Preview of the NCAA Football Top 25

The 2025 college football season kicks off this week with a handful of contests in Week 0 including a key Big 12 contest in Ireland between conference contenders Iowa State and Kansas State (-3.5). This past week the Associated Press (AP) released it's Top 25 Poll to kickoff the season, and the conference breakdown in the polls is dominated by the SEC and Big Ten. 

- SEC: 10 teams including 4 in top-10
- Big Ten: 6 including 3 in top-10
- ACC: 3
- Big 12: 4
- Mountain West: 1
- Independent: 1

The next three teams among the 'also receiving votes' were all Big 12 teams BYU, Utah and Baylor, who will be among the teams capable of moving into the rankings. The AP Top 25 Poll is another talking point each week during the season, and adds to the media hype and coverage of college football. But it's not nearly as accurate as leading online sportsbooks odds and power ratings that are a more true indicator of teams value and strength.  

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College Football Top 25

Preseason Top 25 teams and national championship odds. There is better value than betting futures on many of these top contenders, including on conference odds, adjusted odds market and weekly matchups and props. But with these teams drawing more attention and Top 25 weekly odds, updates and recaps, let's follow along and adjust during the season. 

Top online sportsbook BetOnline and affiliate Sportsbetting.ag has provided an update on the odds and some significant disparities between which teams the pollsters view as contenders and which teams the bookmakers view as contenders.

Last year, 13 of college football teams that started the season in the AP Poll finished outside the final Top 25 rankings. The AP Poll adds to the coverage of college football, but many observers point to the season-long advantages early-ranked teams receive, and they point to the inaccuracies the polls perennially produce. 

Some observations and notes include: 

- No. 12 Arizona State has worse CFP odds than 14 teams ranked below the Sun Devils 
- No. 13 Illinois has worse CFP odds than 16 teams ranked below the Illini 
- No. 6 Georgia has the second-lowest CFP odds 
- No. 19 Oklahoma has the 14th-best CFP odds 
- No. 20 Texas A&M is tied for the 11th-best CFP odds 
- No. 25 Boise State has the worst CFP odds of any ranked team 
- Auburn has the best CFP odds of unranked teams and better odds than 9 ranked teams 
- USC has the second-best CFP odds of unranked teams and better odds than 8 ranked teams 

- Five unranked teams have Top 25 CFP odds rankings - Auburn, USC, Louisville, Utah and Nebraska. Five more teams are top-30 including Baylor, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Missouri and TCU, who will all be among the next tier of teams looking to move into the Top 25 in September. 

The Associated Press selects voters for the AP Poll from sports reporters around the country who cover college football, and there are 65 pollsters in the 2025 season. Many rely on information from betting industry experts and handicappers who research teams thoroughly and provide preseason magazines like Phil Steele, who I referenced with his rankings and insight in my preseason conference previews.

The AP poll is updated weekly, and the top matchups each week draw the most betting action at the top online sportsbooks with reduced juice sportsbooks providing the most value to bettors through Off Shore Gaming Association.

College Football Odds And National Championship Favorites

College football championship odds are updated daily and adjust each week like the Top 25 poll. Currently, seven teams have odds of 10/1 or less to win the national championship, and two of them are featured in the Week 1 headliner with No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State (-2.5). 
Texas (+550), Georgia (+650), Ohio State (+700), Penn State (+700), Clemson (+850), Alabama (+900), Notre Dame (+1000). 

I'll add more Top 25 coverage with the key games each week and select picks and opinions during the season. The most watched and wagered games in Week 1 include: 

- Texas at Ohio State (-2.5)
- Auburn (-2.5) at Baylor
- Alabama (-13.5) at Florida State
- LSU at Clemson (-4)
- Notre Dame (-2) at Miami 

TCU (-3.5) at North Carolina completes Week 1 on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1 with NFL coaching great Bill Belichick bringing his knowledge, brand and young babe to Chapel Hill to coach college this season. Week 2 kicks off with Michigan at Oklahoma, and I took an early position on the Sooners with the line now up to -3 as I expect the Wolverines, and their recent NCAA penalties, to have a downer season and finish under their season win total in the Big Ten.  

Quarterback Battles And Odds

In addition to the top teams coverage, rankings, odds and picks, a number of quarterback battles are also being watched closely. BetOnline offers a wide menu of options including props when watching and wagering on college football, and odds to win the starting QB positions are below. The odds have moved the past week and are subject to change. 

Notre Dame Week 1 Starting QB

- Kenny Minchey (130) - opened -120
- CJ Carr (-110)

Ohio State Week 1 Starting QB 

- Julian Sayin (-500)
- Lincoln Kienholz (+300)

Oregon Week 1 Starting QB 

- Dante Moore  (-1000)
- Austin Novosad (+550) 

Michigan Week 1 Starting QB

- Bryce Underwood (-500)
- Mikey Keene )+300)
- Jake Garcia (+800)
- Jadyn Davis (+1500)

Tennessee Week 1 Starting QB

- Joey Aguilar (-500) - was -200
- Jake Merklinger (+300) 

Missouri Week 1 Starting QB 

- Sam Horn (-130)
- Beau Pribula (-110) 

More college football coverage, odds updates, picks and information you can bet on throughout the 2025 season.

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FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.