5 College Football Win Total Bets to Take and 5 to Avoid in 2018

If you like to include futures in your sports betting, one of the most interesting props in college football has to with win-loss total bets for teams in the regular season. If you take the time to understand the nuances of the college football schedule and analyze the depth at work in the various rosters — all the while balancing this against the fact that college football can be an emotional sport due to the youth of the players — you can make some money if you find a total that leans the wrong way. However, sometimes the total is right where the team will likely end up, so you want to stay away from the wager. Here are five college football win total wagers that we like — and five that we don’t.

5 College Football Win Total Bets to Take and 5 to Avoid in 2018

Column: A Dash through the college football schedule — Who has it toughest? Who has it easiest? Who travels the country and who stays closest to home? Forty things you need to know for the upcoming season https://t.co/K1lFBk0f6R

— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) July 30, 2018

North Carolina State (Over 7 wins -125 / Under 7 wins +105)

The Wolfpack get five of six at home to start the season — but one of those is against FCS foe James Madison, which will be a test. Ryan Finley returns at quarterback, and he threw 17 touchdowns against just six picks a year ago, completing 65 percent of his passes. Wideouts Jakobi Meyers and Kelvin Harmon will spread the field. On defense, only three starters are coming back — with none on the D-line, so the Wolfpack will need to get their younger players in and focused quickly. Playing in the ACC Coastal and with non-conference games against Georgia State, Marshall and West Virginia (in addition to James Madison), getting over seven wins is the play here.

Syracuse (Over 5.5 wins -120 / Under 5.5 wins EVEN)

Syracuse is riding quarterback Eric Dungey this season. His injury last year sent the ORange into a free fall. He does have tailbacks Moe Neal and Dontae Strickland to give the offense some balance. The defense permitted 32 points per game last year and returns just six starters. The weakest link has been the secondary, but their corps has a year of experience under their belts. They start at Western Michigan and then have home non-conference games against Wagner and Connecticut. Getting to six wins with those games as well as the ACC Coastal is reasonable. Getting over 5 ½ wins is the play here.

Florida (Over 8 wins -115 / Under 8 wins -105)

Dan Mullen will have his work cut out for him in his first season, even though he has 16 starters ready to go. The Gators need some stability at quarterback, since they have started 12 different signal callers in the last nine seasons — and there is no clear-cut favorite right now. The defense will rebound from its awful performance last year, when they permitted over 27 points per game. Their non-conference slate includes Charleston Southern, Colorado State, Idaho and Florida State on the road. With that SEC East schedule including South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, eight wins looks like the right number here. Stay away from this likely push.

Kentucky (Over 5.5 wins EVEN / Under 5.5 wins -120)

Kentucky had a 7-6 season last year…after starting out 5-1. They did qualify for a bowl game, and their SEC slate brings Georgia and Mississippi State, their toughest opponents, to town. Benny Snell is likely to have another strong season at tailback. Playing in the SEC East and having Central Michigan, Murray State and Middle Tennessee on the schedule makes this a winnable total. Getting over 5 ½ wins is the play here.

Tennessee (Over 5.5 wins +105 / Under 5.5 wins -125)

The non-conference slate includes West Virginia, East Tennessee State, Texas-El Paso and Charlotte, and the Volunteers may be starting to doubt coach Jeremy Pruitt after a 4-8 season last year — and UMass almost beat the Volunteers in Knoxville last year despite being four-touchdown dogs. Keller Chryst comes in as a graduate transfer quarterback, and Madre London has come in from Michigan State to run the ball, and the defense should be strong, but the Volunteers are perennial disappointments at this point. Stay away from this total.

Houston (Over 8 wins -110 / Under 8 wins -110)

D’Eriq King looks to return at quarterback for the Cougars, who won just seven games a year ago. Kendal Briles comes in to lead the offense, after working for Lane Kiffin at FAU last season. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver could be the top pick in the NFL draft next season. Non-conference play could leave Houston at 2-2 with games at Rice and at Texas Tech and at home against Arizona and Texas Southern. In AAC play, the Cougars go to Memphis and Navy. Stay away from this likely push.

California (Over 6 wins -130 / Under 6 wins +110)

The Golden Bears have Idaho State and North Carolina at home and BYU on the road in non-conference play, and they return ten starters on offense, including four of the team’s six best receivers. On defense, eight starters return, but that unit needs to play better next year. In Pac-12 play, they get to host Washington and Stanford but have to go to USC. Stay away from this likely push.

Washington (Over 10.5 wins +115 / Under 10.5 wins -135)

You won’t get a lot of money for this play, but Washington has to play Auburn in Atlanta in a “neutral-site” game that is really a road game. They also have to play at Utah, UCLA, Oregon and Washington State, so this could be a four- or five-loss team fairly easily. Getting under 10 ½ wins is the play here.

Baylor (Over 6 wins -105 / Under 6 wins -115)

The Bears have Texas-San Antonio (who beat them last year) on the road, as well as Duke and Abilene Christian at home in non-conference play. They should get at least two wins out of that, but they had an awful season last year, also losing at home to Liberty. Look for stronger play out of each of the lines, but their defense will be tough. They play Texas, Oklahoma and West Virginia away, so getting even to four or five wins could be a challenge. Getting under six wins is the play here.

Oklahoma State (Over 8 wins -120 / Under 8 wins EVEN)

The Cowboys open with four straight home games, and their non-conference opponents include Missouri State, South Alabama and Boise State. With Mason Rudolph gone, the Cowboys need to work in a new quarterback while leaning hard on tailback Justice Hill and revamping their offensive line. Their defense, never strong here, will need to step up more. I could see OSU losing four games fairly easily. Stay away from this likely push.