With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sept. 1.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
National title odds: 100-1
Season win total: 7.5
Phil Steele
Strengths: No team was hotter down the stretch last year than the Yellow Jackets, who beat No. 18 Clemson, No. 8 Georgia and No. 8 Mississippi State in their final four games. They have a QB in Justin Thomas who is excellent running the option, my No. 13 offensive line and an underrated defensive line.
Weaknesses: Georgia Tech must replace almost every RB from last year's team, and its linebackers and defensive backs do not rank in my top units. The Yellow Jackets draw Florida State and Clemson from the Atlantic and Notre Dame and Georgia in its nonconference schedule.
Over/under: For a team viewed as the preseason favorite to win the ACC Coastal, this seems like an awfully low number. I do have the Yellow Jackets as a 'dog in five games this year, though Paul Johnson almost always exceeds my expectations. No play for me.
National title: I think this number is fair and have no interest. The out-of-division and nonconference slates are brutal, and if they get the ACC title game vs. Florida State or Clemson, those two teams would have already prepped for and played against their option during the regular season; it wouldn't be like last season's meeting in the conference championship, when FSU had a short week and no idea before the year that they'd have to play Georgia Tech. Teams would also get extra time to prep for the option if the Yellow Jackets were to actually make the playoff.
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin
Has anyone noticed the "new" Paul Johnson this offseason? I think he's shown a lot of personality, and it has been hilarious. Or maybe he's still feeling good after thumping an SEC team in the Orange Bowl last year (sorry to bring it up, Stark Vegas). But, seriously, how can you not root for Georgia Tech? Johnson has stood firm on his offensive beliefs and stayed with the option offense, finishing 11-3 in 2014.
I would put quarterback Justin Thomas in the top five of college football as far as fast guys go -- he is simply electric. So is it wrong to think Tech can build off last year and win the ACC title after losing that game in two of the last three years? It's possible, but the Yellow Jackets have some seriously tough road games this season, including at Notre Dame, at Duke, at Clemson and at Miami (Fla.). They do get Virginia Tech (on a Thursday night) and FSU at home, but I think their schedule is too daunting for them to earn a trip to the College Football Playoff. I do like them over the number of 7.5, though.
Odds to win the title: What the heck, who doesn't love the option enough to see it win a national title, especially when you're going to get $100 for every $1 you bet? Plus, a one-loss ACC-champion Yellow Jackets team will present a pretty impressive resume for the selection committee to consider.
Chris Fallica
The ACC Coastal is the epitome of mediocrity, so one really can't eliminate any teams from contention. However, expecting Georgia Tech to repeat last year's 11-win season is a bit much. In 2014, the Jackets had three wins by six points or fewer and five wins as a 'dog. Maybe it won't matter with Justin Thomas under center, but Tech really needs a "B" back to emerge in order for the option offense to be great.
O/U: After starting 2-0, the Jackets could win or lose each of the remaining 10 games. I'll say they fare better than average and go 6-4 over those 10, putting them at 8-4. So a slight lean toward the over.
Title odds: Odds of 200-1 seems like a big sucker bet for a team that won five games as a dog last year. Thomas is back, but all the other playmakers on offense must be replaced. Don't look at the 11 wins and tough loss vs. FSU last year as a guide for 2015. Not worth a play.