2025 CFB Look-Ahead Lines
This is likely going to be my last post in my preseason bets series. I’ve had a busy preseason, already betting over 100 units across my various picks. This is all part of my plan for the season though- my main takeaway from the last few years of betting is that I have more edge betting futures, and the most edge betting exotic futures. The preseason is the best time to make those bets, and I anticipate betting less in-season than I have in the past.
Today I’ll look at some game lines for later in the season. These sorts of bets (often called “look-ahead lines”) were great for me last year. I got Florida +11.5 against Florida State in the preseason last year, which might have been my favorite bet of the whole year.
Week 4: Washington @ Washington State
Washington was a pretty big disappointment in 2024. No one expected a repeat of 2023’s squad that lost the national title game, but the Huskies were in many people’s preseason top 25 and went 6-7. I remain bearish on Washington this year- most of Kalen DeBoer’s players have cycled out of the program, and the recruiting has been slightly below average for the Big Ten.
Washington State is going through a gut rebuild with their HC, QB and OC all off to power programs. However, I think they have the right man for the job in former South Dakota State HC Jimmy Rogers. Rogers took over the SDSU dynasty built by his predecessor and only improved it, going 27-3 in two years. He’s also brought nearly twenty players with him from South Dakota State. Thus, while Wazzu lost a ton, they’re importing a cohesive core and aren’t starting from zero.
I like this a good bit, I bet one unit at +10.5 a few weeks ago and added another when it got to +11.5.
Washington State +10.5 -110 (1 unit)
Washington State +11.5 -110 (1 unit)
Week 5: Oregon @ Penn State
The Big Ten has a clear top three in Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State. This is one of two matchups between that big three, as Oregon and Ohio State don’t play this year.
It’s no secret that I’m low on Oregon this year- I bet big on Oregon to miss the playoff. I’m not sold on Dante Moore at QB. Penn State, on the other hand, is going to be quite solid this year. I’m still not buying the Nittany Lions as a top-tier national title contender, but they have the highest floor of any team in the sport. It would shock me if they’re not a top 10 team this year, they are simply too experienced and have an excellent backfield.
Penn State -4 -110 (1 unit)
Week 7: Indiana @ Oregon
After Oregon travels to Happy Valley, they host Indiana. I once again love Indiana’s upside this year- I think that they have a decent shot at a return appearance to the playoff. Oregon is far more talented than Indiana and should be a decent favorite here, but two touchdowns is an enormous spread for this matchup.
Indiana +14 -110 (2 units)
Week 7: Oklahoma vs. Texas
I absolutely love Oklahoma this year. The Sooners have been the victim of awful injury luck and showed their potential last year in a dominating win over Alabama. This is still one of the most talented teams in the country and they imported a great offense in John Mateer and his OC Ben Arbuckle. I’m buying Oklahoma at every opportunity in the preseason.
Oklahoma +11.5 -110 (2 units)
Week 8: SMU @ Clemson
It’s a common trope in college football that plucky mid-majors can’t hang with the big boys in the trenches. This matchup is going to be the ultimate showcase of that. SMU is in the ACC now, but a lot of their roster was still assembled when they were in the American. Clemson, on the other hand, might have the best offensive line and best defensive line in the country. Clemson is going to bully SMU in the trenches and roll in this one.
Clemson -11.5 -110 (2 units)
Week 14: Georgia Tech vs. Georgia
Georgia Tech has pulled a crazy number of upsets in the last few years- I believe the Yellow Jackets have won 5 games as a double digit underdog in the last two years. HC Brent Key is an offensive line coach by trade and that shows with the physical nature of this squad. Add in an experienced QB in Haynes King, and I’m bullish on Georgia Tech this year. I also am skeptical of UGA’s offense under Gunner Stockton and that makes this an easy play.
Georgia Tech +12.5 -110 (1 unit)
Week 14: Texas A&M @ Texas
Oklahoma and Texas A&M are the two main teams I’m buying in the SEC this preseason. I’m also a huge seller of Texas. That makes this an ideal pick for me. Texas A&M is one of the ten most talented teams in the country and has an exciting young QB in Marcel Reed. Texas will improve at QB with Arch but lost an obscene amount of talent to the draft elsewhere on the roster. I think A&M has a good shot at their first win over the Longhorns in a generation.
Texas A&M +10.5 -110 (2 units)