Top Sleeper Picks to Make the 2022-23 College Football Playoff

With fresh faces finding themselves in the College Football Playoff every year, we’re looking for value with sleeper picks that can sneak in as a fourth seed in 2022-23.

The College Football Playoff has seen the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State more often than not, but last year proved that new faces can make it into the final four. Bettors can find some value in other up-and-coming programs for 2022-23.

Anything is possible when it comes to the College Football Playoff, and our top sleeper picks target value in a potential new National Championship contender.

College Football Playoff Sleeper Picks

Sleepers and Values for the 2022 College Football Playoff

Notre Dame (+1000)

There’s no motivation to make the playoff quite like narrowly missing out the previous year and losing your head coach to LSU, which is Notre Dame's reality. New head coach Marcus Freeman has a gauntlet to face this season, including a season opener at Ohio State, but taking down the Buckeyes means being able to take down virtually anyone.

Not to mention the caliber of players Notre Dame has on its 2022 roster. With Drew Pyne at quarterback, the Fighting Irish also have a multitude of players who rank in the top 10 in the country at their position. Junior tight end Michael Mayer and fifth-year senior offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson, senior safety Brandon Joseph, senior defensive end Isaiah Foskey, and senior cornerback Cam Hart all return for Notre Dame for Freeman's first full season in charge.

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With a tough schedule that includes playing Clemson and a new-look USC, going as close to undefeated as possible means that the Fighting Irish have a chance to make a new narrative about themselves when it comes to the playoff.

Texas A&M (+700)

Head coach Jimbo Fisher’s recruiting efforts saw him land the No. 1 overall rank for the Texas A&M Aggies. That class included top defensive recruits such as defensive linemen Walter Nolen and Shemar Stewart. The Aggies will quickly become a team that will be much harder to score against in the SEC West.

The problem of housing three quarterbacks is one of the better challenges to have in college football, and even with the transfer of Zach Calzada to Auburn the Aggies still have Max Johnson, Haynes King, and Conner Weigman to bolster the offense under center.

The Aggies will face off against Alabama on Oct. 8, and if Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs proved anything in last year's National Championship it’s that Nick Saban and company are not as invincible as they seem. Texas A&M can help to book its trip to the SEC title game, and then the playoff, with a road win over the Crimson Tide.

Cincinnati (+2000)

Head coach Luke Fickell’s Cincinnati Bearcats became one of college football’s Cinderella stories in 2021, making the playoff only to fall 27-6 at the hands of Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. Cincinnati since lost star cornerback Ahmad Gardner and quarterback Desmond Ridder to the NFL draft. Yet, the Bearcats' returning cohort is still impressive. Taking on opponents like Arkansas, Indiana, and UCF will strengthen Cincinnati's schedule as they hope to cruise to 13-0.

QB Ben Bryant returns to Cincy after a one-year stint at Eastern Michigan, and Evan Prater rounds out the quarterback talent, while all five offensive line starters return for the Bearcats. Center Jake Renfro, guard Lorenz Metz, and offensive tackle Dylan O’Quinn come back after being named All-AAC first-team last year. 

The defense stays strong with Malik Vann, Deshawn Pace, Arquon Bush, and Ja’von Hicks all coming back to make a second run at the title game.

Where to Bet on College Football Futures

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

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