Regular Season Win Totals Open for SEC Contenders Auburn & Tennessee; Big Ten Contenders Maryland & Michigan
- Auburn will count on improvement from big man Austin Wiley after making Final Four run last season
- Maryland, ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press preseason poll, has talent and depth to win Big Ten.
- Read below to find our best win total odds predictions from key SEC and Big Ten schools
It’s never too early to start the road to the Final Four.
Sportsbooks have kicked things off with their college Basketball win totals for the upcoming regular season. Today, we’re targeting a couple of key teams in both the SEC and Big Ten, starting with a school that had its first-ever Final Four dance a season ago.
Auburn Win Total Odds
| School | Over/Under Total | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Auburn | 21.5 | -120 |
Odds taken Nov. 1st.
Analysis: A year after making its first-ever trip to the Final Four, where it lost to eventual champion Virginia by one point in the semifinals, the expectations are somewhat lower for Auburn.
It is going for difficult to replicate last season’s success, which included a single-season school record for wins with a 30-10 record. Gone from that team are top 3-point shooter Bryce Brown, indispensable point guard and versatile forward Chuma Okeke, the first-round pick of the Orlando Magic in the NBA Draft.
“Wow! Man, that’s awesome.”
🗣@coachbrucepearl on newly unveiled #FinalFour banner at Auburn Arena.
Says BP, “We’re way past the ceremonial stage. We’ve got a lot of work to do to become a good basketball team.”@AuburnMBB plays exhibition Friday night vs. Eckerd. https://t.co/7QJGczDDqk pic.twitter.com/kXUA0jeySI
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) October 31, 2019
Coach Bruce Pearl is counting on a breakout season from 6-foot-11 Austin Wiley and fellow big man Anfernee McLemore. Pearl believes 6-6 point guard/forward Isaac Okoro has the potential to become the SEC Freshman of the Year.
One factor that could help Auburn go over the 21.5 total is a weak non-conference schedule. The Tigers host the two toughest opponents — Iowa State and North Carolina State.
However, the Tigers look like no better than a middle-of-the-pack team in the SEC after losing so many players.
The Pick: Under 21.5 wins (-120)
Tennessee Win Total Odds
| School | Over/Under Total | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 20.5 | -120 |
Analysis: Sticking in the SEC, Tennessee’s win total is set at 20.5. The Volunteers won 27 regular-season games last season before falling to Auburn in the title game of the SEC tourney and advancing to the Sweet 16 in the NCAAs.
It takes a roster full of good players to make it to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons as Tennessee has done the last two years. However, the difficult part is those players eventually move on and the Vols lost three players in the NBA Draft: All-American forward Grant Williams, along with Jordan Bone and Admiral Schofield.
Guard Lamonte’ Turner is the lone returning starter and he will be counted on heavily along with backcourt mate Jordan Bowden. Another guard, freshman Josiah-Jordan James, is a five-star recruit and expected to make an immediate impact.
.@LTurn1 in the building#GBO pic.twitter.com/L2HxKE1Uzf
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) October 31, 2019
Tennessee has two games each against Kentucky and Auburn inside the SEC, along with road games versus Florida and LSU. The non-conference schedule is also difficult, with Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Washington, Florida State and Murray State on the slate
The rugged schedule and inexperienced frontcourt give Tennessee the look of a team that might not be able to replicate their recent success.
The Pick: Under 20.5 wins (-120)
Maryland Win Total Odds
| School | Over/Under Total | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 23.5 | -120 |
Analysis: Maryland is considered to have a good shot at winning the Big Ten title this upcoming season as reflected in their 23.5 win total. The Terrapins had a fine regular-season last year as it won 22 games, but was bounced in their first game of the conference tournament by Nebraska before a disappointing one-and-done stint in the NCAA Tournament.
The Terps return seven of its top eight scorers from last season and coach Mark Turgeon says this is the deepest roster he has ever had. While center Bruno Fernando left for the NBA, they should be able to cover for his loss with their depth.
Senior guard Anthony Cowan Jr. was Maryland’s leading scorer last season at 15.6 points a game and provides plenty of leadership. Turgeon is excited about the potential improvement of forward Jaylen Smith, who spent the summer bulking up his lean frame, causing a change of nickname from “Stix” to “Logs.” Freshman twin brothers Mahki and Mahkel Mitchell are both 6-foot-10 and should make their presence felt in the paint.
up and DOWN
Makhi Mitchell 💪#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/x6WkW71I4o
— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) November 2, 2019
Maryland has a relatively soft schedule until the very end of the regular season, when they visit Minnesota and Ohio State and host Michigan and Michigan State within the final five games. The non-conference schedule is relatively easy except for a trip to Seton Hall.
Maryland last won the national championship in 2002 and it’s not out of the question that they could win it all this season.
The Pick: Over 23.5 wins (-120)
Michigan Win Total Odds
| School | Over/Under Total | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 19.5 | -120 |
Analysis: Former Michigan star Juwan Howard returns to his alma mater with hopes of having the Wolverines in the Big Ten race. In the first season after John Beilein moved on to the NBA to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers, oddsmakers have Michigan’s win total pegged at 19.5.
Howard is a bit of a wild card because he has never been a head coach at any level. However, he inherits a program that has made it at least to the Sweet 16 in each of the last three NCAA tourneys, has an experienced top assistant in longtime St. Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli and can rely on the experience of playing in the NBA for 19 straight seasons.
This version of the Wolverines doesn’t figure to look much like season’s squad that finished with a 30-7 record. The top three scorers from last season — Izzy Brazdeikis, Jordan Poole and Charles Matthews — are gone. Howard will also shift away from Beilein’s offensive style of spacing the floor and shooting the three. A pair of seniors, point guard Zavier Simpson and center Jon Teske, will be counted on to provide a steadying hand.
It is all about the process …#GoBlue 〽️🏀 pic.twitter.com/e1JONTdaJy
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) October 31, 2019
Michigan will get a stern test on Thanksgiving weekend when it plays Iowa State in the first round of The Battle 4 Atlantis then a potential matchup with North Carolina. The Wolverines also have a trip to powerhouse Louisville on Dec. 3, just before the start of Big Ten play.
Michigan could go in many different directions this season. The feeling here is that Howard will be an immediate success.
The Pick: Over 19.5 wins (-120)
These MD sportsbook apps will be available once legalized sports betting launches in the state in November 2023.
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
