College football season is right around the corner! Week 0 will be here before we know it. Today we’re looking at some CFP Bets. However, we are digging into teams that will make the College Football Playoffs. But I’m skipping the juiced favorites and hunting real value. The heavy chalk like Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, and others sit at heavy minus odds. Those prices leave little room for margin. Instead, let’s dig into the plus-money side of the board for teams with clear, realistic paths into the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket. Here are five that stand out to me.
2026 CFP Bets: Top Plus-Money Bets For Teams To Make The CFP
Alabama Crimson Tide (+154)
Alabama still carries playoff DNA under Kalen DeBoer. The Tide return a top-tier secondary that ranked among the nation’s best last season. That unit can keep games close and force turnovers. The schedule also helps consider Alabama for the CFP. They avoid teams like Texas, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss. Georgia and Texas A&M both have to travel to them in Tuscaloosa.
Early games against East Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State, and South Carolina offer them a clean start. A 5-0 or 4-1 mark heading into October sets up a strong resume.
The quarterback spot still has questions surrounding it. Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are battling for the starting job, and the winner will need to deliver. The run game will also have to improve from last year. New pieces along the offensive line should help with that, if they can gel fast.
Still, Alabama projects as a nine- or 10-win team in most models. Nine wins with quality victories often clear the at-large bar in the expanded field. We also know these CFP voters love schools like Alabama, deserving or not. The Tide reached the playoffs last season as a three-loss team.
They have the experience in big moments. DeBoer has the tools to push this roster over the line, in my opinion. At plus money, the price rewards belief in Alabama’s floor. The value here may not last, which is another reason this makes my CFP bets. The path runs through controlled early wins and home dominance against ranked opponents.
LSU (+160)
The next team in my CFP bets for teams to make the CFP is the LSU Tigers. Lane Kiffin arrives in Baton Rouge with the nation’s top transfer portal class. Sam Leavitt takes over at quarterback, and Jordan Seaton anchors their offensive line. Their receivers and skill talent flood the depth chart as well, and we’ve seen Kiffin’s offense generate points and yards in bunches.
The defense returns key pieces and adds speed. LSU opens with Clemson at home and has a road trip against Ole Miss. But they have some big home dates against Texas A&M, Alabama, and Texas. Those night games will help create advantages.
Most of the projection models have LSU finishing around 9-3 or 10-2. Two losses to elite teams still leave the path open to an at-large bid. Kiffin proved he can win big in the SEC at Ole Miss. He inherits better resources here and a motivated roster. The Tigers finished 7-6 last year under the previous staff. However, the talent upgrade alone lifts their ceiling.
Leavitt has dealt with some foot issues, and his health will be key here. However, they have all the pieces for double-digit wins. A strong November should help seal the deal for them. It’s hard to ignore LSU at plus-money with this coaching and roster reset.
Texas A&M Aggies (+154)
Mike Elko already delivered the program’s first CFP appearance, and therefore he’s added to our college football futures bets again. The Aggies return quarterback Marcel Reed and a core of their playmakers. Last year, Reed threw for over 3,000 yards. He can elevate that even further if he can become more efficient.
He’s got the receiving weapons as well as running back Rueben Owens. The offensive line will need to come together quickly after heavy NFL losses, but they did bring in quite a few transfers to help in that regard. The defense returns experience in the secondary as well as in the front seven. They’ve added new pass-rush help through the portal.
Their schedule includes some tough road tests at LSU, Alabama, and Oklahoma. They get a handful of home games against lesser SEC opponents, and they have a finale versus Texas. Having seven home games matters. They’re one of the stronger mid-range values, and with this schedule, winning one of those tough road games may help them get in.
If Reed cuts turnovers down and the offensive line holds up, these Aggies will contend. At +154, this price undervalues a proven playoff team with returning production.
Ole Miss Rebels (+200)
One of my favorite CFP Bets at plus-money value is Ole Miss. Pete Golding steps into the full-time head coach role after guiding the Rebels deep into last year’s playoffs. Trinidiad Chambliss returns as their quarterback and will help lead this team to plenty of wins. Kewan Lacy leads a potent backfield. Those two together rank among the best in the country.
Meanwhile, the defense retains disruptive front-seven talent. They also added secondary pieces and depth in the portal. Ole Miss reached the semifinals last season, and the core that made that run stays largely intact, minus a few pieces here and there.
The schedule tests them early with Louisville and a home game against LSU. Tough road games include Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma. They do get Auburn and Georgia at home, however. Quality wins and close losses against ranked teams normally build a strong resume, and I think they’ll notch 9 or 10.
Oklahoma Sooners (+210)
Last in our CFP bets that are plus money are the Oklahoma Sooners at +210. Brent Venables builds around an elite defense that ranks among the top groups nationally. They returned production at linebackers, defensive line, as well as the secondary.
Quarterback John Mateer comes back for his second year in the system, and the Sooners added more receivers for him. The offensive line gained experience after having young starters last year. Speaking of last year, they made the playoffs in 2025. The roster looks deeper and more complete now.
The toughest thing for the Sooners is the schedule. They have road games against Michigan and Georgia early on. The Red River clash with Texas follows. Later, they’re tested against Ole Miss. If they can survive the brutal stretch at 1-2, or even 2-1, the path to the CFP will open up. They have the talent and coaching to navigate it.
