To start off, we have a shocker: Alabama and Ohio State, the two marquee programs in college football and with arguably the two best recruiting head coaches in Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, are tied for the lead on college footballs odds on 2017 win totals at 10.5.
With this in mind, here are some totals I recommend. Keep in mind these totals are just for the regular season. No conference title games or bowls are included.
2017 College Football Odds for Total Season Wins
Five programs off to hot starts on 2018 recruiting https://t.co/QbIVmUpDXI Five programs off to cold starts https://t.co/qd7Qbz6fn8 pic.twitter.com/9taSq892Ot
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) June 20, 2017
Michigan State Spartans (Predicted College Football Odds 6.5 Wins)
Things started going downhill for Coach Mark Dantonio’s program in the 2015 College Football Playoff. Sparty was 11-2 and the Big Ten champion when it ran into Alabama and was slaughtered. That loss seemed to set the program back immediately and it didn’t help that three-year starting QB Connor Cook left for the NFL. Plus, MSU finished 3-9 last year, by far its worst record under Dantonio and this offseason, hence several players leaving the team or been kicked off due to off-field issue. At this time, the most recent to leave was Vayante Copeland. They lost a cornerback who started seven games over the last two seasons. Earlier this year, he received a third chance to enter a court-sponsored diversionary program after being charged with marijuana possession in 2015.Which Other Players Aren’t on the MSU Squad This Season?
The number of underclassmen leaving Michigan State with eligibility remaining this offseason is at 11. Four players were dismissed after being charged with sexual assault: Donnie Corley (one of top freshmen receivers in Big Ten last year), Josh King, Auston Robertson and Demetric Vance. Corley played in all 12 games as a true freshman, and was one of only two to play in the team’s season opener. He finished second on the team in receiving yards, with 453, plus third in catches with 33 and third in touchdowns with three. Malik McDowell, the team’s best defensive player, and Montae Nicholson left for the NFL. Linebacker Jon Reschke departed after making what he called an insensitive comment about a former teammate. Dantonio has his work cut out. Still, I’d go over here as Sparty has a pretty tame schedule and should be able to finish 7-5. But it’s going to be a tough season for Michigan State. We’ll just have to wait and see.West Virginia Mountaineers (Predicted College Football Odds 7 Wins)
Do you remember Will Grier? He was a very promising young quarterback at Florida two seasons ago but then was suspended for a year and transferred to West Virginia after being slapped with a one-year suspension by the NCAA for a positive PED test midway through his freshman season in 2015. But since sitting all of last year as a transfer, the Mountaineers pursued a waiver with the NCAA so that Grier would be eligible for the opener instead of sitting out until Game 7. On its official Twitter account Tuesday, WVU confirmed that Grier will be eligible to play in the Sept 3 neutral-site opener versus Virginia Tech in Maryland.
Is Will Grier a Good Choice?
Taking into consideration the previous statement, coming off a solid spring, he’s expecting to start at quarterback for the Mountaineers. As a freshman, Grier played in Florida’s first six games of 2015, starting five of them. The Gators began that season with a 6-0 record. He completed 106 of 161 passes for 1,204 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions before his suspension. If you have a good QB, you have everything. Go over for WVU.Mississippi State Bulldogs ( Predicted College Football Odds 5.5 Wins)
This total seems crazy low. Yes, I realize the Bulldogs play in the crazy-tough SEC, but considering Mississippi State has a rising star at quarterback in Nick Fitzgerald. Last year as a sophomore, he delivered one of the most remarkable seasons by a first-year starter in SEC history. Fitzgerald started all 13 games and broke nine school records. Notably, he was leading the SEC in total offensive yards (3,798), rushing touchdowns (16) and 100-yard rushing games (8). Fitzgerald was responsible for 37 touchdowns – 21 passing and 16 rushing – which was second in the SEC and third in school history behind only Dak Prescott. Also, he was second nationally to only Heisman winner Lamar Jackson in 100-yard passing/100-yard rushing games (7).How Well Has Nick Fitzgerald Played With the Bulldogs?
The single-season school records were yards per rush (7.1), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,375), 100-yard rushing games (8) and 100-yard rushing games by a QB. He also set SEC records by a QB in 100-yard rushing games and average yards per rush. For instance, the former 3-star recruit attempted just 78 passes as a high school senior because his team ran the triple option. And before that season, he played wide receiver. He only had two scholarship offers. Go over here.Upcoming College Football Schedule
Michigan State Spartans
- Saturday, September 2nd vs Bowling Green Falcons. 1:00pm ET
- Saturday, September 9th vs Western Michigan Broncos. 4:30pm ET
- Saturday, September 23rd vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 9:00pm ET
- Saturday, September 30th vs Iowa Hawkeyes. Time TBD
- Saturday, October 7th @ Michigan Wolverines. Time TBD
West Virginia Mountaineers
- Saturday, September 2nd @ Virginia Tech Hokies. 8:30pm ET
- Saturday, September 9th vs East Carolina Pirates. 1:00pm ET
- Saturday, September 16th vs Delaware State Hornets. 1:00pm ET
- Saturday, September 23rd @ Kansas Jayhawks. Time TBD
- Saturday, October 7th @ TCU Horned Frogs. Time TBD
Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Saturday, September 2nd vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers. Time TBD
- Saturday, September 9th @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. 8:30pm ET
- Saturday, September 16th vs LSU Tigers. 8:00pm ET
- Saturday, September 23rd @ Georgia Bulldogs. Time TBD
- Saturday, September 30th @ Auburn Tigers. Time TBD
