CFB betting: Teams handed the toughest schedules in 2020
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.
Navigating through the college football schedule is vital for smart bettors.
The strength of a team's path can factor into preseason win totals, traveling spots throughout the year, or knowing who to play or fade in the futures market.
Before you start doing homework for the 2020 season, here are the 10 teams with the toughest schedules ahead of them.
10. Texas
Key games: at LSU, vs. Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State, at Kansas State, at Texas Tech, vs. Iowa State
For the second straight season, Texas will play a Group of Five program (South Florida) to open 2020 before facing off against LSU. After that, the Longhorns have a tough slate in the Big 12, though key matchups against Iowa State, TCU, and Baylor will all be at home.
9. Arkansas
Key games: at Notre Dame, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Alabama, vs. LSU, vs. Ole Miss, at Auburn
There are always two or three non-contending SEC schools that get the short end of the stick. In this case, Arkansas has the second-toughest schedule in the conference, with games against Nevada and Notre Dame before getting into seasonal play.
8. TCU
Key games: at Cal, at SMU, vs. Oklahoma State, at Baylor, vs. Iowa State, vs. Oklahoma, at Texas
There is no tuneup to open the year for TCU, which gets a rematch of the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl against Cal on the road. After that, the Horned Frogs should make quick work of Prairie View A&M before facing SMU, which precedes conference play.
7. South Carolina
Key games: at Kentucky, at Florida, vs. Tennessee, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Georgia, at LSU, at Clemson
A year after leading the nation in strength of schedule, South Carolina finds itself in the top 10 again. The Gamecocks could realistically start the season 3-0, but their first road contest of the campaign against Kentucky begins a four-game gauntlet in SEC play.
6. Iowa
Key games: vs. Iowa State, at Minnesota, at Ohio State, at Penn State, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Nebraska
Iowa State comes into Kinnick Stadium in Week 2 but those three road games against Minnesota, Ohio State, and Penn State are not going to be fun.
5. Nebraska
Key games: vs. Cincinnati, at Ohio State, vs. Penn State, at Iowa, at Wisconsin, at Minnesota
Nebraska's schedule is back-loaded. The Cornhuskers have it extremely easy to start, with a home game against South Dakota State and road trips to Northwestern and Rutgers. However, getting Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota over a five-week stretch to close out is hellish.
4. Georgia Tech
Key games: vs. Clemson, vs. UCF, at UNC, at Virginia Tech, at Pitt, vs. Notre Dame, vs. Miami, at Georgia
Yikes, a nonconference slate of Central Florida, Miami, and Georgia? And that's not to mention Georgia Tech opens with Clemson. Condolences.
3. Purdue
Key games: at Nebraska, vs. Memphis, vs. Air Force, at Boston College, at Minnesota, at Michigan, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Iowa
Did someone import this schedule from the NCAA Football 14 video game? A nonconference stretch against Memphis, Air Force, and Boston College is weird. Purdue's the third and final team from the Big Ten to crack the list despite escaping Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State.
2. USC
Key games: at Alabama, at Stanford, vs. Arizona State, at Utah, at Oregon, vs. Notre Dame, at UCLA
Imagine coming out of the gates against Alabama and then choosing to play the rest of the season. USC has the one big nonconference game against the Crimson Tide and then a few tough roadies at Utah, Oregon, and UCLA in the Pac-12. It's a wide-open conference, but the Trojans will have to earn it.
1. Michigan State
Key games: at BYU, vs. Miami, at Iowa, vs. Michigan, vs. Ohio State, at Indiana, at Penn State
Mel Tucker will face quite a challenge in his first season as Spartans head coach. Not only does Michigan State get nonconference matchups with Miami and BYU, but there's a stretch in which the Spartans will play seven straight games against teams that went bowling last year.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.