College Football Betting Totals to Consider for the Over in 2017

College Football Betting Totals to Consider for the Over in 2017

Written by on August 11, 2017

Who is the most underrated coach in college football today? CBS Sports took a poll of about 20 percent of the current 130 FBS coaches and the winner of that poll with 24 percent of the vote was K-State’s Bill Snyder. I’d have to agree with that – if you have ever been to Manhattan, Kansas, it’s a wasteland. How Snyder built a consistent winner there is a miracle. His Wildcats are among three of my best win totals over season betting odds pick for this College Football betting season.

College Football Betting Totals to Consider for the Over in 2017

Kansas State Wildcats (8 Wins)

Snyder is in his second go-round with KSU after a retirement for a few years. His second career began after Ron Prince went 17-20 as his successor. Snyder returned in 2009 and has won 66 games and another conference title (2012). KSU went 21-5 in 2011-12, then won nine games in both 2014 and 2016. In fact, the Wildcats found their offensive rhythm midseason and won six of their final seven games. Is this 26th season in charge of the Wildcats his last? Snyder, 77, battled throat cancer this offseason, powering through to miss little time in spring practice.

How Well Was the Squad Last Year?

Last year, the Wildcats had 135 starts by underclassmen, the most ever under Snyder as he usually relies on juco players. This year, he also has 14 returning starters to work with and his usual juco infusion, making this one of his stronger teams. In quarterback Jesse Ertz and running back Alex Barnes (plus fullback Winston Dimel), KSU has one of the most efficient, physical, and dynamic offensive backfields in college football. With versatile playmaker Byron Pringle and speedster Dominique Heath back at receiver, along with Cal transfer Carlos Strickland and a handful of up-and- coming deep threats, this has the makings of K-State’s best offense in years. The schedule includes a tough midseason stretch, but Kansas State gets Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma and West Virginia at home. Cats go 9-3.

Latest College Football Betting Trends

  • Odds to Win 2018 National Championship: +5500
  • Odds to Win Big 12 Conference: +450
  • Odds to Win Big 12 Division: TBA
  • 2017-18 Regular Season Wins: O 8 -140 / U 8 +110

Miami Hurricanes (9)

The U is almost back under Coach Mark Richt! The Hurricanes expect greater things from the starting linebacker trio of Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud, who last year were the only trio of true freshmen in the nation to start at linebacker (and first in UM history). With those newcomers (and true freshman Jackson) logging heavy time, the Canes rose from 106th in tackles for a loss to fifth, 115th in yards per rush allowed to 17th, 86th in yards per play allowed to ninth and 77th in points allowed to 12th.

Who Will Be the Quarterback?

QB Brad Kaaya is gone, but whoever wins the starting QB job has talent around him. Ahmmon Richards was perhaps the best No. 2 receiver in the country as a freshman, combining a 61 percent catch rate with a nearly 20-yard average per catch. He’s the No. 1 now. Explosive running back Mark Walton rushed for 1,100 yards as a sophomore. Should you choose on the Over for Miami as a College Football Pick this season? Five offensive linemen have combined for 86 career starts. Freshman QB N’Kosi Perry is all most Miami fans want to talk about as the Hurricanes eye a Coastal Division title. So is Perry — whom Richt repeatedly has mentioned in the same breath as Charlie Ward — worth the hype? It would be a lot to ask of any true freshman to come in and flourish right away. But if Perry can be a weapon in the run game and make a few downfield passes each game, the rest of the talent on the roster should be good enough to win the division.

Will the Offense Be Better This Season?

The Canes should have one of the nation’s better offensive lines even after center Nick Linder decided to sit out this season and transfer from Miami to another school to play in 2018. As a matter of fact, Linder started the first eight games last season before a shoulder injury forced him to miss the rest of the year and spring practice. Tyler Gauthier opened fall camp as the first-team center, but Linder was the most experienced center on the team by far. Although they have a tough matchup with FSU in Week 3 but after that, they could be favored in every remaining game. Miami doesn’t have to play either Clemson or Louisville. Miami finishes 10-2.

Latest College Football Betting Trends

  • Odds to Win 2018 National Championship: +7000
  • Odds to Win ACC Conference: +650
  • Odds to Win ACC Coastal Division: EV
  • 2017-18 Regular Season Wins: O 9 -130 / U 9 +100

College Football Betting Totals to Consider for the Under in 2017

Utah Utes (6.5)

This seems odd considering Utah has one of the best coaches in the nation in Kyle Whittingham, who has won at least nine games each of the last three years. Plus, the Utes have a manageable schedule that includes three winnable out-of-conference games (at BYU, San Jose State and North Dakota) and four of their final six games at home. In fact, the Utes have a returning starter at quarterback in Troy Williams, who passed for 2,757 yards with 15 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, rushing for an additional 5 touchdowns last season. The Utes restock the defensive line year after year with productive players. Utah ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12 in rushing defense last season and tied for eighth in the country with 43 sacks. Utah might not win 9 again but it will get to at least 7.

Latest College Football Betting Trends

  • Odds to Win 2018 National Championship: TBA
  • Odds to Win Pac-12 Conference: +1000
  • Odds to Win Pac-12 South Division: +1000
  • 2017-18 Regular Season Wins: O 6½ +110 / U 6½ -140