Best 2018 College Football Win Totals for Each Conference

The 2018 college football season is almost upon us, and while the national story seems to be about (once again) whether anyone can knock off Alabama (and Clemson and Georgia seem like the best candidates to do it at this point), each conference has intrigue of its own that will play out for sports betting enthusiasts in the win and loss totals Can Miami mount a challenge to Clemson in the ACC? Will Wisconsin finally get enough going on offense to claim the Big Ten title and a spot in the College Football Playoff? Can Willie Taggart get things going in the right direction at Florida State? Will Tom Herman recreate the Houston miracle at Texas? It’s questions like these that surround each of our suggestions for your win total bets from the six biggest football conferences below.

Best 2018 College Football Win Totals for Each Conference

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

Kentucky rolled out to a 5-1 record to start the 2017 campaign and then staggered to the end by losing five of seven, but they did finish 7-6 and qualified for a bowl game. Their nonconference schedule should have at least three wins, with home games against Central Michigan, Murray State and Middle Tennessee. They have to travel to Louisville, but the Cardinals will be down after the departure of Lamar Jackson. In SEC play, Mississippi State and Georgia are the toughest foes, but they have to play at Kentucky. Tailback Benny Snell rumbled for 1,333 yards and 19 scores a year ago, and linebackers Jordan Jones and Josh Allen anchor a good defense. I like Kentucky to go over.

ACC: Pitt (Over 5 wins -135 / Under 5 wins +115)

Pitt opens with three home games, which could help things out a bit. Quarterback Kenny Pickett returns, and he played brilliantly in the Panthers’ upset win over Miami in the regular season finale a year ago. Tailbacks Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall will get a lot of carries, as will fullback George Aston. The defense has seven returning starters, but it has not been much of a factor the last two years. Nonconference games include Albany and Penn State at home, and Central Florida and Notre Dame on the road, which doesn’t help. Pitt also has to play at Miami in conference play. There are not a lot of winnable games for a team with so many question marks. I like Pitt to go under.

American: South Florida (Over 8.5 wins -105 / Under 8.5 wins -115)

Charlie Strong returns for a second year coaching the Bulls, but quarterback Quinton Flowers has gone to the NFL and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. The wide receivers and the offensive line have plenty of experience, but the team will also have a new tailback coming out of camp. On defense, there are just five starters returning — and the team needs to find a new pair of defensive tackles. The nonconference schedule includes home games against Georgia Tech, Elon, and Illinois, and a trip to UMass. Georgia Tech runs the triple option, which stresses defenses, and UMass could be a trap game. It’s pretty easy to see this team slipping back. I like South Florida to go under.

Big 12: Kansas State (Over 6 wins -110 / Under 6 wins -110)

The Wildcats begin the season with five home games in seven contests before they have their bye week. The offense has seven starters returning, including a good bit of talent. The defense has a number of their best tacklers coming back. A year ago, they lost four games by seven points or fewer, so that luck could turn around. They do have consecutive road games against Oklahoma and TCU as October winds down, but other than that, their schedule doesn’t look bad. They do host Mississippi State in nonconference play, but they also have South Dakota and Texas-San Antonio. I think they can steal one or two road games in Big 12 play. I like Kansas State to go over.

Big Ten: Michigan (Over 9 wins -135 / Under 9 wins +115)

Shea Patterson gained immediate eligibility thanks to an NCAA decision following his transfer from Ole Miss, who has sanctions coming. The Michigan defense was elite last year and has eight starters coming back, so the questions really come on offense. In non-conference play, they could run the table, with a game at Notre Dame and then home games against SMU and Western Michigan. However, they also play at Ohio State and Michigan State, and they have Penn State at home in division play. It’s easy to see four losses coming out of that schedule, and when you look at the moneyline value, that wager makes some sense. I like Michigan to go under.

Pac-12: Washington (Over 10.5 wins +115 / Under 10.5 wins -135)

A non-conference date against Auburn in Atlanta and trips to UCLA, Utah, Oregon and Washington State almost guarantee that this team will lose at least two games. Jake Browning returns to lead a terrific offense, along with Chico McClatcher and Myles Gaskin, and the defense returns nine starters. But this team couldn’t even win the Pac-12 North last year. I like Washington to go under.