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USA Today Sports Media Group
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AP Poll showcases the top teams of the year

College football is one of the biggest sports in the United States, rivalling the NFL in media and sports betting coverage. The 2024/25 season began on 31st August and the Associated Press (AP) has conducted polls to see which team is the best according to fans. Here’s the list of the top five teams you should watch this season for their exciting performances:

Miami Hurricanes

The Miami Hurricanes stand unchallenged in the Football Bowl Division (FBS) with a 9-0 record for a full 9-win streak. They also continue to be the favourite in all upcoming matches. The Hurricanes already won against their biggest rivals in the conference namely Louisville Cardinals and the California Golden Bears.

Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks haven’t slotted a single match since the opening day and have consistently scored 31 to 38 points in every head-to-head. Ohio State was the closest to beating them with a 32-31 record followed by Boise State whom the Ducks beat in 37-34. 

The Oregon Ducks is not the only team to have a 9-0 record since opening day. The other ones are the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers. Oregon tops the charts with over 1550 points due to their dominating point advantage. The Ducks are also the favourites in every heart-to-head at betting platforms like the Stake casino and sportsbook leading up to their exciting matchup with the Washington Huskies. 

Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs have a shakier start having lost to Alabama Crimson in a 41-34 upset. They also scored poorly in the game with just a 12-13 victory versus Kentucky Wildcats but a win nonetheless. It’s still early in the season but they already racked up over 1400 points in college football and rank 1st place in the Southern Conference (SEC).

There is no doubt that the Bulldogs dominate their conference but Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket and Tennessee Volunteers stand a good chance to knock them down a peg. Both are exciting head-to-head that you should watch out for this November. 

Penn State Nittany Lions

The Penn State Nittany Lions had a great start in the 2024/25 season with a 7-win streak. It was the Ohio State Buckeyes who ended this streak at the Beaver Stadium with a 13-20 score. They still did a great job and that’s why fans kept voting for them in popularity polls this season. 

However, fans are anxious to see their upcoming head-to-head with the Washington Huskies and Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Nittany Lions are the underdogs for both matches, opening an exciting opportunity for betting on long shots. 

Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes is competing for the top spot of the Big 10 Conference (B1G) with Oregon Ducks and Indiana Hoosiers. They didn’t have a start that was as good as their rivals because they lost their first game to the Missouri Tigers. They won most of their games after that until they experienced another defeat from the Ducks. 

Despite their shakier record, they are considered at the top of the college league. It just happens that they are competing in the same conference as other giants in the industry. This is evident in how well they dominated every match they’ve won with a huge point gap and the ones they lost were close games.

Bettors look forward to the remaining Miami Hurricanes matches for an easy win, maximising their Stake deposit options. That said, injury news updates can be their only probable hindrance before December. Otherwise, the Miami Hurricanes can stay comfortable at the top of the AP rankings.

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