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Top CFB transfers with most impact on betting markets

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Just how important is the transfer portal in college football nowadays? Take a look at three of the four quarterbacks in the most recent playoff and you'll get your answer.

The transfer portal, and the ability to snag as much available talent, has been essential for all FBS programs, but especially the blue bloods; certain teams that are just one or two pieces away from contention can dip into the quasi free agency market and land highly sought-after prospects.

As we march on with our 2020 college football coverage, we turn our attention to the offseason's biggest movers. Here's which transfers will affect the betting markets the most this season.

D'Eriq King - QB, Miami

Previous school: Houston

King's arrival from Houston will do wonders for a stagnant Miami offense. Consider this: Miami's all-time, single-season passing touchdown leader is Steve Walsh, who recorded 29 back in 1988. Two years ago, King accounted for 50 all by himself - 36 passing and another 14 on the ground.

The jump to the Power 5 won't faze him, either. He has plenty of experience on the big stage, with starts against Oklahoma, Washington State, Arizona, and Texas Tech in his career.

The Hurricanes' offense had trouble moving the ball in 2019, ranking No. 97 in the country in yards per play at 5.1. A dual-threat game-changer with a little polish might be what the doctor ordered for Miami to get back on the map.

Betting impact: With King's presence coupled with Miami having the third-easiest schedule in the ACC in 2020, the Hurricanes will be giving points on a weekly basis. That might not be such a good thing: Miami went just 3-7 against the spread as a favorite last season under head coach Manny Diaz.

K.J. Costello - QB, Mississippi State

Previous school: Stanford

Longtime Washington State head coach Mike Leach fled to Mississippi State in the offseason and brought a quarterback from the Pac-12 with him. It's unclear just how smooth the transition to the air raid will go in Starkville, but Costello's a Leach prototype - 6-foot-5 with the ability to scan the entire field, similar to taller, Washington State predecessors Anthony Gordon (6-foot-3), Luke Falk (6-foot-4), and Connor Halliday (6-foot-4).

Last season was a tough one for Costello, who missed most of it with injuries. His best statistical campaign came as a junior in 2018 when he posted 3,540 yards and 29 touchdowns.

After flip-flopping between Tommy Stevens and Garrett Shrader under center last season, the Bulldogs finally have some stability.

Betting impact: Mississippi State had some higher totals during the Dan Mullen-Dak Prescott era, but the Bulldogs aren't necessarily a run-and-gun style. Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find a Leach-led team with regular totals south of 60.

The only kicker here is the offseason hurdle. Implementing a new offense in such a short time isn't easy. Mississippi State could see a serious rise in offensive efficiency this fall, but it could be bumpy the first few weeks.

Jamie Newman - QB, Georgia

Previous school: Wake Forest

Holy hell was Newman fun in 2019. Orchestrating the nation's top offense in plays per game, the 6-foot-4 quarterback piled up 2,868 yards and 26 touchdowns through the air, and 574 and six more on the ground, respectively.

The move from Wake Forest to Georgia is a bit of an odd one, at least from a system fit. The Demon Deacons ran a full 15 plays more per game than the Bulldogs did in 2019. Newman had to do a lot in Wake's offense, while Georgia's is a bit more basic and not as reliant on the quarterback.

Newman won't put up the stats like King will at Miami, but he's going to be a nightmare for SEC defenses to game plan for nonetheless.

Betting impact: The Demon Deacons under Newman had high totals all of 2019, with their peak at 69. The Bulldogs were polar opposite, hitting as low as 42. My best guess for Georgia totals next season? Somewhere right in the middle.

Peyton Ramsey - QB, Northwestern

Previous school: Indiana

Ramsey joins Northwestern as a grad transfer after a solid career at Indiana. His arrival is key for an offense coming off one of the worst years you'll see for a Power 5 program.

Only two other units in the country averaged fewer yards per play than Northwestern in 2019. The Wildcats were thought to be in good shape with former Clemson quarterback Hunter Johnson leading the show, though that experiment was a disaster. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald needs to get back to the basics, and Ramsey's the perfect game-manager.

Betting impact: Ramsey is less reckless than Johnson. The former won't turn in any 3,500-yard seasons, but he's more efficient at moving the chains. As an undersized sophomore with Indiana in 2018, Ramsey finished just shy of 3,000 yards with 19 touchdowns - not too shabby when you're playing a schedule that includes Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, and Iowa.

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.

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