Most Improved College Football Teams: TCU is Soaring While Miami and Pitt Are Free Falling

Plenty of Surprises and Disappointments Coming Out of Big 12 in 2022 Season

TCU Leads the List of Most Improved College Football Squads in 2022

If this happened to be basketball season, seeing Duke, Kansas and UConn joining Texas Christian among the teams opening plenty of eyes would not be a surprise. However, seeing the success on the football field is a different story when looking at the most improved college football teams.

Heading into the final two games of the regular season for most of the Football Bowl Subdivision teams, this is a perfect time to take a look at the teams who have exceeded expectations.

Tulane leads the way with six more times than the Green Wave had a season ago. Despite a loss last week, Tulane is still in contention for a spot in the American Athletic Conference title game. After going 2-10 last year, that would be quite an accomplishment.

TCU has gone from 5-7 to 10-0, UConn has improved from 1-11 to 6-5 while Southern California, aided by the top-rated class of incoming transfers, has gone from 4-8 to 9-1. Duke, Kansas, Ohio and Washington aren’t far behind with four-game improvements.

TCU is currently fourth and USC seventh in the current College Football Playoffs. Since PointSpreads is a gambling site, it is only fitting to break down the risers and fallers when it comes to how teams have fared against the spread instead of limiting the research to how things look in the college football standings.

Horned Frogs Eyeing Big 12 and National Titles

Texas Christian is in a position to go from finishing tied for seventh in the Big 12 standings in 2021 to possibly becoming one of the four teams in the College Football Playoff field.

TCU is sitting pretty with a 10-0 mark and has already punched a ticket into the Big 12 title game for the first time since 2017.

When looking at the most improved college football teams, no Big 12 team performed worse against the spread than the Horned Frogs in 2021 as they went 2-8-1. That number has soared to 8-1-1 so far in 2022.

Big 12 Finalists Take a Tumble

Last year the Big 12 season ended with Baylor edging Oklahoma State in a classic Big 12 title game.
It has been a different story this season. The Bears and Cowboys are tied with Texas for third place in the conference standings. TCU has already secured a spot in the Big 12 title game and Kansas State is in the driver’s seat to join the Horned Frogs in the conference championship matchup.

While the records of both teams have suffered, the betting numbers have also trended in the wrong direction.
Oklahoma State was 10-3-1 and Baylor 10-4 against the spread a season ago. This year they are both at 6-4 with two regular-season games remaining.

A Year to Remember for Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks will be going bowling for the first time since 2008 as they are 6-4 after winning 11 games over the last seven seasons. Naturally, when looking at the most improved college football teams, it doesn’t take long to mention Kansas.

Kansas has gone from posting a 4-8 record against the spread during the 2021 season to a 7-2-1 mark so far this season. The Jayhawks won their first three games when listed as the underdogs and are bowl eligible for the first time since 2008.

Panthers Faded in ACC Race

Pittsburgh used the combination of quarterback Kenny Pickett and receiver Jordan Addison to win the ACC title.

The Panthers not only finished the season with an 11-3 record, but went 10-4 against the spread.

The numbers have tumbled to 6-4 straight up and 4-6 against the spread. When breaking down the NCAA football team stats, seeing Pittsburgh go from putting up 487 yards per game during the 2021 season to 401 in 2022 has played a role in their reversal of fortune.

The Panthers are not alone as Miami has gone from 6-6 against the college football odds to 2-8 and North Carolina State tumbled from 7-5 to 3-7. NC State losing quarterback Devin Leary certainly didn’t help.

Oregon Teams On the Way Up

While USC has generated plenty of attention this season with Heisman Trophy candidate Caleb Williams among the key transfers who joined head coach Lincoln Riley with the Trojans, let’s not overlook what the two Oregon teams have accomplished.

Among teams from the Power-5 conferences, only TCU has a better record against the spread this season.

Both teams have already covered in more games than they did a season ago. Oregon State has gone from 7-6 against the spread to 8-2. Among teams from the Power-5 conferences, only TCU has a better record against the spread this season.

Oregon is 7-3 after limping to a 5-9 mark during the 2021 season. That number could continue to grow with the Ducks very much in contention for a spot in the Pac-12 title games.

Tennessee, Florida On the Way Up

When looking at the SEC, Florida and Tennessee lead the way on the list of most improved teams. Both the Gators and Volunteers improved by three wins against the spread and both have two games left in the regular season.

Alabama has gone in the other direction. Tennessee is sitting fifth in the College Football Playoffs. However, with no conference title game to play in, it is safe to wonder if winning the final two regular-season games will be enough to make it into the CFP field.

The Crimson Tide covered in nine of 13 games just two years ago before going 8-7 during the 2021 season and now are at 5-5.

Mississippi State is also headed in the wrong direction with a 4-5-1 mark after going 7-6 against the spread in 2021.

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