A tradition unlike any other, evaluating College Football Futures. Every year the numbers from Vegas roll out, and we sit back and analyze what teams we want to bet on and who we want to bet to fail. Many factors play into these decisions. Let’s span across the college football landscape as we provide you the top futures to cash in.
ACC:
Clemson Tigers: Win Total 11.5
Clemson has ascended to the top of the college football mountaintop alongside Alabama. I would expect to see Clemson with the highest projected win total for the foreseeable future. To take the over here would mean banking on the Tigers going undefeated during the regular season. Initially, this proposition would draw great hesitancy. The Tigers are transitioning from Trevor Lawrence to D.J. Uiagalelei at the quarterback position. Clemson will also be missing stalwarts Travis Etienne and Amari Rodgers also are off to the NFL.
Good teams rebuild, great teams reload, and Clemson certainly is a great team. The projected challengers in the ACC this season are North Carolina and Miami (FL). Clemson doesn’t draw either on their schedule in 2021. The Tigers open their year with a showcase showdown against the Georgia Bulldogs. If Clemson wins, it should be smooth sailing from here on out. I am betting on Clemson in the opener and to run rough shot over the rest of the ACC. Undefeated.
Clemson: OVER
North Carolina: Win Total of 10
I don’t feel that the Tar Heels are as strong as they were last year. Sam Howell is back under center, providing security for North Carolina, but he is missing many of his counterparts from a season ago. Javonte Williams, Michael Carter III, Dyami Brown, and Dazz Newsome are all off to the NFL. Sam Howell will have to do more with less if North Carolina is going to hit the over. A back-to-back stretch in October against Miami (FL) and Notre Dame will tell the story. It would not surprise me if the Tar Heels dropped both games.
North Carolina: UNDER
BIG 12:
Iowa State: Win Total 9.5
Iowa State has all the pieces in place to make a run in 2021. Brock Purdy returned to school to lead the Cyclone offense. Having Breece Hall in the backfield to hand the ball off certainly helps. Matt Campbell’s crew feels like a darkhorse National Title contender. The Cyclones will be underdogs in just one game this year: at Oklahoma. The only other Preseason Top 25 matchups they have is against in-state rivals Iowa, and a conference tilt against Texas the Cyclones host both games. Even if you account for a split in those games, Iowa State still gets to the over.
Iowa State: OVER
Texas: Win Total 8
Being completely transparent, I have zero faith in this team and this program. The Longhorns annually disappoint, and I don’t see a rationale for why 2021 will be any different. Texas will be attempting to replace Sam Ehlinger under center and don’t have any in-house options that provide confidence. I would not be surprised if Texas drops their opener against Louisiana, leading to a downward spiral. Un-hook those horns.
Texas: UNDER
BIG TEN:
Wisconsin: Win Total 9.5
Wisconsin is a sneaky candidate to win the Big Ten in 2021. Annually, the Badgers have one of the top rushing attacks and the beefiest O-line along with one of the better defenses in the conference. This combination leads to a high number of wins. The good news about their schedule: they avoid Ohio State AND Indiana. The bad news: they have a game against Notre Dame that will be a coin-flip. I expect Wisconsin to beat Penn State in the opener and to challenge for the Big Ten title.
Wisconsin: OVER
Penn State: Win Total 9
Similar to the Texas Longhorns program, I have zero confidence in Penn State. Sean Clifford isn’t exactly the type of quarterback that inspires confidence. The Nittany Lions have a brutal schedule in 2021. I expect them to lose to Wisconsin out of the gate. They play Auburn out of conference. Penn State’s October stretch is abysmal. In four weeks, they face Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio State. I don’t see how they make it over nine wins. Bet with your mind, not your heart, Lions fans.
Penn State: UNDER
PAC 12:
USC: Win Total 8.5
This future was the very first total that jumped off the page for me. USC appears to be loaded. Kedon Slovis is a Heisman Trophy candidate in the making. Slovis has a host of talent around him, led by wide receiver Drake London. A glance at the Trojans schedule, and there are only three teams in the preseason Top 25, and two of those, Utah and Arizona State, are on the fringe. A win at Notre Dame and USC could be on the verge of making a run at the college football playoffs.
USC: OVER
Arizona State: Win Total 9
I’m just not buying the hype on the Sun Devils. I like Jayden Daniels as much as the next guy, but he still has a ways to go as a passer. Road games against Utah and Washington surrounding a tilt against USC is a tough road. Herm Edwards has Arizona State heading in the right direction, but nine wins feel a bit bold to me. Eight won’t be a bad season for them, but the line is nine.
ARIZONA STATE: UNDER
SEC:
Alabama: Win Total 11.5
Similar to Clemson, Alabama must run the table to get to the over on 11.5. 2021 is a year of transition for the Crimson Tide as they turn the reigns over from Mac Jones to Bryce Young, merely the top-rated QB in the nation out of high school. No need to worry, Alabama is an embarrassment of riches regarding talent on both sides of the ball. Although an SEC schedule can be daunting, I expect Alabama to be heavy favorites in each game. Upsets are always possible but bet the likely outcome. Alabama and Clemson both go undefeated this year (and probably meet yet again for the college football title).
Alabama: OVER
Georgia: Win Total 10.5
Georgia opens their season against Clemson. You know that I have Clemson winning this one. For Georgia to reach their over, they would have to run the table and go unbeaten over the final eleven games. The Bulldogs will be a good team in 2021. I’m simply betting on them dropping one more game across an SEC schedule. Much like Arizona State, I expect them to have a solid season, just not 11-1.
Georgia: UNDER
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