5 College Football Value Bets Everyone Needs to Make Ahead of the 2025 Season
Grant White
Host · Writer
Nebraska to Win the National Championship
Nebraska Cornhuskers Odds to Win the National Championship: +13000
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are entering the third year of the Matt Rhule era. It's time for Rhule to deliver on his promise to rebuild the Cornhuskers into a National Championship contender.
Nebraska made a significant stride forward in 2024. The Big Ten challengers had their first winning season since 2016 and won their first bowl game since 2015. Still, they are poised for another step forward this season.
Defense was a strength last season, but the Cornhuskers will look even better in 2025. They are starting eight seniors on defense, and have playmakers at every level. Moreover, the Cornhuskers' young offense is expected to continue its upward trajectory. Dylan Raiola is coming off a promising freshman campaign, and Emmett Johnson will shine as the premier running back. Supported by a burgeoning receivers' room, the Cornhuskers' offense looks better than it has in years.
Nebraska's team-friendly schedule is the X-factor most bettors are overlooking. The Cornhuskers don't play a true road game until Week 7. Furthermore, they face Michigan and USC at Memorial Stadium, which bolsters their chances as Big Ten underdogs. Even if they don't win the conference, the Cornhuskers could sneak into a playoff spot with a few signature wins.
They haven't earned the benefit of the doubt, but true underdogs never do. Getting a piece of the Cornhuskers to win the natty is the value play bettors should look at.
Stay current on all breaking transfers and rumored landing spots on SportsGrid's CFB portal page.
Justice Haynes to Win the Heisman
Justice Haynes Heisman Trophy Betting Odds: +20000
The Michigan Wolverines rebuilt their offense this offseason, and one unsuspecting player is worth backing to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
Justice Haynes landed in Ann Arbor via the transfer portal. The former four-star recruit enters his upper-classman years on the heels of his best campaign to date. Last season, with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Haynes churned out 448 yards and seven touchdowns on just 79 carries. Now with the Michigan Wolverines' backfield to himself, we should see a much more productive campaign from the running back.
Bolstering Haynes' outlook, the Wolverines face an uncertain quarterback situation. Bryce Underwood is the presumptive starter, but he faces a steep learning curve as a true freshman. That should necessitate more involvement from Haynes in the running game.
Justice Haynes is a true value play in Heisman Trophy futures betting. Purveyors of closing line value will want to jump on this line now, because his profile will soar once the season starts.
Matriculate down the field with SportsGrid’s FREE Top College Football Picks and College Football Player Prop Picks every week!
Tulane Green Wave to Make the CFP
Tulane Green Wave Odds to Make the CFP: +980
Whether you like it or not, a Group of Five team is going to make the expanded College Football Playoff field. This year, it's worth betting the Tulane Green Wave will be that team.
Tulane is loaded on both sides of the football. Jon Sumrall was active in the transfer portal, rebuilding his offensive line with several promising additions. Further, he brought in quarterback Kadin Semonza to lead the offense. Semonza is coming off a 2,904 passing yard and 25 TD freshman season with Ball State.
Still, Tulane's most pronounced advantage comes on the defensive side of the ball. Despite taking on three Power 4 programs, including Florida and Oklahoma, the Green Wave limited opponents to the 26th-fewest yards per game and 28th-fewest points. With most of their starters back this season, we should see Tulane's defense reach the elite stratosphere in 2025.
The AAC betting favorites, we're planting the SportsGrid flag in Tulane becoming the latest Group of Five program to make the CFP.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Texas Tech Red Raiders to Win the Big 12
Texas Tech Red Raiders Odds to Win the Big 12: +650
In the vastness of the central USA, the Big 12 is a wide-open landscape, both literally and figuratively. As we saw last year, nine different teams had a conceivable path to the Conference Championship heading into the final week of the regular season. It will be another tightly contested battle, but we like the Texas Tech Red Raiders' chances of claiming the Big 12 crown.
Few teams could keep pace with the Red Raiders' offense last season; however, their defense proved to be a limiting factor. After an aggressive offseason in the transfer portal, Texas Tech may have addressed all of its defensive issues.
The Red Raiders nabbed David Bailey and Romello Height to set the edges, bolstering their interior defensive line at the same time. Combined with a few new additions to their secondary, the Red Raiders are primed to compete in every facet of the game.
Texas Tech is set on offense, and we should see its defense shine in 2025. With that, they are our value pick to win the Big 12.
Go Long with SportsGrid’s Free Weekly College Football Game Picks and College Football Player Prop Bets!
LSU Tigers to Win the SEC
LSU Tigers Odds to Win the SEC: +700
It's been a minute since the LSU Tigers ruled over the SEC, but this is the season that Brian Kelly's squad reasserts itself as a legitimate powerhouse and championship contender.
Garrett Nussmeier flashed his game-changing abilities last season. As a junior, the Tigers' quarterback threw for over 4,000 yards while finding paydirt 29 times. With Nic Anderson and Barion Brown entering the fold, Nussmeier is poised for an even more productive senior season.
The biggest question the Tigers face is whether their defense can handle the pressure of a daunting SEC schedule. But with an improved secondary and upgraded edge rushers, LSU has a plethora of playmakers on both sides of the football.
If the Tigers can survive an early road test versus Ole Miss, their next biggest challenges won't come until November. By then, LSU's SEC Championship odds could be significantly lower. Backing them to win the conference title now is a sharp value play.
Nebraska to Win the National Championship
Nebraska Cornhuskers Odds to Win the National Championship: +13000
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are entering the third year of the Matt Rhule era. It's time for Rhule to deliver on his promise to rebuild the Cornhuskers into a National Championship contender.
Nebraska made a significant stride forward in 2024. The Big Ten challengers had their first winning season since 2016 and won their first bowl game since 2015. Still, they are poised for another step forward this season.
Defense was a strength last season, but the Cornhuskers will look even better in 2025. They are starting eight seniors on defense, and have playmakers at every level. Moreover, the Cornhuskers' young offense is expected to continue its upward trajectory. Dylan Raiola is coming off a promising freshman campaign, and Emmett Johnson will shine as the premier running back. Supported by a burgeoning receivers' room, the Cornhuskers' offense looks better than it has in years.
Nebraska's team-friendly schedule is the X-factor most bettors are overlooking. The Cornhuskers don't play a true road game until Week 7. Furthermore, they face Michigan and USC at Memorial Stadium, which bolsters their chances as Big Ten underdogs. Even if they don't win the conference, the Cornhuskers could sneak into a playoff spot with a few signature wins.
They haven't earned the benefit of the doubt, but true underdogs never do. Getting a piece of the Cornhuskers to win the natty is the value play bettors should look at.
Stay current on all breaking transfers and rumored landing spots on SportsGrid's CFB portal page.
Justice Haynes to Win the Heisman
Justice Haynes Heisman Trophy Betting Odds: +20000
The Michigan Wolverines rebuilt their offense this offseason, and one unsuspecting player is worth backing to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
Justice Haynes landed in Ann Arbor via the transfer portal. The former four-star recruit enters his upper-classman years on the heels of his best campaign to date. Last season, with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Haynes churned out 448 yards and seven touchdowns on just 79 carries. Now with the Michigan Wolverines' backfield to himself, we should see a much more productive campaign from the running back.
Bolstering Haynes' outlook, the Wolverines face an uncertain quarterback situation. Bryce Underwood is the presumptive starter, but he faces a steep learning curve as a true freshman. That should necessitate more involvement from Haynes in the running game.
Justice Haynes is a true value play in Heisman Trophy futures betting. Purveyors of closing line value will want to jump on this line now, because his profile will soar once the season starts.
Matriculate down the field with SportsGrid’s FREE Top College Football Picks and College Football Player Prop Picks every week!
