Patrick Everson
FOX Sports activities Betting Analyst
With Week 0 set to kick off the school soccer season, it’s not simply the video games getting bettors’ consideration. Faculty Soccer Playoff odds are, in fact, fairly common. So, too, are the percentages for regular-season win totals.
Particularly for one workforce anticipated to be within the thick of the nationwide championship chase.
“Every little thing this summer season has been on Ohio State: To win the nationwide championship, to win the Huge Ten, to make the playoffs, to go undefeated and Over 10.5 wins,” BetMGM buying and selling supervisor Seamus Magee stated.
Magee shares his behind-the-counter insights on which groups are seeing essentially the most notable motion — each Over and Beneath — in school soccer regular-season win totals.
Season Win Totals: Over Motion
Ohio State
Ohio State is the consensus second alternative in odds to win the Faculty Soccer Playoff. BetMGM has the Buckeyes at +325, proper on the heels of +300 favourite Georgia.
So expectations are clearly excessive in Columbus. Ohio State clearing 10.5 wins within the common season would definitely assist meet these expectations.
Oddsmakers actually see it taking place. At BetMGM, Over 10.5 is a -175 favourite, that means it might take a $175 wager to revenue $100 ($275 complete payout). On the flip aspect, Beneath 10.5 is a +145 underdog. If you happen to assume the Buckeyes will win 10 video games or fewer, then a $100 wager would revenue $145 ($245 complete payout).
However early bettors are banking on the Over.
“Bettors [with us] cannot get sufficient of the Buckeyes, and I am unable to say I blame them,” Magee stated. “Every little thing popping out of Columbus seems like this may very well be a generational Ohio State protection.”
Nevertheless, a difficult Huge Ten schedule that now contains Oregon — sure, Oregon is within the Huge Ten — may make that eleventh win elusive.
“Quarterback Will Howard steps into the highlight now. And whereas the protection could make his job seemingly simple, video games towards Oregon, Penn State and Michigan are going to be true litmus checks for Howard and this offense,” Magee stated.
Nebraska
Keep in mind when Nebraska was all the time good? That consistency has light the previous few years. The Huskers completed sub-.500 every of the final seven seasons. In 2023, below new coach Matt Rhule, Nebraska went 5-7.
However oddsmakers and bettors are a bit extra optimistic this season. The Huskers’ season win complete is 7.5, with Over a -150 favourite and Beneath a +125 underdog.
“It’s one other 12 months of Nebraska hype. Nevertheless, it seems like Matt Rhule lastly has the Huskers entering into the suitable course,” Magee stated. “They convey in a extremely touted QB in Dylan Raiola and solely see Ohio State out of the highest groups within the Huge 10.”
Raiola is a real freshman, which actually provides to the Huskers’ problem. However once more, bettors are excessive on this squad for the time being.
“At BetMGM, Nebraska has been amongst everybody’s favourite sleeper groups for the Huge 10 and perhaps even a playoff spot. I undoubtedly do not [discount] this workforce successful eight video games. I belief Matt Rhule, particularly if Raiola is the actual deal.”
Indiana
You gained’t see a lot written this season about Indiana. Not in a Huge Ten that includes nationwide championship contender Ohio State, together with defending nationwide champion Michigan, perennially stable Penn State and now Oregon.
However early motion reveals bettors assume the Hoosiers can at the least go 6-6. BetMGM has Indiana’s regular-season win complete at 5.5, with Over at -150 and Beneath at +125. A brand new coach appears to be contributing to the optimism.
“Indiana employed Curt Cignetti away from James Madison, then hit the switch portal laborious. They’ve introduced in quite a few gamers to assist this system get off on the suitable foot with the brand new coach,” Magee stated. “Loads of bettors consider that the Hoosiers can get to a bowl in Yr 1 below Cignetti.”
The Hoosiers’ non-conference schedule — dwelling video games towards Florida Worldwide, Western Illinois and Charlotte — may get the Hoosiers midway to the Over.
“The non-conference schedule seems like three simple wins,” Magee stated. “However there are some Huge Ten video games that it seems like they must have in an effort to get there — Michigan State, Maryland, UCLA.”
Florida
Florida feels a bit like Nebraska as of late. The Gators are coming off a 5-7 marketing campaign and no bowl sport, whereas posting their third consecutive dropping season. Florida hasn’t reached double-digit wins since going 11-2 in 2019.
And this 12 months, expectations are very low. BetMGM has the Gators’ regular-season win complete at a meager 4.5. However the Over is at present a -155 favourite, and a good quantity of BetMGM clients see Florida at the least getting to 5 wins.
“It is a very fascinating one. We’re fairly lopsided on Over 4.5, for a workforce with the toughest schedule within the land,” Magee stated.
Certainly, the Gators have eight ranked groups on their 12-game schedule. That features a brutal five-week stretch to cap the season: vs. No. 1 Georgia (impartial web site), at No. 4 Texas, vs. No. 13 LSU, vs. No. 6 Ole Miss and at No. 10 Florida State.
“I suppose if you happen to get a season the place [QB] Grahm Mertz improves after final 12 months — when he was higher — then the Gators may shock some groups,” Magee stated. “There isn’t any denying the expertise on this roster. However the final 5 video games of the 12 months are only a gauntlet. There’s an actual world the place they lose 5 in a row off their bye.”
CFB Week 0 Participant Props: Oregon’s Evan Stewart and Dillon Gabriel
Common Season Win Totals: Beneath Motion
LSU
Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels moved on to the NFL and the Washington Commanders. As such, BetMGM has the Tigers’ regular-season win complete at simply 9, with Over a really slim -115 favourite and Beneath -105.
Magee sees a variety of prospects for coach Brian Kelly’s squad this season.
“I’ve lots of uncertainty about this LSU workforce. I may see the Tigers going wherever from 11-1 to 7-5,” he stated. “LSU has to switch a ton of manufacturing on the offensive aspect of the ball, and bettors at BetMGM do not see them successful 10 video games.
“The beginning of the schedule is gentle in comparison with what the again half entails, with journeys to Kyle Area (Texas A&M) and the Swamp (Florida), together with dwelling video games vs. ‘Bama and Oklahoma.”
The Tigers additionally host sixth-ranked Ole Miss this season.
Clemson
Dabo Swinney and Clemson grew to become fairly accustomed to double-digit-win seasons, together with CFP appearances. From 2011-2022, the Tigers posted 10 or extra wins (together with bowl/playoff video games) yearly.
Final 12 months, nonetheless, Clemson went simply 8-4 within the common season. So even a bowl win over Kentucky couldn’t hold the double-digit streak going. This season, BetMGM opened the Tigers’ regular-season win complete at 9.5, but it surely’s now all the way down to 9, with Over a modest -120 favourite.
“In lots of circumstances, I feel betting splits and cash on win totals can virtually function a referendum on a program. Within the age of NIL and the switch portal, Clemson didn’t add a single switch to its roster,” Magee stated.
That made Clemson the one FBS workforce that didn’t make the most of the switch portal.
“In flip, bettors flocked to Beneath 9.5 wins for Clemson. There’s nonetheless cash coming in on Beneath 9,” Magee stated.
Nevertheless, there are some shiny spots for the Tigers, and with them maybe a chance to eclipse their win complete.
“However, I am beginning to come round on this Clemson workforce. The Tigers convey again basically the entire offense and can hopefully get a continuity enhance on that entrance,” Magee stated. “In equity, the schedule does them no favors: Georgia in Atlanta for Week 1, at Virginia Tech late within the season, at Florida State.
“Fortunately for the Tigers, once they play Louisville and North Carolina State, these are each at dwelling and off bye weeks. I feel the hate has gotten a bit out of hand. This workforce remains to be able to successful 10 video games and making the ACC Championship Sport, for my part.”
Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets play within the first sport of the season, taking up ACC rival and Tenth-ranked Florida State on Saturday. It’s a neutral-site sport in Dublin, Eire, and Georgia Tech is a ten.5-point underdog.
So oddsmakers and bettors just about have already got the Yellow Jackets at 0-1. BetMGM opened Georgia Tech’s season win complete at 5.5, and it’s down to five, with Beneath a -115 favourite.
“Georgia Tech has in all probability the second- or third-hardest schedule within the nation and is seeing loads of nonbelievers in them attending to a bowl sport,” Magee stated. “Beneath 5.5 is likely one of the most-bet Unders we have had this offseason.”
The Yellow Jackets face 5 ranked groups. Together with the opener vs. Florida State, Georgia Tech meets No. 7 Notre Dame (impartial web site), hosts No. 19 Miami and No. 24 N.C. State, and finishes the season at No. 1 Georgia.
“It is simple to take a look at the schedule and say this workforce will not be enjoying in a bowl,” Magee stated. “However I like [coach] Brent Key. He’s actually constructing one thing with this workforce. Nevertheless, the Yellow Jackets should steal a couple of highway video games if they need any shot of creating a bowl.”
Patrick Everson is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports activities and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He’s a distinguished journalist within the nationwide sports activities betting area. He’s primarily based in Las Vegas, the place he enjoys {golfing} in 110-degree warmth. Observe him at @PatrickE_Vegas.
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