It’s starting to scent loads like college football! Gamblers, get in your marks as a result of preview magazines are out, convention media days are across the nook and kickoff will probably be right here earlier than we all know it.
With the start of the season comes the emergence of betting on all of the totally different markets school football has to provide. Today, I’m specializing in win totals.
Utah, USC and Ohio State are three groups whose win totals I’m feeling fairly assured about. Which groups will go underneath, and which groups will exceed the projected variety of wins?
The solely method to discover out is to maintain studying. Let’s dive into my early win total bets that it’s best to make proper now — with odds through FOX Bet.
Utah — Over 8.5 wins: -118 at FOX Bet (guess $10 to win $18.47 total)
This one shocked me as we’ve seen Utah win no less than 9 video games over their final three full seasons (throw out the COVID-19 yr for each single dialogue about this sport). Entering the 2022 season, Utah’s offense is the healthiest it has been in years. The workforce returns quarterback Cam Rising and operating again Tavion Thomas. Rising will probably be within the Heisman dialog, even when just for a number of whispers. And Thomas rushed for 1,109 yards on 204 carries final yr, so count on him to have an effect once more. The Utes did substitute their two finest linemen, however their scheme ought to permit them to proceed rolling on offense.
Defensively, whereas the Utes should substitute their two center linebackers, this workforce returns nearly everybody else from a top-tier unit. More importantly, Utah is sure to be the favourite in each recreation besides one this season. Case in level, the Utes would be the Week 1 favourite towards Florida by kickoff. Then let’s look forward to when Utah hosts USC on Oct. 15. No matter how ridiculous the opening line finally ends up being, the Utes would be the favourite by recreation time there as properly.
If Utah stays wholesome, they’ll win 10 video games or extra this season.
USC — Under 9.5 wins: +130 at FOX Bet (guess $10 to win $23 total)
USC will rating a ton of factors this season, however its opponents may even rating a ton of factors this season. If I may guess the over for each one of many workforce’s video games this season, I might do this now.
Transfers make up the majority of the Trojans’ roster — from quarterback to operating again, huge receivers to almost half of the beginning protection. There are simply so many unknowns at necessary positions for me to again this workforce.
Being an OL man, the largest query that comes to my thoughts is can USC block and sort out properly sufficient to win 10 video games? I’m undecided, which scares me. And how rapidly can all of the transfers gel, study new schemes and play with confidence? I’m undecided about that both.
USC’s schedule isn’t powerful, particularly for the reason that Trojans haven’t got to play convention rivals Oregon or Washington. But they do journey to Oregon State and Utah, two groups that humiliated them on their dwelling turf within the Coliseum by speeding for a mixed 502 yards. USC ends the season visiting UCLA, and bear in mind, the Bruins put up 62 factors of their assembly final season. And after UCLA, the Trojans host Notre Dame.
10 wins is simply too formidable for Lincoln Riley’s squad in his first yr as head coach. Give me the plus-money with the underneath.
Ohio State — Over 10.5 wins: -200 at FOX Bet (guess $10 to win $15 total)
The margin of error for an over wager of 10.5 wins is slim. Ohio State can solely afford to lose a single recreation for this guess to hit. But, the Buckeyes gained 10 common season video games final yr, in what some would think about a down season.
OSU’s offense appeared sluggish at occasions final season, however the unit additionally scored 1,000,000 factors. Defensively, they appeared out of kinds towards Oregon and Michigan, however I see them enhancing on that entrance. A brand new defensive scheme that ought to create extra seems and selection will assist the Buckeyes’ protection get after the passer and never permit so many yards.
On offense, they’re guided by Heisman hopeful C.J. Stroud, who threw for 44 touchdowns and 4,435 yards final season whereas finishing almost 72% of his passes. Ohio State has powerful highway video games at Michigan State and Penn State, however they get Notre Dame, Michigan and Wisconsin at dwelling. Playing these powerful opponents at dwelling as a substitute of on the highway will work within the Buckeyes’ favor.
Ohio State will win 11 video games this season, thus cashing this ticket.
Geoff Schwartz performed eight seasons within the NFL for 5 totally different groups. He began at proper sort out for the University of Oregon for 3 seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 choice his senior yr. He is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz.
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