2016 College Football Predictions: Forecasting Top National Title Sleepers

2016 College Football Predictions: Forecasting Top National Title Sleepers: It is no secret that power programs in college football tend to win national championships, and Alabama, Ohio State and Florida State are just some of the recent winners that can attest to that. However, a surprise team will break through every now and compete for the top prize, and large programs that have been slumping will suddenly re-emerge. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the teams that could be the Cinderella story of the 2016 college football season. Also, be sure and visit NSAwins.com all season long for the nation’s best college football predictions and updated college football odds.

2016 College Football Predictions: Forecasting Top National Title Sleepers

The Sleepers

The closed last season with six straight wins, and after years of solid recruiting, the Tennessee Volunteers could return to prominence in 2016 with 19 starters back. On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Joshua Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd lead an explosive attack that averaged more than 35 points per game last season. Hosting Alabama can’t hurt, and even with a loss, Tennessee should still be able to win the SEC East and have a shot at the conference crown and maybe more. The Volunteers are more than capable of having a special season.

In Tom Herman’s first year as coach, the Houston Cougars went 13-1 and didn’t lose a game when dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr. was healthy. Ward and Herman are both back, so the offensive should be explosive, and the defense was a turnover machine. Yes, playing in the AAC puts the Cougars at a disadvantage, but out-of-conference games against Oklahoma and Louisville should give them enough statement wins to reach the College Football Playoff if they can run the table.

A beatdown at the hands of Ohio State in their bowl game wasn’t pretty, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish had an otherwise impressive season. Their only two losses came to Clemson and Stanford by narrow margins, and this year’s schedule is much friendlier by comparison. More importantly, Brian Kelly has two excellent quarterbacks to choose from in Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer, so the offense should put plenty of points on the board.

They took Clemson to the wire last year, and the Louisville Cardinals should be even better in Bobby Petrino’s second season as coach. An underrated defensive unit returns nearly all of its starters, and dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson is a dark horse Heisman candidate and one of the most explosive players in the country. Pulling off upsets against Florida State and Clemson won’t be easy, but the Cardinals have a puncher’s chance thanks to Jackson and their defense.

The Michigan State Spartans got spanked by Alabama in the College Football Playoff, but the Spartans don’t have to worry about the Crimson Tide during the regular season. Granted, they have to find a new quarterback and the defense isn’t as loaded as in recent years, but the Spartans know how to grind out physical wins as well as any team in the country. Plus, getting Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin in East Lansing won’t hurt the Spartans’ chances. Writing off MSU in 2016 is a big mistake.

If you are looking for a serious sleeper, the San Diego State Aztecs have a great chance to run the table in 2016. Running back Donald Pumphrey leads and offense that helped SDSU run the table in the Mountain West, and the Aztecs won most of their games by a wide margin last year. In the end, the same friendly out-of-conference schedule that makes a perfect season very possible could also keep them out of the College Football Playoff. However, the Aztecs can certainly give the committee something to think about if they are undefeated at the end of year.

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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