Now is the time when futures are running rampant on the bet slips of college football bettors across the country. So, why not dig into that area a little more?
Action Network's Mike Ianniello, co-host of the Group of Five Deep Dive from the "Big Bets on Campus" podcast, dished out his top futures for each G5 conference.
So, whether you're looking for a long shot in the MAC or you're wondering who to take in a crowded AAC, Ianniello has you covered.
Let's dive into his top college football futures for each Group of Five conference below.
Memphis Tigers
+230 to Win AAC
Memphis is rightfully the chalk in the American.
The Tigers return quarterback Seth Henigan for a fourth season as the starter, and he is one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the Group of Five. Henigan has thrown for over 10,000 yards with 79 touchdowns and just 25 interceptions in his career.
He also brings back his top two receivers in Roc Taylor and Demeer Blankumsee, who combined for 2,000 yards and 11 touchdowns a season ago.
Plus, the Tigers added Mario Anderson from the transfer portal. He was South Carolina’s starting running back last year and put up over 700 yards to lead the Gamecocks.
Memphis returns a veteran offensive line as well.
This offense should absolutely hum and be the best in the conference. It finished sixth in the country in scoring last year, and will probably be even better this year.
The defense needs to get better, but linebacker Chandler Martin is back after leading the team in tackles, sacks and forced fumbles.
If the Tigers can find a way to generate a better pass rush and improve to a defense that's simply average, they should win the American.
+230
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
+3000 to Win Conference USA
Look, Liberty is clearly the best team in the conference, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where they don’t win the conference again. But at -200 odds, there's no value in that number.
My advice would be to throw a fun dart on a long shot. I don’t hate taking your pick between Western Kentucky or Jacksonville State, the next two teams on the board. However, I’ll take a shot on a long shot further down the odds board.
Middle Tennessee brings in Derek Mason as head coach after an 18-year run under Rick Stockstill. Mason is a solid coach and went 27-55 at Vanderbilt. While that might be bad at most places, it's actually pretty good for Vandy.
He’ll have veteran quarterback Nick Vattiato back after a 3,000-yard, 23-touchdown season.
Leading receiver Holden Willis is back to anchor the tight end spot, which is big considering wide receivers Elijah Metcalf and Justin Olson both left in the transfer portal. Gamarion Carter from Vanderbilt and Omari Kelly from Auburn will look to replace those two.
This team needs to be more effective running the ball, but it at least returns Frank Peasant and Jaiden Credle in the backfield after combining for over 700 yards and six touchdowns.
The portal also gutted this defense with linebacker Parker Hughes and cornerback Tyrell Raby being the only returning starters on defense. However, Mason is known as a defensive coach, so he should help them improve as the season progresses.
With a tough schedule to open the season, the Blue Raiders likely start 1-4. But if Mason can help this defense improve on the fly and their veteran quarterback plays like a vet under center, I think this team can be sneaky and emerge from the mess that is the bottom of Conference USA.
+3000
Bowling Green Falcons
+700 to Win MAC
The favorite almost never wins the MAC, so this is a great chance to hunt some value a little further down the board.
Bowling Green returns quarterback Connor Bazelak for his sixth season after three in the SEC and one in the Big Ten. He cut down on his turnovers last season, throwing 12 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. However, it's worth noting that he threw just one interception over the last six games.
Camden Orth is back to provide some depth at quarterback as well, something the MAC always needs.
The Falcons also return leading rusher Terion Stewart at running back, leading receiver and All-MAC selection Harold Fannin at tight end and four of their five starting offensive linemen. They lose their top wideouts but bring in transfers from Kansas State and Auburn to fill those holes.
A defense that finished 12th against the pass returns six starters, including Action Network Preseason G5 All-American cornerback Jordan Oladokun and safety Darius Lorfils.
The entire defensive line is back, and Demetrius Hardamon returns at linebacker after missing most of the season with an injury.
The Falcons finished the year 5-1 with a one-point loss to Toledo after Bazelak battled an injury for most of the season. They seemed to get into a different zone halfway through last season.
Bazelak has more than 40 college starts under his belt, and last year was the Falcons' highest-scoring season since 2015. I really like what this team brings back on both sides of the ball.
Bowling Green starts the year at Fordham before getting fed to Penn State and Texas A&M, but it has a manageable MAC slate heading into the season finale against Miami (OH), which it gets at home. Getting that game and the end of the year is important, as RedHawks quarterback Brett Gabbert has suffered season-ending injuries each of the last two years.
We haven’t had a repeat MAC champion since 2012, so you have to pick somebody else. Give me the Falcons.
+700
Fresno State Bulldogs
+550 to Win Mountain West
Fresno State should have one of the best offensives in the conference. Mikey Keene is back at quarterback, Malik Sherrod returns back at running back and Jalen Moss leads a deep wide receiver room.
It brings four offensive linemen back and should have one of the best units in the country. We saw last year that when this offense works, it really works. This group scored more than 35 points five times last year.
On the other side, the defense took a step back last year from what we've become accustomed to from the Bulldogs recently.
But they return Devo Bridges and Gavriel Lightfoot up front, and they will be joined by USC transfer Korey Foreman, who was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class.
I'm a little concerned with the losses of Levelle Bailey in the middle of the field and a few of their defensive backs. Dean Clark and Al’zillion Hamilton will need to step up in that secondary, but they do get Cam Lockridge back after he missed most of last season.
Losing head coach Jeff Tedford could either be a crushing blow or a rallying cry for this team. This team didn't miss a beat the last time he stepped away with Kalen DeBoer taking over. And when Tim Skipper stepped in as coach for the bowl game, the Bulldogs had no problem crushing New Mexico State, 37-10.
The conference slate sets up nicely for them, as they get to play New Mexico, Nevada, San Jose State and Hawaii, who are projected to be the four worst teams in the Mountain West.
They also don’t have to play Boise State, which I'm now a little less bullish on with five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson unable to win the starting job. I think that lowers the Broncos' ceiling, creating value on a team like Fresno State below them.
+550
James Madison Dukes
+750 to Win Sun Belt
Curt Cignetti left James Madison for Indiana, and he took nearly the entire All-Sun Belt defense with him. The Dukes also lost quarterback Jordan McCloud to Texas State and Reggie Brown, Jalen Green and Jamree Kromah to the NFL.
But the long list of losses has created value on James Madison.
Bob Chesney comes in from Holy Cross and brings a pedigree of winning everywhere he has gone.
Dylan Morris transfers in at quarterback from Washington after four seasons with the Huskies. He was the starter at Washington for a bit before losing his job to Michael Penix Jr. He finished with 20 touchdown passes in his Pac-12 career and now gets another shot at being QB1.
James Madison also brings in running back George Pettaway from North Carolina and Ayo Adeyi from North Texas for a strong running back room, but the wide receiver group will be pretty inexperienced.
This defense was absolutely gutted and loses everybody except cornerback Chauncey Logan and safety Jacob Thomas.
Luckily for JMU, Chesney brought FCS All-American linebacker Jacob Dobbs with him from Holy Cross. The two-time Patriot Defensive Player of the Year should be a huge help to run this defense.
Not only do I think the talent on the field will be better than people expect, but this schedule sets up very easy for them. James Madison will play at North Carolina early and at Appalachian State late, but it plays the seven worst teams in the Sun Belt.
If Chesney can stabilize the ship, James Madison could be 9-1 heading into the App State game. So, you're essentially getting the Dukes +750 to beat App State and reach the title game.
If everything clicks, James Madison can finally win the Sun Belt after being ineligible for the last two seasons.
+750
