Undefeated and ... undervalued? What to make of college football's unexpected trio - ESPN

There are six undefeated teams left in the FBS: the Ohio State Buckeyes, Indiana Hoosiers, Texas A&M Aggies… and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, BYU Cougars and Navy Midshipmen. Three are not surprising, but the other three? That's the beauty of college football in the time of NIL and the transfer portal. For me, it's a reminder that winning isn't a popularity contest. So I'm here to put some respect on the undervalued undefeated teams, because, regardless of opponent, these programs are finishing the job.

If you win in the SEC or the Big Ten, people notice. It's basically how the playoff model was built, on the idea that strength of schedule and conference prestige matters most. But there is a difference between playing a tough schedule and being a tough team. The Yellow Jackets, Cougars and Midshipmen are proving that each week.

Let's start with BYU. The Cougars are 8-0, 6-2 ATS and 2-0 outright as underdogs. Led by quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin, this offense can win in different ways. Two weeks ago, it was the run game that really hummed in a win over the Utah Utes. This past Saturday, it was the passing game that led the way against the Iowa State Cyclones.

The line movement is what has been most intriguing. Two weeks ago, BYU was -1800 to miss the playoffs. Last week, the Cougars were -700, and after Week 9 they're -450. That's the market literally learning to trust them in real time. Odds don't shift like that unless the performance demands it, and right now, BYU's performance demands it.

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Georgia Tech is my favorite team that no one, outside of sportsbooks, seems to be praising. The Yellow Jackets