2016 College Football Picks & Predictions: National Title Favorites and Contenders

2016 College Football Picks & Predictions: National Title Favorites and Contenders: The 2016 college football season is fast approaching, and every program begins the year with the goal of eventually being crowned national champions. Of course, everyone knows that the list of teams that can actually contend for the ultimate prize is relatively short, and there are always a handful of teams that stand out as frontrunners heading into the year. With that in mind, here is a closer looks at the favorites and top contenders for the 2016 college football national championship. Check out the nation’s top expert college football picks and 2016 college football predictions this year from NSAwins.com.

2016 College Football Picks & Predictions: National Title Favorites and Contenders

The Favorites

Although they came up just short last season, the Clemson Tigers should be right back in the mix for a national title in 2016. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is a Heisman frontrunner, and he has shown he can light up any defense. Running back Wayne Gallman is also back, and the receiving corps is even better. The defense loses some serious talent, but it is still respectable, and Watson and company should overwhelm most of their opponents with a high-powered scoring attack.

Their defense lost several starters to NFL and their quarterback is unproven, but you could say the same about the Alabama Crimson Tide almost every year, and every year they compete for the crown. Alabama is still stout in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and they have playmakers galore at receiver. Raw talent counts for a lot, and no team has more than the Crimson Tide.

They have a dual-threat quarterback in Baker Mayfield, and the Oklahoma Sooners can also hand the ball off to Samaje Perine to make their powerful offense go. A defense that returns a bulk of its starters should only improve, and after making the College Football Playoff last year despite a brutal schedule, the Sooners have all the pieces in place to make a return trip as the class of the Big 12.

Top Contenders

The NFL Draft sucked up a ton of talent on both sides of the ball from the Ohio State Buckeyes, but Urban Meyer’s elite recruiting has the cupboard anything but bare. Dual-threat quarterback J.T. Barrett will provide a playmaker and stability for the offense, and there is little doubt that this team is still the most talented in the Big Ten. A trip to Oklahoma early in the year is brutal, but the Buckeyes could still rally to run the table in conference play and claim a playoff spot.

If the aforementioned Ohio State Buckeyes don’t win the Big Ten, there is a good chance the Michigan Wolverines could. Road games against Ohio State and Michigan State won’t be easy, but the schedule is favorable overall. The Wolverines need someone to step up at quarterback, but if the find a reliable option under center, Jim Harbaugh has already built a nasty defense and powerful ground attack to take care of the rest.

The ACC is basically a two-horse race, and while the Clemson Tigers deserve to be the favorites, the Florida State Seminoles are lurking. They have arguably the most explosive runner in the country in Dalvin Cook, and the defense should be downright nasty. There are questions under center, but the Seminoles get Clemson at home and should be favored in every other game. This team could be one upset away from a playoff spot and a shot at a title.

Led by workhorse running back Leonard Fournette, the LSU Tigers have 18 starters back and could be poised to dethrone Alabama in the SEC. If LSU can establish even a decent passing attack, Fournette and the defense should do the rest. The Tigers host the Crimson Tide this year, and that game could ultimately decide the division, the conference and a spot in the playoff.

Get daily updated odds to win the 2017 College Football National Championship all season long.

2016 National Championship Odds
Alabama +700
Clemson +825
Oklahoma +900
Ohio State +1000
Tennessee +1500
LSU +1500
Florida State +1600
Notre Dame +1600
Michigan +1600
Mississippi +3700
Stanford +3700
UCLA +4500
Washington +4500
Oregon +4500
Baylor +4700
Georgia +5000
TCU +5000
Florida +5500
USC +6000
Oklahoma State +6000
Louisville +6500
Michigan State +6600
Auburn +7500
Arkansas +10000
Texas +10000
Texas A&M +10000
Miami Florida +12500
North Carolina +12500
Houston +12500
Nebraska +15000
Utah +15000
Wisconsin +15000
Iowa +20000
Boise State +20000
Arizona State +25000
Arizona +30000
BYU +30000
West Virginia +30000
Virginia Tech +30000
Mississippi State +30000
Penn State +30000
Washington State +35000
South Carolina +35000
Pittsburgh +40000
Georgia Tech +40000
NC State +50000
Texas Tech +50000
South Florida +75000
California +75000
Missouri +100000
Northwestern +120000
Vanderbilt +120000
Western Michigan +120000
Boston College +120000
Duke +120000
Kentucky +120000
Wake Forest +130000
Kansas State +130000
Syracuse +150000
San Diego State +150000
Colorado +150000
Cincinnati +200000
Iowa State +200000
Indiana +200000
Appalachian State +200000
Air Force +200000
Temple +200000
Virginia +200000
Purdue +200000
Minnesota U +200000
Western Kentucky +200000
Oregon State +250000
Maryland +250000
Rutgers +250000
Illinois +250000
Kansas +300000
Marshall +300000
San Jose State +400000
Tulsa +400000
Utah State +500000
Northern Illinois +500000
Navy +500000
Georgia Southern +500000
Connecticut +500000
Central Michigan +500000
Memphis +600000
Middle Tennessee +600000
Toledo +600000
SMU +700000
Southern Mississippi +700000
Nevada +700000
Bowling Green +700000
East Carolina +700000
Louisiana Tech +700000
Arkansas State +700000
Army +800000
Colorado State +800000
New Mexico +800000
Troy +800000
UL Lafayette +800000
UL Monroe +999999
UNLV +999999
UTSA +999999
Tulane +999999
UTEP +999999
Texas State +999999
South Alabama +999999
New Mexico State +999999
Miami Ohio +999999
Massachusetts +999999
North Texas +999999
Ohio +999999
Old Dominion +999999
Rice +999999
Wyoming +999999
Kent State +999999
Eastern Michigan +999999
Florida Atlantic +999999
Florida International +999999
Buffalo +999999
Charlotte +999999
Central Florida +999999
Georgia State +999999
Fresno State +999999
Hawaii +999999
Idaho +999999
Ball State +999999
Akron +999999