2015 College Football Predictions – Playoff Contenders Stock Report: Week 1

2015 College Football Predictions – Playoff Contenders Stock Report: Week 1: The 2015 college football season is only one week old, but it is never too early for teams to begin building a resume that could eventually land them a spot in the College Football Playoff. On the flip side, one bad performance could be all it takes to eliminate a team from playoff consideration, even if the loss happens early on. With that in mind, here is a closer look at some teams that saw their stock rise and those that took a hit following Week 1.

2015 College Football Predictions – Playoff Contenders Stock Report: Week 1

Stock Up

In a matchup of ranked opponents, the Alabama Crimson Tide looked the part of a national title contender, crushing the Wisconsin Badgers on both sides of the ball. This year’s Alabama team resembles the previous teams that have won titles, dominating along both the offensive and defensive lines. Derrick Henry is the perfect player to lead Alabama power running game, and the defense appears stout enough to handle what might be the toughest schedule in the country.

While Texas is no longer a national power, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish still made major statement with their 38-3 clubbing of the Longhorns in Week 1. Most importantly, QB Malik Zaire showed signs of being able to take the offense to the next level, and the defense looked as good as it has since the season Notre Dame reached the BCS title game. Don’t be surprised if the Fighting Irish are in the mix for a spot in the College Football Playoff when all is said and done.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Boise State Broncos’ Week 1 win over the Washington Huskies is very important for the team’s long-term goals. Boise State figures to be favored in every other game this year, and after knocking off one of two power conference teams on their scheduled, the Broncos are in great shape to eventually secure a spot in a major bowl at the end of the year.

Young players don’t always live up to the hype, but UCLA Bruins QB Josh Rosen looked stellar in his debut in Week 1, throwing for 351 yards and three scores. The Bruins have enough other pieces in place to contend in the Pac-12 and beyond, and if Rosen is going to provide stability under center, UCLA has a chance to make a major push in 2015.

Stock Down

Entering the year, the Arizona State Sun Devils were a trendy sleeper pick to reach the College Football Playoff, but after an ugly 38-17 loss to Texas A&M in the opener, ASU will need a miracle to compete for the national title in 2015. The Arizona State offense that was supposed to be unstoppable was held in check by an Aggies’ defense that was gashed repeatedly last year, and at this point, the Sun Devils have to run the table and hope for some help.

They were supposed to be surprise contenders in the Pac-12 and beyond, but the Stanford Cardinal can pretty much forget about making any noise on the national stage after an embarrassing loss to Northwestern in Week 1. Stanford’s offense was abysmal in the loss, and the Cardinal don’t seem to have any dangerous weapons in the passing game or a power running game to lean on like in years past. What was supposed to be a promising season could become a long one.

While everyone knew the turnaround wouldn’t happen overnight, the Week 1 loss to Utah was a reminder that the Michigan Wolverines aren’t going to morph into instance contenders now that Jim Harbaugh is head coach. It is going to take some time for Harbaugh to restock the talent for the Wolverines, and in the meantime, the offense is likely going to continue to struggle since it appears there isn’t a reliable quarterback on the roster.

Armed with a quarterback that some think can be a first-round pick, the Penn State Nittany Lions were supposed to be on the upswing. After losing to Temple in Week 1 and surrendering 10 sacks in the process, it looks like PSU has hit a major road block on its path back to relevance. The offensive line is an absolute disaster, and no team is going to be a factor in the Big Ten, let alone the national scene, while getting destroyed in the trenches.

Get more 2015 College Football betting odds for the 2015 season updated daily on NSAwins.com including updated odds to win the 2016 National Championship.