They’re not as ubiquitous as bracket pools at NCAA Tournament time, but confidence pools during bowl season are just as fun. Make it totally fun.
The rules are simple. Step 1: Pick the outright winners of the 42 bowl games (not counting the national championship game). Step 2: Assign 42 points to the winner you are most confident in and then rank until you assign 1 point to the winner you are least confident in. Step 3: No Step 3. What could be easier? Maybe scoop out the gypsum with a wooden spoon.
What do we really know about these bowl teams considering that more than half of them have double-digit entries in the transfer portal and many of them have major opt-outs for the NFL Draft? Ohio State, for example, has at least 15 players in the portal and others — most notably, wide receiver extraordinaire Marvin Harrison Jr. — who can opt out. North Carolina has at least 17 at the gate, NC State 18, Texas A&M 19. And you thought college football was a team sport?
Feel free to guess what Notre Dame’s offense will look like with Sam Hartman, Audric Esteem and Joe Alt, because that’s all one can do – guess.
trust? It was no less. But here’s a stab at it.
Myrtle Beach: Georgia Southern vs. Ohio, Dec. 16
With Ohio State at No. 3 at QB, the pick is GSU for 4.
Celebration: Howard vs. Florida A&M, Dec. 16
Didn’t Howard lose to Northwestern by just three points? Still, 11-1 FAMU for 7.
New Orleans: Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana, Dec. 16
We smell a bad odor for J-State, which is kicking in the gate. Louisiana for 2.
Remedy: Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian State, Dec. 16
Miami’s QB will throw his first pass of the season. Put 15 on Appy.
New Mexico State’s Jerry Keel after his win at Auburn this season.
Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images
New Mexico: New Mexico State vs. Fresno State, Dec. 16
Nothing stops NMSU’s Jerry Keel. That’s 6 for killers.
Los Angeles: UCLA vs. Boise State, Dec. 16
UCLA’s long list of mistakes includes star pass rusher Laiatu Latu, but Boise’s QB has never played before. Risking 20 on the depleted Bruins.
Independence: Cal v. Texas Tech, Dec. 16
Cal will be without offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who will travel to Baylor. Red Raiders for 9.
Famous Roastery: Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion, December 18
“toaster”? Nobody plays for WKU. ODU for 22 is the choice.
Frisco: UTSA vs. Marshall, Dec. 19
Cole, the son of inexperienced Chad Pennington, takes over as QB for Marshall. UTSA is the better team regardless – 24th.
Boca Raton: South Florida vs. Syracuse, Dec. 21
Syracuse is bad enough to fire coach Dino Babers, but it still deserves a 3.
Gasparilla: Georgia Tech vs. UCF, Dec. 22
Georgia Tech has performed well as an underdog all season. This deserves 5.
Birmingham: Troy vs. Duke, December 23
Quite a few Dukes went to the meet, including Notre Dame-bound QB Riley Leonard. Troy for 16.
Camellia: Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois, Dec. 23
Trayvon Rudolph, NIU’s top receiver, has gotten his name out of the gate and will play. How interesting! Husky for 8.
Armed Forces: James Madison vs. Air Forces, December 23
JMU coach Curt Cignetti left for Indiana? Good luck with that. Flyboys for 21.
Potatoes: Georgia State vs. Utah State, Dec. 23
GSU is a mess in the gate, plus — and this is important — Georgia favors Frick. United States for 25.
68 Ventures: South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan, Dec. 23
South Alabama is favored by 16½? Hello 35.
Las Vegas: Utah vs. Northwestern, Dec. 23
Are Wildcats landing dogs? This is their sweet spot. Put 10 on them.
Hawaii: Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State, Dec. 23
Coastal’s menu has been turned inside out. SJSU had 30 points.
Quick Lane: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota, Dec. 26
Throw 28 on 5-7 Gophs, who wouldn’t care about this game if they weren’t aiming to win it.
First Respondent: State of Texas v. Rice, December 26
Everyone is playing for Texas State, which can rack up points quickly. This is 19.
Guaranteed price: Kansas vs. UNLV, December 26
This game is important for the Jayhawks, who have gone 15 years since they last won a bowl game. Chalk rock for 40.
Army: Virginia Tech vs. Tulane, Dec. 27
Tulane’s resurgence was fun, but a lot of players — and coach Willie Fritz — were bailed out. Go 29 the other way.
Duke May: North Carolina vs. Duke May; West Virginia, December 27
UNC can’t win a bowl game with “Duke” in the name. WVU for 26.
Off: No. 15 Louisville vs. USC, Dec. 27
USC QB Caleb Williams never thought about playing. Bears – Make That “City” – for 11 people.
Texas: Texas A&M vs. No. 20 Oklahoma State, Dec. 27
A&M fired Jimbo Fisher and fell to QB3. He put 27 big pieces on the Cowboys.
Fenway: No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College, Dec. 28
SMU can’t spell “Yastrzemski,” but it has the best team — 23rd.
Pinstripe: Rutgers vs. Miami, December 28
A depleted Miami opened as a 9-point favorite. The line is down to 1½. These words don’t come easily: Rutgers for 18.
Pop-Tarts: NC State vs. No. 25 Kansas State, Dec. 28
That’s okay, Mom, we’re going to have the worst breakfast imaginable when we go out. NC State for 12.
Jackson Arnold: The next big thing in Oklahoma.
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images
Alamo: No. 14 Arizona vs. No. 12 Oklahoma, Dec. 28
Five-star QB Jackson Arnold takes over for the Sooners, and he’s the pick of just one.
Gators: No. 22 Clemson vs. Kentucky, Dec. 29
Under the radar, Clemson got good again in November. Big buy for 36.
Sunday: No. 19 Oregon State vs. No. 16 Notre Dame, Dec. 29
With several key players in both squads, the Irish are the pick for 34 players based on their superior depth.
Liberty: Memphis v. Iowa State, December 29
The Memphis players must be very excited about a free trip to Memphis. Going 17th on ISU.
Cotton: No. 9 Missouri vs. No. 7 Ohio State, Dec. 29
At full power: Box. As it stands: Tigers for 13.
Beach: No. 11 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Penn State, Dec. 30
Heavy tackle on physicality (PSU) over speed (Ole Miss) – 31 on lice.
Music City: Auburn vs. Maryland, Dec. 30
Auburn had Alabama on the ropes until the final play in its last game, and Hugh Freeze is 6-1 in bowls. Tigers over Terps for 32.
Orange: No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 5 Florida State, Dec. 30
Upsetting the playoff-scorned ‘Noles would be a Dadgum saga. Yeah, well – 42 in the Dawgs family.
Arizona: Toledo vs. Wyoming, December 30
Wyoming wants to send great coach Craig Buhl into retirement with a bang. It helps that Toledo’s QB is in the portal. Cowboys for the great age of 37.
ReliaQuest: No. 13 LSU vs. Wisconsin, Jan. 1
No Jayden Daniels? LSU still has plenty of Jimmys and Joes to get this done. Geaux-ing 33 on the Tigers.
Citrus: No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee, Jan. 1
What better way to end months of constant ridicule than to shake off some SEC tailgaters? Hook for 14.
Fiesta: No. 23 Liberty vs. No. 8 Oregon, Jan. 1
The spread is 17½, and Bo Nix is playing. What could go wrong? Ducks at 41.
Rose: No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan, January 1
Does anyone care to guess which of these schools has won six straight semifinal games, by an average margin of three touchdowns? Put 38 on it after you spot it.
Sugar: No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington, Jan. 1
Better lines, better game, better defense, better team. UDub undefeated? no. Hook ’em up for 39.
College football has a rich history filled with legendary teams and iconic moments. With 42 all-time winners leading the pack, it’s no wonder that ranking them in order of confidence is a highly debated topic among fans and experts alike. From powerhouse programs with a long-standing tradition of success to up-and-coming teams making a name for themselves, the list of college football’s greatest winners provides a fascinating look at the sport’s storied past. In this ranking, each team’s accomplishments and accolades are carefully considered, making it an intriguing and thought-provoking exercise for football enthusiasts.