College Football Power Rankings: The Ferringo 15
by Robert Ferringo - 11/27/2007
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Well boys and girls, this is it: the final Ferringo 15. Here is a list of the 15 most profitable teams in college football this year. Had you played just $100 on each of these schools every week you would have gone 121-46, good for a 72.5-percent clip, and taken home a tidy $7,000. Hey, don't feel bad about it: I didn't play each of them for that either!
Interestingly, or depressingly, enough there's only one team (Illinois) on my original Ferringo 15 that made the final cut. On the positive side, the teams that were in our F-15 on Wednesday managed to cover nearly 56 percent of their games that weekend. An up-and-down season, for sure, but you can bet that the Ferringo 15 will be back and better than ever next season.
And without further ado, here is our season ending version of the Ferringo 15:
1) Kansas (10-1) - Despite their setback last week in Kansas City the Jayhawks were a gambler's dream this season. Frankly, I'm embarrassed - as a lot of handicappers are - that I didn't ride them more. This team dominated the weaker foes in the Big 12 and managed to raise their play against traditional powers in tough venues. If the Jayhawks score a bid to a BCS bowl they could be an enticing underdog. Anything else and they'll likely be shackled with a double-digit line, against which they were 5-0 this season.
2) Missouri (9-2) - The good news is that the Tigers are still riding high after a crucial win over Kansas last week. The bad news is they are facing an Oklahoma team that has dominated them over the past few years. The Tigers are on an 11-2 ATS run dating back to last year and are an exceptional 5-0 ATS at a neutral site. However, never underestimate The Stoops Factor in a huge game like this.
3) Cincinnati (9-2) - I had initially pegged South Florida as my Bad Ass Team From The Big East this year but the Bulls ran a little too hard, too fast. Enter the Bearcats. This team has been a pile driver this year and I still have them tabbed as a can't miss bowl bet. Further, this team does lose three starting offensive linemen and a couple playmakers, but they return their QB and eight defensive starters so look for a solid 2008 at well.
4) Troy (9-2) - What has been so impressive about the Trojans this year is their versatility. They may be the only team to cover a line as a three-TD underdog and a three-TD favorite in the same year. Troy is in the midst of a 13-3 ATS rush and if they can squeeze past Florida Atlantic they could be a money play against Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl.
5) Air Force (9-2) - Troy Calhoun has worked wonders with an undermanned Air Force unit this year. And even though he may not show up on many All-American teams, Chad Hall has been one of the five most valuable players in the country. The Falcons will be in the Armed Forces Bowl, and if the Pac-10 puts two teams in BCS games then Air Force could be matched up against some second-rate major conference school.
6) Oregon (8-3) - Wait - there was a big game and someone of Leaf lineage couldn't come through? Weird. The home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 Civil War showdowns and Oregon State is just 1-4 ATS in its last five trips to Autzen. If the Ducks don't make a BCS game you would have to expect a huge letdown out of a school that is just 1-6 ATS as bowl favorites.
7) Connecticut (7-3) - I won't really hold UConn's blowout loss to West Virginia against them. But let's just hope that the Huskies don't play on turf in their bowl game. Connecticut has lost three straight road trips and has been outscored 93-24 in their last two on Field Turf.
8) Florida (8-3) - Considering the personnel losses and that bright shiny target on their backs this season, what the Gators have been able to do for their backers this year has been nothing short of remarkable. Urban Meyer is incredible and considering his remarkable ATS record when he has more than a week of rest I don't know if the paydays are over for Florida this season.
9) Tennessee (8-4) - It's amazing what a person can accomplish when confronted with the reality of losing their job. Phil Fulmer's seat was as hot as any coach in the nation this year and the guy came through with quite a performance. The Vols have covered five of their last seven SEC games and held off Georgia for a spot in Atlanta this weekend. However, UT is just 3-5 ATS outside of Knoxville dating back to last year.
10) Wake Forest (8-4) - Get while the getting is good with the Deacons. The experience that they brought back from last year's surprise squad has served them, and their backers, well. With nine senior starters this is going to be a very motivated Wake squad in a bowl game. But programs like this can sometimes have a real hard time stringing three straight profitable seasons together.
11) Arizona State (7-4) - The thing is that I knew it. I got burned repeatedly in the early portion of the season betting against a Sun Devils team that I knew wasn't as good as it looked. However, it took getting into the meat of the Pac-10 schedule to truly expose them. ASU really misses Ryan Torrain, but they could still be a decent bet in a bowl game.
12) Illinois (7-4) - It's going to be very interesting to see how the books treat the Illini next season when they bring back the strong majority of their squad and add one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. Ron Zook's problem was never acquiring talent; it was always being able to get the most out of it. How will he, and his team, perform as a favorite next year?
13) Ohio State (7-4) - Over the last three years Jim Tressel has managed to go 25-10 ATS even though he coaches one of the most public teams in the nation. There is something to be said about that. Oh, and count me among those who think that the Buckeyes would get torn to shreds if they made it back to the BCS Championship. I don't care who they play.
14) Georgia (7-4) - It's all about Knowshon Moreno with these Dawgs. That kid is a downright stud and if he sticks around for a third season he could be taking a trip to the Downtown Athletic Club if you know what I mean. Also, I really don't think that Mark Richt gets nearly the credit he deserves for running one of the top five or six programs in the country.
15) Ball State (7-4) - This team brings back 18 starters and will be a major player in the mid-major scene next season. Nate Davis is going to be the next MAC quarterback to play on Sundays and with him as the triggerman the Cardinals could be a major moneymaker in 2008. I would look for them to make an appearance on next year's opening day F-15.
For more info on Robert's members picks, check out his Insider Page here.