NCAA'S 2022 TOP ATS TEAM

Listed below are my projected ATS Top 10 teams for the 2022 college football season.

My the point spread football Gods be with us.

ALABAMA – It's always easy to pile on the Tide but that's our purpose. We know two things to be true in Nick Saban's favor this season: 1) Underclassmen made 60% of all Bama's starts last season and the bulk of them were by sophomores (187 of the team's 330 total starts), and 2) Saban has been sinful with the Tide when coming off a 2-loss seasons, wining 52 of 56 SEC contests the following campaign.

MIAMI FLORIDA – A massive coaching upgrade figures to serve the Canes well with Mario Cristobal returning to his home stomping grounds. He inherits a unit that played better than its 7-5 record indicates as they improved their stats on both sides of the ball despite back-stepping SUATS. Expect QB Tyler Van Dyke's name to be bandied about in Heisman conversations this season.

SYRACUSE – Meet the only FBS team to improve its stats by over 100 YPG on each side of the ball last season. With 17 starters back, and behind a fortuitous schedule that takes them on the road only one time (at UConn) the first half of the campaign, Dino Babers fully realizes only one winning season with the Orange since coming aboard in 2016 that it's now or never time for the 'Cuse.

TEXAS – There are "mission seasons' and there are mission seasons. This is a "mission season" for the Longhorns who saw a four-year bowl skein come to a crashing halt in 2021 in Steve Sarkisian's first year on the sidelines. Compounding the matter, five of the Horns' eight losses were by 8 or fewer points. Look for Sark to smash all weaklings in his way (22-8 SUATS versus losing foes).

UTAH – Because it's in our DNA we simply can't overlook the team this season that lead the FBS in most starts by underclassmen last year. That would be the Utes. Besides, the math is simple: Utah is 51-5 in games in which it wins the stats dating back to 2015, including 34-16 ATS in those games. Connect the dots.

KEEP AN EYE ON: AUBURN– They will likely be at the top of the fade list this season but going contrarian. Instead of the team that closed out on a 5-game losing slide, we see the one who opened 6-2 staring a 5-game season opening home stand - one who improved the scoring and stats across the board despite slipping SUATS... COASTAL CAROLINA – The Chanticleers welcome back Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year QB Grayson McCall, who led the nation in Passing Efficiency last season. This team improved its scoring and stats on both sides of the ball last season despite slipping SUATS. They're not cocky. They're just damn good... FLORIDA STATE – If you can't out recruit them, poach them. That's the mantra in Tallahassee these days where 10 transfer portals players are on their way – the 2nd biggest haul in the ACC. With 18 retuning starters to boot, expect Mike Norvell to be breathing easier by season's end... NC STATE – The Wolves will be packing a ton of returning experience, along with 17 starters back from a unit that bettered their stats across the board last year. With only 4 opponents on the schedule with a winning record last season, Dave Doeren is doing a happy dance in Raleigh these days... NEBRASKA – Yes we're buying into Scott Frost's year of redemption behind a unit that has improved its defensive stats each of the past three seasons. Facing 5 losing foes in the first 6 games should provide the added impetus they so sorely lack...