2014 College Football Regular Season Win Totals Odds, Picks, Predictions
Tony George of TonyGeorgeSports.com has released his 2014 College Football regular season win total odds, picks and predictions. He of course is one of the premiere sports handicappers in the United States and a special contributor to the Gambling911.com website.
College Football welcomes a 4 game system this year replacing the BCS computer rankings, so ESPN will have more to argue about until you are sick of it this season. While I do welcome a “Final 4”, the bottom line is that the regular season in NCAA Football is still the most important of all the sports out there. No just getting in the field of 64 in March Madness and playing Cinderella with 12 losses on the season, or just playing .500 ball or under in the NBA to get in the playoffs, games in September are just as important as games in November in College Football and the Final 4 scenario for a 4 team playoff still has not affected College Football’s importance of the regular season wins. Winning your biggest game against a name brand foe in pre-conference action is important, and running through your conference with no losses or 1 loss at most will get you in a position to get invited to the Final 4 scenario if you are in a BCS conference. Let’s just hope it is not 3 SEC teams and then someone else!
Here are my Top 3 Over and Top 2 Under the Season win total wagers for NCAA Football this season.
Top 2 Under Bets
UNDER 7.5 Wins – VANDERBILT - It is not only myself who thinks this is going to be a long season for Vandy, but many well respected handicappers I know have this as one of their best bets. With their ex head coach Franklin leaving for greener pastures at Penn State (well sorta), the head coach position and an entirely new staff in place is going to affect this team, not to mention Derek Mason new head coach, has no head coaching experience and in the talent rich SEC that is doom. Vandy has a very favorable home schedule this year and they need it, with games at Mizzou, Georgia, Kentucky and Miss. State on the road. They return only 4 starters on defense including a completely depleted secondary. This is going to be a tough year for Vandy who had some life under Franklin, now it is back to square oine with limited talent or young talent this year.
UNDER 10.5 Wins - BOISE ST – Again a new head coach and coaching staff will cause a learning curve. I am not concerned about the offense as much this year as lasts and QB Hedrick should be another in a long line of good QB’s and the running game is solid. The defense is a concern and with 12 regular season games and an opener in the Georgia Dome against Ol Miss I see an 8 win team here, possibly 9. The half on 10.5 is crucial and I like the Under with the Blue Turf boys this year.
TOP 3 OVER BETS
OVER 8 Wins - NEBRASKA – Bo Pelini has had 9 wins or more each of the 6 years at Husker Nation, a better 6 year record than Bob Devany or Tom Osborne, and he has some serious weapons on offense again this season with Abdullah at running back being one of the top 3 backs in the nation and Nebraska has the deepest RB unit in the Big 10 and perhaps the nation, and Kenny Bell at WR is a huge playmaker and special teams weapon. The QB position is going to Tommy Armstrong who saw loads of action last year and is capable passer and a dual threat as usual for the Huskers. Turnovers plagued Nebraska last year, I see that turning around. The defensive is an slight issue, the line is solid, the LB unit is young and the DC for the Huskers is not all that good, I am surprised he has a job this year. Huskers better than advertised and with games at NW, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan State, expect them to head into Michigan St 5-0 with a win over Miami in Lincoln under their belt. 9 wins for Huskers.
OVER 9.5 Wins - UCLA – Jim Mara gets 17 starters back, a stud QB and quite frankly they not only should win their division but are very capable of winning the entire PAC 12 this year. QB Hundley is back and they are loaded on both sides of the ball. The KEY for UCLA is their schedule this year. They went 10-3 last year and they have USC, Oregon and Arizona all at home. A non-conference tilt at Jerry World in Arlington against Texas is a real test in mid-September but I can see this team who won 10 games last year, winning 10 for sure and possibly 11 and playing into the national title picture. An experienced unit and a good coach in a very top heavy conference where the Bruins and Ducks should be the top tier teams, look for UCLA to make some serious noise this year.
OVER 8 Wins - TCU - The Horned Frogs who I predicted to do well last year in the Big 12 ended up with 4 wins, major QB issues, and no bowl game. I can tell you in every one of their 8 losses they had a chance to win the game late, and they compete at a high level at all times. They return 16 starters, all skill positions are intact and they may be a huge surprise in a weak Big 12 conference outside of OU and Baylor this year. A solid defense with the best DL in the Big 12 in my opinion, good QB, and they return 47 lettermen. This is an experienced unit on a mission, and although games at Baylor and Texas loom large they get Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Kansas St at home in Ft. Worth. Look for the Frogs to close the deal better in 2014 and put a scare in many of their opponents and they should be a good underdog bet given the right amount of points.
