Upcoming Match-ups

Opening 2021 College Football Season Win Totals Released – See Projections for All Power 5 Teams

Brady Trettenero

by Brady Trettenero in College Football

Updated May 25, 2021 · 3:35 PM PDT

Nick Saban on the Alabama sideline
Alabama head coach Nick Saban watches his team during the first half of an NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game against Ohio State, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
  • Opening 2021 college football win totals have been released
  • Alabama and Clemson are favored to win the most amount of games
  • See projected 2021 CFB win totals for all 65 Power Five teams within the story below

We’re less than 100 days away from the start of the 2021 College Football season. Oddsmakers have released win totals for every FBS team ahead of kickoff in late-August.

Alabama and Clemson have opened with the highest win totals in 2021, while Kansas is favored to win the fewest amount of games. The Crimson Tide were the only team to go undefeated in 2020 and are favored again in the National Championship odds.

We layout the opening 2021 college football win totals for all the Power 5 schools and provide best bets.

Opening 2021 College Football Win Totals

Team DraftKings Win Total
Colorado Buffaloes 4.5 (O +120 / U -152)
Purdue Boilermakers 5 (O +120 / U -125)
South Carolina Gamecocks 4 (O +120 / U -152)
Ole Miss Rebels 7.5 (O -139/ U +110)
Kansas Jayhawks 1 (O -139 / U +110)
Missouri Tigers 7 (O -125 / U +100)
Texas Longhorns 8 (O +110 / U -139)
Texas Tech Raiders 4.5 (O -139 / U +110)
Washington State Cougars 6 (O -139 / U +110)
LSU Tigers 8.5 (O -113 / U -113)
Clemson Tigers 11.5 (O +100 / U -125)
Illinois Fighting Illini 3 (O -113 / U -113)
Maryland Terrapins 5.5 (O +120 / U -152)
Iowa State Cyclones 9.5 (O -159 / U +125)
West Virginia Mountaineers 6.5 (O +100 / U -125)
Wisconsin Badgers 9.5 (O +110 / U -139)
Florida Gators 9 (O -139 / U +110)
Arkansas Razorbacks 5.5 (O +120 / U -152)
Florida State Seminoles 5.5 (O +110 / U -139)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 4.5 (O -113 / U -113)
Pittsburgh Panthers 7 (O +100 / U -125)
Georgia Bulldogs 10.5 (O +100 / U -125)
Arizona State Sun Devils 9 (O -113 / U -113)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons 6.5 (O -134/ U +105)
Penn State Nittany Lions 9 (O +100 / U -125)
Miami Florida Hurricanes 9.5 (O -125 / U +100)
Oregon Ducks 9 (O -113/ U -113)
Kansas State Wildcats 5.5 (O -113 / U -113)
Vanderbilt Commodores 3 (O +120 / U -152)
Ohio State Buckeyes 11 (O -113/ U -113)
Louisville Cardinals 6.5 (O +100 / U -139)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9 (O +100 / U -125)
Duke Blue Devils 4 (O +135 / U -177)
Texas A&M Aggies 9.5 (O +100 / U -125)
Utah Utes 8.5 (O +100 / U -125)
Northwestern Wildcats 6.5 (O -113 / U -113)
Virginia Tech Hokies 7 (O -103 / U -125)
North Carolina Tar Heels 10 (O +110 / U -139)
Washington Huskies 9 (O +105 / U -134)
Oklahoma State Cowboys 7 (O +100 / U -125)
Michigan State Spartans 4 (O -129 / U +105)
Baylor Bears 5.5 (O +110 / U -139)
Indiana Hoosiers 8 (O +110 / U -139)
Mississippi State Bulldogs 5.5 (O -113 / U -113)
Iowa Hawkeyes 8.5 (O -113 / U -113)
Auburn Tigers 7 (O +110 / U -139)
Boston College Eagles 7 (O -113 / U -113)
Arizona Wildcats 2.5 (O +125 / U -159)
Michigan Wolverines 8 (O -113 / U -113)
Nebraska Cornhuskers 6 (O -113 / U -113)
Virginia Cavaliers 6 (O -134/ U +106)
TCU Horned Frogs 7 (O -125 / U +100)
Minnesota Golden Gophers 7 (O -113 / U -113)
Tennessee Volunteers 6 (O +110/ U -139)
North Carolina State Wolfpack 6 (O -139 / U +110)
Kentucky Wildcats 6.5 (O -167 / U +130)
UCLA Bruins 7 (O -106 / U -121)
California Golden Bears 5.5 (O -121 / U -106)
UCF Knights 9.5 (O -113 / U -113)
Oklahoma Sooners 11 (O -139 / U +110)
Oregon State Beavers 4.5 (O -113 / U -113)
USC Trojans 9 (O +110 / U -139)
Alabama Crimson Tide 11.5 (O +100 / U -125)
Syracuse Orange 3 (O +110 / U -139)
Stanford Cardinal 3.5 (O -159 / U +125)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights TBD

Odds as of May 25th

Win totals are based on the regular season only and don’t include conference championship or playoff games. With that in mind, here are three over/under picks for you to consider.

Tide Won’t Go Undefeated Again

Alabama and Clemson are the only two programs realistically expected to go a perfect 12-0 in 2021. Taking the “under” on the Crimson Tide’s 2021 win total means betting them losing at least one game during the year. It’s very possible this team slips up somewhere along the way considering all the talent they’ve lost. WRs Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, QB Mac Jones and RB Najee Harris have all departed to the NFL.

Nick Saban always does a tremendous job restocking the pipeline, but that 2017 Alabama recruiting class was one of the best the sport has ever seen. The only time the Crimson Tide have posted consecutive undefeated regular seasons during Saban’s tenure was in 2008 and 2009. When six first-round draft picks exit the team like we saw this offseason, there’s bound to be some hiccups along the way.

Bryce Young is an extremely hyped five-star QB recruit, but he’s never started a game at the collegiate level. With OC Steve Sarkisian off to Texas, it might take some time for this Tide offense to click to its full potential. Alabama has to navigate a very tough schedule that includes Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU and Auburn. There’s value betting on one of the improved teams in the SEC handing the Tide an upset loss.

  • Pick: Alabama Under 11.5 Wins (-125)

WVU Will Make Noise In Big 12

With all the hype on Oklahoma and Iowa State heading into the 2021 season, West Virginia is a Big 12 team flying under the radar. The Mountaineers have taken steps forward in each of Neal Brown’s first two years at the helm. They went 5-7 in 2019 before going 6-4 last year, which included a Bowl win over Army. The Mountaineers are returning 15 starters in 2021, including fifth-year starting QB Jarret Doege.

WVU got blown out by Iowa State last season, but they kept every other game close. Defense was the team’s calling card in 2020, as they led the nation in passing yards allowed (159.6 yards) and only allowed 4.65 yards per play. You can expect more of the same in 2021 with six starters returning, including defensive linemen Akheem Mesidor and Dante Stills and safety Alonzo Addae.

The Mountaineers should take another step forward in 2021, which gives them value to win at least seven games. Doege is a steady presence under center, but RB Leddie Brown is also poised for a huge season after rushing for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore. There’s plenty of upside with WVU’s schedule, as the only two games they’ll be heavy underdogs in are against OU and ISU .

  • Pick: Western Virginia Over 6.5 Wins (+100)

Washington Overvalued In Pac-12 

Washington is being given a generous 2021 win total after winning the Pac-12 North Division in 2020. You don’t want to read too much into the Huskies winning the division, however, as it was a bizarre year for the conference. The Huskies only played four games and missed out on the conference championship game due to COVID-19 issues. We’re yet to see this team’s true identity under coach Jimmy Lake.

The Huskies should have another strong defense, but there are questions at the quarterback position. Dylan Morris is the only returnee from the QB room last year and wasn’t overly impressive in 2020. As a freshman, Morris went 67-of-110 for 897 yards, four TDs and three picks. Washington lost five receivers in the transfer portal, which means they’ll be relying on the young 2020 recruiting class to fill the void.

The Huskies should lose at least three games when you look at their stacked slate of opponents. UCLA will have their best team yet under Chip Kelly, while ASU might boast the Pac-12’s most talented QB in Jayden Daniels. The Huskies also play Oregon, Colorado and Cal after an early visit to the Big House. Washington should have another decent season in 2021, but with several rising programs on their schedule, it’s best to pump the brakes a little bit.

  • Pick: Washington Under 9 Wins (-134)
Author Image