, this is a crucial game for the U.S. who is coming off a draw against Wales against an England team that dominated in their first game. Does the U.S. have a miracle in store for us?

NCAAF: Florida vs 16 Florida State 7:30 P.M.

If you’re still in the mood for sports after a dramatic USA game, we have a good football rivalry on tap to wet your whistle in anticipation of the big rivalry Saturday ahead.

FSU has had a decent season so far and had they not dropped two winnable games in early October, could have been fighting for a playoff spot. Unfortunately for them, that isn’t the case. But they could be fighting to get into the top ten with a win here. They face in-state rival Florida, an SEC team that has shown the ability to play ranked teams close and even beat Utah to start the year.

This should be an entertaining game for those who are still wanting to watch sports after the big soccer game that afternoon.

NBA: New Orleans Pelicans vs Memphis Grizzlies 8:00 P.M.

Maybe the NBA isn’t the most exciting watch prior to Christmas Day, but these teams feature prominent young stars battling it out. Ja Morant of the Grizzlies is probably the most electric young talent in the NBA right now and is a highlight reel every time he touches the ball.

For the Pelicans, the curious case of Zion Williamson seems to be solved for now. He has played 12 of their 17 games so far and is averaging 22 points and six rebounds and to his credit is also a highlight reel at times. The #1 and #2 picks of the 2019 NBA draft battle it out for all to see on NBA TV Friday night.

Saturday

So at this point, you’re coming to the point of the holiday where it is now just a Saturday and you’re kinda over leftovers. Well don’t worry, we will inject you with some even more entertaining sports matchups!

We have college football’s game of the year, another intriguing World Cup matchup, and some other notable and fun college football rivalries. Put that remote down, we have it covered here!

NCAAF: 2 Ohio State vs 3 Michigan 12:00 P.M.

The Game between Ohio State and Michigan will be a war on Saturday and there are three key factors to watch during the undefeated showdown that will decide who wins.https://t.co/YcQJ5WvXpr pic.twitter.com/UUxMxnecHG

— The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) November 23, 2022

As if you needed a reason to tune into this game, let’s set the stage for you. To start, both Big Ten teams come into this game at 11-0, with their College Football Playoff dreams still alive. The winner of this game all but clinches a berth in the playoff while the other may need some help ahead of them.

Last we saw them, it was Michigan finally defeating Ohio State with the likes of Aidan Hutchinson on the defensive end. Well, he ain’t walking through that door this year and Michigan will have their work cut out for them to stop a high-powered and heavily scrutinized Ohio State offense.

Whoever wins, just know we are in for the best college game of the year so far. Get your popcorn ready! There can be only one!

FIFA World Cup: Mexico v Argentina 2:00 P.M.

This is a very intriguing matchup that also features an international star and arguably the greatest player of a generation. The Argentinians are led by Lionel Messi, one of the best players of all time and he will be playing against a team whose goalkeeper has probably the highlight of the tournament so far with his penalty kick save from Robert Lewandowski followed by ole chants from the Mexican fans.

Look, it’s a world stage and the Argentinians were embarrassed by a Saudi Arabian team that seemed just happy to be there. Look for Lionel Messi to right the wrongs of this team in what is likely his last World Cup as well. Also, how fun would a Messi goal be against a team in Mexico that will be a tough out for whomever they play?

NCAAF: 9 Oregon vs 21 Oregon State 3:30 P.M.

The rivalry game referred to as the “Civil War” features a University of Oregon team looking to keep playoff hopes alive. They currently sit at #2 in the Pac-12 behind a USC team that is having a heck of a year. In order to keep pace in the conference, the Ducks need to take care of business against the Beavers, who are a feisty team currently at 8-3.

Their only three losses came at the hands of ranked opponents, so this is a team that doesn’t seem to have the horses to pull off the big win. In a rivalry, anything is possible. On a day filled with college football, this could have pretty lasting implications depending on the result of some of our other games.

NCAAF: Auburn vs 7 Alabama 3:30 P.M.

If you’re more into the SEC than the PAC-12, may I interest you in the Iron Bowl?

Maybe it doesn’t have the normal high stakes that we’ve been spoiled by in this rivalry, but that doesn’t make it any less fun to watch! On one side you have the mighty coach Nick Saban and Alabama taking on an Auburn team who has had a season to forget, to say the least.

Both teams are probably not happy with the way their season has turned out, so expect this to be played as their teams’ biggest game of the year! Sometimes, the best games are played with 0 pressure on anyone involved. These teams really aren’t playing for anything other than better bowl game opportunities, so we could see a great college football game played between two heated rivals. What’s not to love?

NCAAF: 15 Notre Dame vs 6 USC 7:30 P.M.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen these two square off, but I can assure you that the stakes are much greater than the last time.

Last time was a reeling USC team that hadn’t yet secured coach Lincoln Riley into the program, lose by more than two touchdowns against a Notre Dame team led by now LSU coach Brian Kelly. Both programs are amidst a massive change in their storied histories.

On one hand, you have USC returning to glory and looking to recapture the gold from the Pete Carrol days. On the other, you have a true blue blood independent looking for their next great coach to be the perennial power they always are. It helps both are ranked in the top 15 this year too! Enjoy this rivalry!

Sunday

Ahh, the Sunday scaries. This is always a bittersweet day and probably the scariest Sunday of them all. The one after the Thanksgiving holiday when reality returns that we must march on and wait a whole year for the next. Our sports dream winds down, but there’s still some to watch.

11 NFL games between 1:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.

As always, the NFL remains king of scheduling events. This year, they elected not to do any bye weeks during this holiday, giving us a full scope of NFL action while the most eyes are available. This is something we can all be thankful for this holiday.

Some good games Sunday: we have Bengals vs Titans, Cardinals vs Chargers, and defending champion Rams vs Chiefs. This is a wonderful way to spend seven more couch hours if you think you can handle it!

FIFA World Cup: Spain vs Germany 2:00 P.M.

In what many could have really seen as a potential final game, we get it in game two of group play for these teams!

Germany is coming off a stunning last-minute loss to Japan and looks to right their ship against a Spain team who looked absolutely dominant on Wednesday afternoon. Germany doesn’t often lose games they should win as they did Wednesday morning, so there will definitely be added motivation to play a world soccer superpower. Enjoy this one while your weekend still allows you to!

It Really is the Best Sports Weekend Ever

Well, there you have it, the sports weekend of a dream. It all starts early Thursday morning. Can you handle the sports intake that we are all going to have, or are you a casual who will have it on in the background? If I were you, I’d enjoy it while you can! We don’t often have this much excitement packed into one wonderful weekend! The biggest game on this list has to be the USA vs England, but don’t scoff at some of these NFL games we got as well. Eat turkey, be thankful and watch sports! It’s a simple formula for happiness!

Follow me on Twitter @Steakspeare and follow @LWOSports for all your sports needs!

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Take a look at the full #CFBPlayoff selection committee rankings for games played through November 5.

Where does your team rank?

🏈🏆 pic.twitter.com/2yFgh6oNhr

— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) November 9, 2022

Undefeated Teams In College Football (FBS)

Georgia (6-0 Conference; 9-0 Overall)

College Football Playoff Rank: 1

The Bulldogs went into week 10 ranked number three in the latest College Football poll and would face their toughest test to date against number one Tennessee at the time. Then the game started and it didn’t look like that at all for Georgia as they cruised to a 27-13 win. The Bulldogs gathered nearly 400 yards of total offense while they held Tennessee to under 300 and that’s been the story of this team all year, as their offense is third in total yards while their defense is fourth in fewest total yards given up and second in fewest points allowed.

Everyone had questions about Stetson Bennett since taking over under center but those should come to a halt as he’s been very good for Georgia. He was brilliant in their run to the National Championship last year and has carried his good play over to this year. Bennett has passed for 2606 yards and 11 touchdowns while only throwing three interceptions. His passing touchdowns have dipped this season but he’s been getting it done with his legs more, rushing for a touchdown in six of nine games played. The receiving duo of Brock Bowers (574 yards) and Ladd McConkey (507 yards) have been played a big part in Bennett’s success.

Even though not one running back has over 500 yards rushing on the season, the run game as a whole has been good for Georgia. It ranks 30th in the country with over 1400 yards just between the running backs, which is led by Daijun Edwards (7 touchdowns) and Kenny McIntosh (6 touchdowns). McIntosh has also accumulated 323 yards and a touchdown through the air. It’s likely Georgia goes into the SEC Championship Game among the undefeated teams with Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Georgia Tech left on their regular season schedule.

Ohio State (6-0 Conference; 9-0 Overall)

College Football Playoff Rank: 2

Nothing was pretty about Ohio State’s 21-7 win on the road against Northwestern this past Saturday but they’ll take it. Both teams had to rely on their run game to get the job done through a driving rain storm that saw 40-mile-per-hour winds. That was just one example of the resilience shown by the Buckeyes and why they’re one of the undefeated teams through 10 weeks. Ohio State has won each of its games this season by double digits with six of them being blowouts.

C.J. Stroud came into the season as the Heisman favorite and is still trending that way as he’s first in the Big Ten in passing yards (2,377) and touchdowns (29) while only throwing four interceptions. The receiving duo of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka has been lethal in this team’s success, combining for 1628 yards and 19 total touchdowns (2 on the ground). The duo of Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson on the ground has been the perfect complement to this passing attack. Williams has rushed for 636 yards and 12 touchdowns, having three 100+ yard games while Henderson has rushed for 552 yards and six touchdowns with two games of 100+ yards.

This leads to Ohio State being 19th in the nation in passing yards, 14th in total yards, and the number one team in points scored. The Buckeye’s offense is lethal but isn’t the only reason why they’re one of the last undefeated teams left. The defense has been one of the best in the country as well as they rank 13th against the rush, 7th against the pass, 6th in fewest total yards given up, and 8th in fewest points allowed. The remaining schedule for Ohio State includes Indiana at home, Maryland at home, and then the biggest rivalry game in all of college football when they go on the road to face another undefeated team in Michigan.

Michigan (6-0 Conference; 9-0 Overall)

College Football Playoff Rank: 3

Virtually every game has been a blowout for Michigan thanks to a high-scoring offense and a great defense. Although the passing game isn’t where they hoped it would be with J.J. McCarthy and Cade McNamara, the run game has picked it up in a huge way. Blake Corum has had an unbelievable season so far as he’s rushed for 1187 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is the reason why Michigan has the fourth ranked rushing attack in the country and is fifth in points scored.

With this offense comes one of the best defenses in the nation. Michigan is third in fewest points allowed while being ninth in passing defense and number one against the run, equating to being the 2nd best team in total yards given up. Mike Morris has been a force up front with 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks to go along with a forced fumble. On the back end, Rod Moore is fourth in the Big Ten in interceptions with three while having 32 total tackles and a half sack.

The Wolverines play two ranked opponents to end the season in Illinois and their undefeated rival Ohio State. Depending on what happens with the rest of the top four, that could very well be for a playoff spot or even a possible playoff preview.

TCU (6-0 Conference; 9-0 Overall)

College Football Playoff Rank: 4

Undoubtedly the biggest surprise among the undefeated teams, TCU has come into week 11 passing every test put in front of them so far. This includes a tough four-game stretch that saw victories against Oklahoma, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State. In all ten of their games, TCU has scored 34 or more points with five being 40+ and two being 50+. This adds up to the Horned Frogs having the third best scoring offense in the country while being fourth in total yards. 

A big reason for this is that quarterback Max Duggan is having the best season in his four-year college career. He’s first in the Big 12 in passing yards (2,407) and has an impressive touchdown/interception ratio of 24/2. Duggan has added 282 yards on the ground for four touchdowns. Kendre Miller has played a big part in this team’s success in the backfield, rushing for just over 1000 yards so far with 12 touchdowns. The defense hasn’t been the best but that comes with the territory of being in the Big 12. With TCU’s offense putting up about 43 points a game, you can put up with a defense that allows about 27 points a game. 

TCU has a tough task ahead this week to stay among the undefeated teams as they face a ranked Texas team on the road, who’s top 30 in yards and points. Then they finish out with Baylor on the road and Iowa State at home.

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The first AP Poll of the season is here and @UNC_Basketball is at the top 🙌 pic.twitter.com/erC1PzzegX

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) October 17, 2022

Best Odds to Win the 2022-23 National Championship

Gonzaga (+800)

Preseason AP Top 25 Rank: 2

Year after year, Gonzaga goes into the season with more hype than the last, despite regularly falling short of their goal of a National Championship. 2022-23 will be no different as they’re yet again the odds-on favorite to win it all. The Bulldogs not only lost in the Sweet 16 last season but also lost star center Chet Holmgren to the NBA Draft. They did get some great news as star forward Drew Timme decided to return to school for his fifth season.

Along with Timme and his 18.5 points per game, Gonzaga also brings back the firepower of Julian Strawther and Rasir Bolton to this team, who both averaged double-digit points last season. This trio alone makes the Bulldogs favorites to win the National Championship but they also added a 19.9 point per game transfer from UT-Chattanooga, Malachi Smith. Gonzaga once again has all the talent in the world coming into the season and they’re hoping that this is finally the year that they get the job done.

Houston (+850)

Preseason AP Top 25 Rank: 3

After appearing in the Elite Eight last season and the Final Four the year before that, the Cougars get the attention of everyone and find themselves right behind Gonzaga in the National Championship odds. They made last year’s run without having their two best players, Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark, who come into this season healthy. That goes to show you the talent on display for Houston and that will be showcased yet again in 2022-23.

If having a plethora of talent last season throughout the team wasn’t enough, Houston added five-star recruit Jarace Walker to this highly skilled squad. Head coach Kelvin Sampson has the right recipe for success in this program with his tough and physical style of play that has the opportunity to carry them even further than it has the past two years.

North Carolina (+900)

Preseason AP Top 25 Rank: 1

We should be talking about North Carolina as defending champions heading into this season but instead, we’re talking about them as runner-ups to Kansas after blowing a commanding 15-point halftime lead and losing 72-69. It was heartbreaking for a team that made a great run with a loaded roster and a first-year head coach in Hubert Davis, who had to replace legendary head coach Roy Williams after 18 seasons with the team.

The Tar Heels have to turn the corner and forget about what happened at the end of last season as they have a real chance to make another deep run at the National Championship. They return Armando Bacot, who led the team in points and rebounds, along with three other key starters. There’s a reason North Carolina enters the season as the number one team in the nation and the determination to prove that is through the roof.

Kentucky (+900)

Preseason AP Top 25 Rank: 4

Along with North Carolina, Kentucky also begins the season with +900 odds to win the National Championship. The Wildcats had the worst loss of them all this past March, entering the NCAA Tournament as the two seed and getting upset by number 15 seed St. Peter’s 85-79. Despite that horrendous loss, they’re still among the favorites to win it all this season.

Defending National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe returns to the team after averaging an impressive double-double last season with 17.4 points and 15.2 assists per game. They lost a few pieces but were able to plug the holes with talent on offense, defense, and depth-wise. With the talent possessed and John Calipari leading this team, they’re poised to overcome what happened last season in a big way.

Duke (+1000)

Preseason Top 25 Rank: 7

Duke heads into this season without Mike Krzyzewski under the helm for the first time since the 1979-80 season. He came up just short last season but capped off an illustrious career with an ACC Regular Season Championship and a trip to the Final Four, where he ultimately fell to the rival Tar Heels. Moving forward, the Blue Devils will now be led by head coach Jon Scheyer.

Duke sprints into 2022-23 with yet another very talented team and a great outlook for the feature. They snagged the number one overall prospect in the country and future lottery pick Dereck Lively. The pairing of Lively and junior Jeremy Roach on the court will be a handful for any team to deal with and add on top of that the addition of five-star Dariq Whitehead, another potential lottery pick, who when he gets fully healthy from foot surgery will bring elite scoring to the table. This team is determined to fight for their first-year head coach and start the new era at Duke with a National Championship.

Next Best Odds

Kansas (+1200)
Arkansas (+1400)
Baylor (+1500)
UCLA (+1600)
Arizona (+2000)

Source

(Please note that teams such as Alabama might be repeated due to the sheer amount of talent on their roster!)

📈 Evan Hull, @NUFBFamily

📈 Antwane Wells Jr., @GamecockFB

📈 Felix Anudike-Uzomah, @KStateFB

More draft risers from @IC_Draft after CFB Week 2 ⬇️https://t.co/2cXMyYiVPT

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 13, 2022

CFB Games With The Most NFL Draft Talent

Week 3 – Georgia vs South Carolina

Starting next week, a matchup that appears to be quite one-sided on paper: particularly when it comes to potential NFL Draft talent. While South Carolina is home to Cam Smith, Spencer Rattler, and Jaheim Bell, three players that could potentially be high draft picks, they are nothing when compared to the players that Georgia trots out on a weekly basis. Jalen Carter, Kelee Ringo, and Broderick Jones are just three names to look out for next weekend.

Week 4 – Clemson vs Wake Forest

Both sides in this matchup are notably stronger on one side of the ball rather than the other. For Wake Forest, offense is their strong point, whereas Clemson’s defense is the true strength. This should make for an entertaining matchup whenever Wake Forest’s offense, starring Sam Hartman and A.T. Perry, takes the field against Clemson’s star-studded defense, home to Myles Murphy, Bryan Bresee, and Trenton Simpson.

Week 5 – Oklahoma vs TCU

One of the weaker matchups on this list, a strong TCU lineup faces off against an Oklahoma team that is in phase one of their rebuild following the loss of their head coach and their starting QB to USC last summer. TCU boasts the likes of Quentin Johnston (one of the more underrated players in CFB at the moment), Noah Daniels, and Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson. While Oklahoma still has some strong players in Dillon Gabriel, Marvin Mims, and Anton Harrison.

Week 6 – Alabama vs Texas A&M

Alabama’s first mention on the list comes in a matchup where A&M managed to snatch a victory last season despite Alabama being the heavy favorites. This season, however, Alabama seems to have reloaded nicely to face the Aggies, with their roster being host to Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr, the two Heisman favorites at the moment. Their team also has talent in other places, such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Jordan Battle, and Brian Branch. However, this Texas A&M team is no pushover, with Antonio Johnson, Devon Achane, and Ainias Smith leading the charge against the Crimson Tide.

Week 7 – USC vs Utah

This is a game that could potentially decide who wins the Pac-12 while simultaneously deciding if any Pac-12 teams make it to the CFP this season. The Utes have another season with a strong lineup as they aim to take the Pac-12 crown for the second season running; some of their standout players include Cam Rising, Clark Phillips III, and Mohamoud Diabate. However, the Trojans, under the guidance of Lincoln Riley, look to cruise to a CFP berth in his first season in California with the likes of Jordan Addison, Andrew Vorhees, and Travis Dye leading the way.

Week 8 – Ohio State vs Iowa

The Buckeyes’ first mention, so far, comes in the form of a divisional matchup against Iowa. Ohio State is host to a wide range of talent, however none more apparent as CJ Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who make up one of the most fearsome duos in all of college football. However, they also have Paris Johnson Jr and Zach Harrison. Iowa is also home to Sam LaPorta and Jack Campbell but does not have nearly the same amount of talent that Ohio State has.

Week 9 – Florida vs Georgia

While Georgia has already been mentioned, it is impossible not to mention Florida and their star quarterback Anthony Richardson. While the Gators are only home to one other real NFL draft-eligible talent in Gervon Dexter, the entertainment value that Richardson brings should be enough to watch this matchup.

Week 10 – Clemson vs Notre Dame, Ohio State vs Northwestern, AND Baylor vs Oklahoma

While Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma have all been covered already. Notre Dame, Northwestern, and Baylor are all home to some high-level talent as well. Notre Dame boasts Michael Mayer, Brandon Joseph, and Isaiah Foskey who could all be day one picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Northwestern is not home to much draft-eligible talent, but they do have star offensive lineman Peter Skoronski. Finally, Baylor is home to Siaki Ika, who is one of “my guys” in this upcoming class.

Week 11 – Baylor vs Kansas State, Texas vs TCU

Again, Baylor and TCU have already been covered thus far. However, it would be an injustice to not mention Kansas State and Texas with the amount of talent on show at the two programs. Kansas State has the likes of Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Deuce Vaughn on their roster. While Texas is home to star running back Bijan Robinson who could be a top-ten pick despite the position he plays.

Week 12 – Oregon vs Utah AND Georgia vs Kentucky

Once again, it would be a shame to exclude Kentucky and Oregon from this list. Kentucky’s main star is quarterback Will Levis, but they also have Chris Rodriguez who also is draft-eligible. Oregon, despite their shaky start to the season, has some good players on their roster, namely Noah Sewell, Justin Flowe, and Christian Gonzalez. They are also home to Bo Nix, who had a shocking week one performance but could be a high-round draft pick if he recovers.

Week 13 – Texas A&M vs LSU

In the final week of the regular season of CFB, we have already looked at almost all the major programs barring LSU. So it felt right to honor the Tigers and include them on this list. Despite many changes in Louisiana, LSU still has some good talent in Jayden Daniels, Kayshon Boutte, Jaquelin Roy, and BJ Ojulari who are all draft-eligible talents.

Week 14 – TBD

Week 15 – Army vs Navy

The sole game in week fifteen, there is one major draft prospect who will play in this match (barring injury). Andre Carter II will look to become the first player from either Army or Navy to be selected in the first round since 1947, and with his physical tools, it seems quite likely that he will be one of the first 32 picks come draft day.

Overall, there are a plethora of matchups to look forward to throughout the season which may end up having a huge bearing on who the best players in this class end up being.

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