My strategy is to draft teams that are projected to join the Playoff and ride their wins all the way to my BWFS league championship. With thirteen teams in the top $8 tier, the challenge is to select teams that I believe will bring 10 wins into the postseason, then tack on one or two during Bowl season. After careful deliberation, my top four teams are: Alabama, Ohio State, George, and USC.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, why to the same few teams are in the Playoff, year after year, then we’re in the same boat. Every holiday season, you look up to find Ohio State, Alabama, and a couple of other powerhouses at the top of the rankings. We can expect the same outcome this year. On the flip side of drafting four $8 teams is selecting four $1 teams that give me the opportunity to exchange and trade for better performers mid-season.
High Risk/High Reward Strategy:
$8 – Alabama – Projected 10.5 Wins – SEC
Alabama is returning its Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Bryce Young. This year is his chance to cement his name in the history of the school as one of its all-time greats. Leading the team as a Junior, Young will attempt to avenge the Crimson Tide’s National Championship loss to Georgia. One interesting note – Bryce Young will join three high profile college quarterbacks who rejoined the squad after winning the Heisman: Johnny Manziel, Jameis Winston, and Lamar Jackson.
Alabama’s defense is looking forward to another dominating year – sporting studs like DeMarcco Hellams, Brian Branch, and Jordan battle. Nick Saban’s squad is locked and loaded =- ready for another postseason push.
$8 – Ohio State – Projected 10.5 Wins – Big Ten Conference
Last year’s loss to Michigan gave the Buckeyes added motivation to come back in 2022 with Championship dreams. 11 wins and a Rose Bowl victory make an excellent year, but the expectations in Columbus are Championship or bust. The Buckeyes will rely on a rushing attack featuring TreVeon Henderson and Miyan Williams to set up CJ Stroud’s strong passing game.
Ohio State will look for a better pass rush in 2022, with JT Tuimolau primed to take the next step as a premier defensive end. The Buckeyes have the talent for a one loss season, either to Notre Dame, Michigan State, or Michigan. Even with a difficult schedule, most are predicting a Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff. Like I said earlier, my hope is to own as many Playoff teams as possible in my Bandwagon league.
$8 Georgia – Projected 10.5 Wins – SEC
Selecting the reigning National Champion is a safe pick in Bandwagon Fantasy Sports. Kirby Smart looks to defend his title and replace the production of his star players, currently entering the NFL. The defense will feature Jalen Carter and Tramel Walthour. Meeting 2021’s defensive dominance will be a challenge, but coach Kirby Smart is planning on reloaded his defense, rather than rebuild it.
Veteran quarterback, Stetson Bennett will once more lead the Bulldogs offense in 2022. UGA has a history of plugging in running backs into their system and letting them thrive behind a tough O-line. This year will be no different as “Running Back U” has a stable of horses ready to wear down opponents.
$8 USC – Projected 9.5 wins – PAC 12
After a powerful top 3 teams in Alabama, Ohio State, and Georgia, it’s a tough decision to round out a fourth top-tier team. Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and Cincinnati are all good picks here. Each team has a possible path to the Playoff, but I’m selecting USC and its 49th ranked strength of schedule with my 4th pick. Two huge games on the Trojans’ schedule are October 15 at Utah and November 26 against Notre Dame. Each matchup could feature two top ten team, fighting to stake their claim near the top of the national rankings.
Last year’s loss to Michigan gave the Buckeyes added motivation to come back in 2022 with Championship dreams. 11 wins and a Rose Bowl victory make an excellent year, but the expectations in Columbus are Championship or bust. The Buckeyes will rely on a rushing attack featuring TreVeon Henderson and Miyan Williams to set up CJ Stroud’s strong passing game.
I like USC’s chances in the PAC-12, and I believe they can finish the regular season with one loss. Lincoln Riley’s arrival in Southern California will make a seismic shift in the college landscape. He will bring back the prestige to this powerhouse, and Riley’s expected with win immediately.
$1 Bowling Green – Projected 3.5 wins – MAC
Each $1 pick represents an opportunity to climb tiers and exchange teams with higher win expectations. The hope is for a bad team to start out hot, then dump them for an average team that has not hit its stride yet. Starting out “hot” for a team like Bowling Green is akin to a 3 – 3 start. Those first six games are: UCLA, Eastern Kentucky, Marshall, MS State, Akron, and Buffalo. While Bowling Green may not be favored in any of those games, those are a handful of bad teams in that group. The Falcons may squeak out three wins, making them jump tiers for my exchange.
$1 Indiana – Projected 4 wins – Big Ten
Sitting near the bottom of a powerful Big Ten Conference, the Hoosiers have an uphill battle to rack up a few wins. Indiana is sporting a fresh look with new faces at both offensive and defensive coordinator. All offensive skill positions will feature fresh faces as well. Coach Tom Allen hit up the transfer portal and upgraded his quarterback, running backs, and wide receiver. That was a good idea, because Indiana’s offense was embarrassing in 2021.
$1 Kansas – Projected 2.5 wins – Big 12
2022 is a season of hope for the Jayhawks. Nine starters return on the offensive side of the ball for Kansas. Jalon Daniels took over as quarterback late last year and looks to lead a consistent passing attack behind a solid offensive line. Last year’s defense was abysmal, but head coach Lance Leipold filled some holes this off season through the transfer portal.
$1 Northwestern – Projected 4 wins – Big Ten
I realize that this is the third Big Ten school I chose. That’s because basement dwellers in powerful conferences occasionally surprise the experts and emerge as .500 teams. My hope is that either Northwestern or Indiana emerges as that overachiever this year. The first half of the season feature games against Duke, Southern IL, and Miami, OH. If the Wildcats can take two of those three games, they should jump up a tier and allow me to make an exchange with a more promising squad.
So there you have it. The bottom four teams are opportunities to climb the ladder and exchange for quality teams. While my top four are likely locked in throughout the season, looking for 10+ wins each. The combined projected wins of these eight teams is 55. With a lot of exchanges and even more luck, those bottom four’s 14 wins could increase to 20 wins, making my goal at 61 wins with the High Risk/High Reward strategy.
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