Alabama. Loaded. Returning Heisman winner and potential Heisman winner on D. Certainly motivated and pissed off about losing to UGA for the title game where they lead in the second half. I like them to beat the shit out of everyone they play this year (except us!), but especially the ags after Jimbo's public tantrum. They have made the playoff 6 of the 7 years. They are currently -255 to make the CFP and +150 to win the title. I like both of those bets frankly but I should stay away from gambling.
Ohio State. Also loaded. One tough OOC game to open the season, favorable scheduling for the most part in conference. Plus the program seems to have a deal with Satan as in my 49 years of life they have had exactly two losing seasons.
I am lot less confident outside of those two and frankly I don't think the other 2 teams matter, I don't see anyone else having a chance. That said...my last two would be:
Clemson. People like to shit on them but they had a pretty good year last year. Lost to the eventual CFP winner and two conference road games. 10-3. Also I bet they got their hands on some new experimental drugs to make up for losing their DC to OU.
Utah. I think they have an easy road. USC isn't back. Oregon isn't great.
Other teams I have seen picked:
Ags. I always think they will be worse than they are. HOWEVER, I think they are hugely overrated and anyone picking them to come out of the SEC West is crazy. King sucks and he won't make it through the season anyway. Their off season coaching hires were not good. Reshuffling the offensive coaches a month or so before the season? lol. As good as their 2022 class was rated, how many wins will it translate to? 8-4 here we come. Maybe they won't forfeit their bowl this year.
ND. I don't like this team and never have so I would never pick them to win shit. Too many ND fans all over the fucking place.
OU. Lincoln Riley is the guy who would lock his best friend out of a bunker to have a few more weeks of food and water. I believe he saw the writing on the wall and got out while the getting was good.
ACC teams that aren't Clemson. I just don't think much of them, that said I watch very little ACC football outside of Clemson. Big12>SEC>Big10>ACC>Pac12 is about the order in which I consume college football and even watching 5 games a week there is not much room for me to watch ACC up and comers.
Texas. I want to believe. In the 40 years or so I have been following the team I am pretty sure this is the best top to bottom skill position roster we have had, just in terms of average player quality. But man 5-7 last year and the way we lost most of those games, I just don't think you can blame that all on players not being bought in. I hope I am wrong because I think the Big 12 is ripe for the taking.