Notre Dame is a massive favorite to make the 2026 College Football Playoff, clocking in at -3000 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook as of October 11th. After controversially missing out on the 2025 Playoff, the Irish are making sure they leave no doubt this time around.
The Favorites Are Roaring, But The Real Story Is Out West
The Irish might be the heavy favorite, but their early season schedule has not exactly been a gauntlet. They’ve outscored Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, UNC, and Stanford by a combined 264-66 across their first six games, with every single one of those opponents being unranked. Their Week 7 trip to ranked BYU and a November 7th clash with reigning CFP runner-up Miami will be the real tests. But while everyone is watching the usual suspects like Georgia (-2500), Miami (-1500), Indiana (-800), and Ohio State (-750) dominate the odds board, something big is brewing further down the list.
West Coast Elite: Are These Teams For Real?
You gotta look beyond the top few to find the real juice. UCLA, under first-year head coach Bob Chesney, is a perfect 5-0! They just snatched a huge 17-15 win against Oregon right in Eugene. That’s a statement game, no doubt about it. Last week, their odds to make the CFP were sitting at +455, but now they’ve shot all the way up to +105, putting them ninth overall on the board. And get this: the Bruins don’t even face another ranked opponent until their rivalry game with USC on November 28th, and that one’s at home. Talk about a clear path!
Not to be outdone, Utah is also cruising at 5-0, with five straight blowout wins where they’ve scored at least 31 points in every single game. They’ve got ranked matchups coming up against Houston and BYU over the next four weeks, but both of those are at home. Just like UCLA, the Utes are also sitting at +105 odds to make the Playoff.
What’s Next for the West Coast’s Best?
The 2026 College Football Playoff will feature 12 teams, with the top four getting first-round byes regardless of conference titles. The final automatic bid goes to the highest-ranked team from a Group of 6 conference. For teams like UCLA and Utah, keeping that momentum going is everything. UCLA needs to capitalize on its favorable schedule before that big USC showdown. Utah has to defend its home turf against Houston and BYU. If these West Coast teams keep rolling like they have been, those +105 odds might start looking like a steal real soon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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