"The first five weeks of the college football season shook the betting board. National title odds are starting to reveal who's built for a post-season run and who's still a step behind, while the Heisman race has turned into a weekly stock market where one performance can send a player soaring or sinking overnight. Alabama is suddenly back in the playoff conversation, Ole Miss is flirting with darkhorse status and the Heisman picture looks nothing like it did in August."
"Ohio State (+500) and Oregon (+600) are first and second in the national title odds and I agree. The Buckeyes are not the flashiest team in terms of explosive plays, but they are ruthlessly efficient; No. 1 in passing success rate, paired with a defense that ranks top 10 in EPA. This makes them matchup-proof, not needing shootouts to win. Ohio State can control games with consistency on both offense and defense, which is exactly the profile that translates in a playoff setting."
"Oregon is exceeding expectations for me. I thought this would be a rebuild year but instead, it's a coming out party. Their ceiling is as high as anyone's, top 5 in EPA/play and EPA per drive, and when they're rolling they're nearly impossible to stop. The issue is volatility. That run defense is shaky, and they can give up sustained drives but when it comes to title odds, a team with Oregon's offensive ceiling, balance and explosive potential belongs in that top tier."
The first five weeks of the college football season altered national title odds and futures markets. Ohio State (+500) and Oregon (+600) sit as the top title favorites. Ohio State combines ruthless efficiency, No. 1 passing success rate and a top-10 EPA defense, enabling a matchup-proof, playoff-ready profile. Oregon has a high offensive ceiling, ranking top 5 in EPA/play and EPA per drive, but shows volatility and a shaky run defense. Alabama moved to +800 from +1400, reflecting a notable line move. The Heisman race has become highly volatile, swinging weekly.
Read at ESPN.com
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