The following 10 teams are locks to win over the assigned win total Vegas gave them.
For any degenerate out there that doesn't understand the concept, here is an easy example. Let's say the sports book puts the over/under for a team at nine games. If the bettor puts money on the over, that team must win 10 games for the better to win money.
Now if the bettor bets the under, that team is only to win eight games or fewer. If the team wins nine games, it's a push and the money is given back.
So here are the locks of the year.
10. Missouri
Over/Under Odds: 10 wins
What’s not to like about the Missouri Tigers this year? Returning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Chase Daniel (4,306 yards, 33 TDs) and first team Freshman All-American Jeremy Maclin (2,776 all-purpose yards) will give opposing defenses all the trouble they can handle.
The Tigers have perfected the spread offense and have the best captain to run the offense in Daniel. With a shifty running back in Derrick Washington and four returning offensive linemen, the Tigers will light up the scoreboard.
Although not much of the success the Tigers had last season was credited to their defense, they return eight starters, including their top three tacklers—linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (130 tackles, first team All-Big 12), free safety William Moore (117 tackles, second team All-American), and linebacker Brock Christopher (106 tackles).
The Tigers begin the year with four games at home or on a neutral site. Out of their 12 regular season games, only four are away. The toughest task on the road for the Tigers this year will be at Texas on October 18. The Tigers do not play Oklahoma in the regular season and are hoping to win the feeble Big 12 North.
Turnovers played a key role in the Tigers' success last season at plus-13. If the Tigers find themselves with a negative turnover margin, they may struggle a bit.
Projected Record: 11-2 (one game over assigned total)
9. Florida
Over/Under Odds: 10 wins
Look for QB Tim Tebow to repeat as the Heisman winner and win his second BCS National Championship. Tebow is not only a threat through the air, but will beat you on the ground as well.
The spread attack offense implemented by head coach Urban Meyer wreaks havoc on opposing defensive coordinators because you basically pick your poison. Either you let Tebow sit in the pocket and pick you apart, or you bring the pressure and let him evade all of the defenders with the option attack.
It also helps to have USC transfer RB Emmanuel Moody in the backfield to take some pressure off Tebow and let him pound out his 1,000-yard season.
19 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Scott Tully 11 months ago
Don't worry Ricky already put money on all those teams. But I'm a also a degenerate gambler so what a surprise. I'm the type to bet a buddy the time you will leave a comment next.
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
"Utah- Over/Under Odds-8.5 wins
If the Ute’s can get by Michigan in the first week of the season at the Big House on August 30th, they will run the table the rest of the reason and cause problems for the BCS in yet another year. Utah is in a non-BCS conference (Mountain West), but has the opportunity to put some wins together with a strong offense and players returning from an injury plagued team last year. The Ute’s return 8 starters on offense and 6 on defense. Senior QB Brian Johnson will conduct the offense, but the bulk of the load will be relied on RB Darrell Mack (1,204 yards 12 TD’s) who is a can deliver a blow to any opposing tackler. The Ute’s run a spread offense with WR’s Brent Casteel and Brandon Godfrey being heavily relied on to catch shirt to intermediate passes and move the chains. K/P Louie Sakoda has unlimited range and can pin opponents deep into their territory. The backbone of the Ute’s offense will be their secondary led by CB Brice McCain, CB Sean Smith, and FS Robert Johnson. DL Paul Kruger and NT Aaron Tonga will secure the defensive line and try to clog up holes so LB Stevenson Sylvester can make plays. As mentioned earlier the toughest task for Utah will be their first game at Michigan. In conference play, the Ute’s travel to Air Force, Wyoming, New Mexico, and San Diego State. Utah hosts UNLV, Colorado State, and BYU. A non-conference game that may give the Ute’s trouble is Oregon State, but the game will be played at the Utah’s home turf. Newcomers for the Ute’s to have an impact are WR’s David Reed and Aiona Key, and DL Dave Kruger.
Projected Record: 13-0
Four and half games over assigned total."
Well, I DEFINITELY AGREE with you on this pick... I also predict that the Utah Utes will go 13-0, during the 2008 College Football season, lolz :)
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Scott Tully 11 months ago
Thanks Jimson for showing me some love. It's a rare thing for me on here.
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bowlbasaur golden bears 11 months ago
Looked good til I got to 13-0 Utah
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J. Michael Morris 11 months ago
I do think the Utes will finish over that line, but their toughest game of the season is always BYU and will be again this year. Brigham Young is less worried about Washington and UCLA than they are about playing Utah at home. The winner of the "Holy War" will play in a BCS bowl game this year.
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Scott Tully 11 months ago
Well coming from a CAL fan I don't really take anything you say serious. Every year you think your team will win the Pac-10. Still been over 50 years since a Rose Bowl. How about I say I took CAL serious until they got smacked to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl. Or after they beat the Vols and Ducks and then loosing to Stanford,ASU,UCLA, and Washington.
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Bob Saggot 11 months ago
Utah 13-0? Laughable! They will beat the odds. But mark this down, they will lose to Michigan, TCU, and of course to BYU. They will continue their bowl winning streak so at best they will be 10-3. I could see them dropping one to Wyoming as well .
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
I really think that the closest thing to a BCS buster, this season... is the Utah Utes. If Utah beats Michigan at their season opener... look for the Utes to run the table :)
Last season, the Utah Utes had injuries to its best qb, best running back, best reciever, and best offensive lineman, as well as other players... and Utah still beat UCLA 44-6. In addition, the Utes made it to a bowl game :)
The Utah Utes just simply played inconsistent, last season. However, if the Utes stay healthy this season, and play motivated... then even the Michigan Wolverines have little chance :)
In fact, I truly believe that Utah is a seriously underrated program, and that most people seem to have forgotten that the Utes were the origional BCS busters... and that they easily blew out the Pitt Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl, 4 years ago :)
Since the 2004 College Football season, however... the Utah Utes have struggled through injuries and inconsistent play with a young and sometimes questionable head coach. This season, Brian Johnson will play fully healthy for the first time since he was third in the nation in total offense, in 2005 :)
Along with pretty good recruitments, the Utah Utes look to me like the best non-BCS team in the nation. In fact, Utah was ranked 14th by Phil Steele in his preseason poll [and also in MY preseason poll]... with Fresno not even being ranked. Phil Steele is usually pretty close with his rankings year to year. The Utah Utes are looking pretty good this season :)
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Jeremy 11 months ago
Just to let everyone know for these Vegas over/under do not include Bowl games, which is what you did here.
Also, for Utah do not forget Matt Asiata who got hurt in game one and was to start ahead of Darrel Mack. Possible but will be tough with games @ Michigan, @ Wyoming, @ New Mexico, and of course the BYU game.
It would be cool if BYU and Utah were both 11-0 on the final weekend of the year, and ESPN or ABC would not be able to broadcast the game, because of the leagues TV deal.
Wonder how their coverage would be when the MWC left for their own tv deal
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Andy Lawson 11 months ago
Jeremy thats great knowledge. Asiata is 6'0" 235 powerful back will be a force for the Ute's along with Mack.
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Tim Pollock 11 months ago
Good idea for an article.
How'd you come up with a 10-3 record for South Carolina? What upsets do you see them pulling?
Also, Spurrier announced Tommy Beecher his starter after the Spring game.
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dustin noel 11 months ago
First off there is no such thing as a lock lol. But i do agree that the Utah bet does look like a pretty good one.
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Drew Roberts 11 months ago
Fresno won't beat Boise State. Boise State a) doesn't lose to the Bulldogs (well, maybe once) and b) doesn't lose at home. Taking Fresno in the November 28th showdown is a losing bet. FSU couldn't get it done AT HOME last year with the same O...they won't get it done on the blue. Bank on it.
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
I couldn't agree more with your comment :)
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Andy Lawson 11 months ago
Drew I respect your opinion, other than the fact you are probably a die-hard Bronco fan. Boise will stuggle after an earlier season loss at Oregon, as the O-Line will have problems all year long, as they return only one starter from the previous year. Ian Johnson is a solid back, but his O-Line has made him the player he has hyped to be. Without the surge from the line in recent years, look for Johnson to struggle a bit. The loss of QB Taylor Tharpe will hurt the Broncos as well, with red-shirt freshman Kellen Moore to get the nod in the opener against Idaho State, we will see how far he can take them.
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Chris Copeland 11 months ago
Um, just to let you guys know- these Season Total predictions that Vegas sets out are for the REGULAR Season ONLY- Conference Championships and Bowl Games don't come into play, rendering this list basically useless...
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BabyTate 11 months ago
Carolina #4 is great. Congratulations, you made my day.
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Scott Tully 11 months ago
Hum BabyTate. Thanks. Have a day. You don't have that raging alcoholic Blake Mitchell at quarterback anymore.
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David Pezzola 11 months ago
Scott, you of all people should know that your projections are worthless because you are counting bowl games...
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