College Football Win Totals You Need to Bet Before It’s Too Late
- Alabama is ranked No. 1 in the first AP Poll of 2021, with a projected win total of 11.5
- No. 4 Ohio State — the team ‘Bama beat the in the CFP title game last year — has a projected win total of 11
- See below for win total odds you should bet one before it’s too late
The 2021 college football season officially gets underway Saturday, August 28th, when Illinois hosts Nebraska in Champaign at 1:00 pm ET. The season will wrap up January 10, 2022, at Lucas Oil Stadium in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
College football win totals are available for all 130 FBS teams. Remember, win totals are for regular-season games only — neither bowl wins nor conference championship games count. Which programs are undervalued this season? Which are overvalued? Let’s break down a trio of teams that look like good bets to finish on one side of their total.
Alabama Under 11.5 Wins
| Team | Total | Over Odds | Under Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 11.5 | -113 | -113 |
Let’s start with the top team in the land. Alabama has won six national championships since Nick Saban took over the program in 2007. Over that time, the Tide have had 12 or more wins the season following a title twice and fewer than 11 victories following a title three times. Their projected win total in 2021? 11.5.
Alabama has a three-headed monster on offense 🐉🔥#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/2PSHr1yxNP
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 12, 2021
Make that “had” a three-headed monster on offense. With the team’s skill position power trio of quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris and Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver De’Vonta Smith all selected in the first 24 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft, getting 11 wins this season in the always-competitive SEC seems unlikely.
It’s not just Jones, Harris, and Smith that are gone, either. The Tide also need to replace their starting tight end, a second starting wide receiver, and three starting offensive linemen — not to mention major coaching changes.
Oklahoma is better than Alabama and should be ranked No. 1. Spencer Rattler will win the Heisman. Tide will miss Sarkisian. Bill O'Brien isn't in Lincoln Riley's league as a play-caller. OU's O will be much better, D underrated. Tide is out. Sooners are in.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 17, 2021
Former offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian is now the head coach at Texas and three other offensive assistants to left Tuscaloosa after last season. Plus, is sophomore Bryce Young ready to beat Florida and Texas A&M — let alone Miami out of the gate Sept. 4? I say no.
Illinois Over 3.5 Wins
| Team | Total | Over Odds | Under Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 3.5 | -134 | +105 |
As noted above, the Fighting Illini host the Cornhuskers in the 2021 lid lifter and should be 1-0 out of the gate under new head coach Bret Bielema. Nebraska is an utter disaster under head coach and alum Scott Frost — who is under NCAA investigation for alleged improper use of analysts and consultants during practices and games.
Bret Bielema is 11-1 in season openers.
This time next week, we should be celebrating Coach Bielema getting to 12-1.
LETS GOOOOOOO!!!#Illini #Illinois #B1G #Football #famILLy
— Rees Woodcock (@ReesIsMe) August 22, 2021
As for Illinois, the linebacking corps is fantastic. And with two more likely victories over UTSA and Charlotte, the head coach that led Wisconsin to three straight Rose Bowl berths a decade ago only needs to find one more conference win along the way.
With Maryland and Rutgers coming to Champaign, not only is four wins exceedingly likely — it’s a virtual lock.
Stanford Over 4 Wins
| Team | Total | Over Odds | Under Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford Cardinal | 4 | -113 | -113 |
For starters — like Bielema — it’s hard to bet against a head coach that has led a program to three Rose Bowl berths (and won the Granddaddy of Them All twice) in the last decade. That’s exactly what David Shaw has achieved on The Farm, and the program he has led to nine winning seasons out of the last ten is being overlooked once again.
Find a way to make the PLAY 💥@omariporter2 is on a mission this season.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/FXECxfCeDy
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) August 20, 2021
The 2021 Cardinal team has the ability to be the Class of the Pac-12 North Division — and perhaps the whole conference. Both lines are solid, the defense is stout and the offensive has a chance to build off of the momentum of last season’s strong finish.
With Davis Mills gone to the NFL, senior Jack West and sophomore Tanner McKee are still involved in a battle to be the next starting quarterback. But this is a program that wants to run the ball. Austin Jones rushed for 100 yards or more in three of Stanford’s six games, while Nathaniel Peat averaged 7.0 yards per carry. Look for the pair to help take the heat off whomever is under center.
Yes, the schedule is daunting, starting off with three straight games away from Palo Alto. But Kansas State in Arlington isn’t particularly intimidating. Plus, Stanford has historically played USC well at the Coliseum. And Vanderbilt in Nashville is … Vanderbilt.
This is more like a 7-or-8-win team , not a 4-win group.
Blair Johnson is a veteran journalist and seasoned sports content creator. He has been writing and producing content as long as he can remember, with such familiar names as CNN, NFL Media and Yahoo. Blair currently lives and works in the greater Los Angeles area.
