Under-the-Radar College Football Teams That Could Become Surprise Contenders (For CFP

PitinoFan

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Championship Odds: 300-1

There are a lot of reasons not to buy stock in Minnesota as a contender. Foremost among them is the fact that the Golden Gophers have suffered at least three losses in 52 consecutive seasons. It's also more than a little troubling that they allowed an average of 43.2 points in their first six Big Ten contests last year, giving up 48 to Iowa, 53 to Nebraska and 55 to Illinois. Yikes.

But if you're looking for a Hail Mary futures bet, here are a few reasons why Minnesota to win it all at 300-1 might not be the worst idea.

For starters, head coach P.J. Fleck knows a thing or two about leading a program to new heights. Western Michigan had never finished a season with a winning percentage greater than .750 when he rowed the boat to the Cotton Bowl with a 13-0 record three years ago. That's why the Golden Gophers went out and signed him to a five-year, $18 million deal, hoping he could work similar magic for them.

Secondly, Minnesota brings back a 1,150-yard rusher (Mohamed Ibrahim) and a 1,150-yard receiver (Tyler Johnson). No other team in the country can make that boast. The Gophers also still have redshirt seniors Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks, who had more than 5,500 combined career yards from scrimmage before suffering torn ACLs early last season. Minnesota hasn't averaged 30 points per game since 2005, but this should be one of the best offenses in the Big Ten.

And the biggest reason you might want to take a flier on this squad is its schedule.

Aside from Illinois as the presumed bottom feeder, the Big Ten West is a crapshoot. Nebraska and Wisconsin are probably the two best teams in the division, but Minnesota gets both of them at home and doesn't need to deal with Michigan, Michigan State or Ohio State in a cross-division showdown. There's not a game on the calendar that stands out as an obvious loss waiting to happen.


https://bleacherreport.com/articles...l-teams-that-could-become-surprise-contenders

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Hmmm...sports gambling becomes legal here in Iowa in two days.
 

Minnesota making the CFP is crazy but sorta possible. A path can be seen. Minnesota winning it is longer odds than 300-1.
 

Someone has to say it...
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It’s hard to argue with anything he said. Obviously, a lot of things would have to go our way....no major injuries, a few lucky bounces, no letdown games. It’s highly unlikely, but not impossible to go 12-0 in the regular season with this schedule. If Iowa can do it, there’s no reason we can’t.


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