This Pac-12 Challenger is College Football’s Most Underrated Team In 2026

Let me tell you about my favorite betting target of the summer.

Do I have opinions about what you should bet on the Week 1 college football schedule? Sure.

Do I think the market is still sleeping on Indiana’s ability to run it back with Curt Cignetti still at the helm? I do.

Do I have a few inklings in the 2026 College Football Playoff odds market? You bet.

But forget about all that. Let’s talk about Fresno State football odds.

I love the potential that Fresno State has this year. It starts with head coach Matt Entz, the second-year head coach who helmed the North Dakota State juggernaut in the late 2010s and early 2020s, ultimately winning two FCS national titles. 

Entz is building Fargo West at Fresno State. The offensive line is growing to enormous proportions, and the offense is going to run more power scheme than virtually any other program on the West Coast. Meanwhile, the defensive line might be the best positional group in the conference.

But the thing that takes Fresno from a solid G6 team to a CFP contender (and a wonderful college football betting target) is that schedule.

Fresno opens up with a game against finesse-friendly USC – a traditional powerhouse and Big Ten team that could immediately make Fresno the G6 playoff favorite. I love the idea of a tough, physical team getting to surprise USC on Friday night during Week 1. I have already bet the point spread and the moneyline at multiple shops.

Even if Fresno fails to upset USC, it still has its whole season in front of it. The Bulldogs won’t take any heat for failing to beat a top-half Big Ten team, and new Pac-12 favorite Boise State is scheduled to come to Fresno just five weeks later. 

And on the whole, I think Fresno State (and all the current Pac-12 teams, frankly) will benefit from a conference reputation bump that’s a little unearned this year. This Pac-12 roster looks pretty unimpressive, in my opinion, but the conference is still being talked about as though it’s right there with the American at the top of the G6 conferences.

If Fresno has the kind of trench play it’s projected to this year, I think the current G6 win total of 6.5 is certifiably insane. I think conference championships and big postseason results are potentially on the table for this team, and the overall schedule really doesn’t show much to worry about after the USC game in Week 1.

In short, I like virtually every bull position you can find for these Bulldogs. I feel strongly about every position I highlighted in my top college football futures bets of the summer, but the Fresno positions are my absolute favorite find of the offseason. 

Over 6.5 @ -150 Fresno State @ +650   Yes @ +3000