College Football Odds: Ranking the Top 25 with Las Vegas 2024 win totals
The AP poll will not be released until August but it’s not too early to start thinking about the top 25 teams heading into the 2024 college football season. Looking through the eyes of the oddsmakers, preseason win totals via Fan Duel is a way to see who Vegas thinks are due to a good year.
Usual suspects are at the top of the list, with there not being a real surpsie on who the oddsmakers expect to have the best seasons. Nobody is currently slated higher than 10.5 wins, not requiring any team to go undefeated in order to hit the over.
Either way, a new era of college football should be some more intruguie into the sport. Conference realignment and the 12-team College Football Playoff is finally here. If a few of the teams at the top can meet expectations, they will be competing for the national championship in December and January.
Georgia Bulldogs – 10.5
Georgia might have been on the outside in from a College Football Playoff standpoint but was still one of the best teams in the country. Nothing is expected to change moving forward, with Kirby Smart returning a good core.
The Bulldogs have gone over 10 regular season wins in all but two seasons — his first in Athens and the COVID-19-shortened year. No program has been as consistent over the last few seasons.
Ohio State Buckeyes – 10.5
Ryan Day is under a little fire despite having a tremendous amount of success on paper. But a three-game losing streak to Michigan and no CFP wins will bring pressure to your job at Ohio State.
There has been some turnover in the coaching staff, with Chip Kelly being the program’s latest offensive coordinator hire. Everyone in Columbus hopes it leads to the over-10.5 hitting and that it does not include a Michigan loss.
Oregon Ducks – 10.5
Oregon may be moving to the Big Ten but they are still expected to be in the national championship race. A whole new era is coming and the Ducks are attempting to make the transition quite smooth.
Dan Lanning has done nothing but acquire talent since arriving in Eugene. After coming up short in his first two seasons, the 2024 squad might be the best he’s assembled yet.
Texas Longhorns – 10.5
Texas left the Big 12 in style, winning the program’s first conference championship since 2009. It led to the Longhorns getting into the College Football Playoff and being one play away from a national title game appearance.
A new beast is coming though, with the SEC waiting for Texas on the other side. Even so, the oddsmakers expect another successful season on the 40 Acres.
Alabama Crimson Tide – 9.5
This time last season, getting Alabama at 9.5 wins would be considered a steal. However, with Nick Saban retiring, there are quite a few questions surrounding the program at the moment.
Kalen DeBoer will want to win right away in Tuscaloosa but the schedule is a bit more difficult than usual. The last time Alabama finished with less than 10 wins was 2007 — Saban’s first year in charge.
Clemson Tigers – 9.5
Dabo Swinney told us to buy stock in Clemson and the early returns in 2023 were nice. People who invested in the program can really cash in this fall, with the Tigers hoping to return to college football’s elite.
Clemson did not even make the ACC Championship, the second occurrence of such in three years. Big expectations are ahead in 2024 in what feels to be a critical year for the program.
Florida State Seminoles – 9.5
The heartbreak from not making this year’s College Football Playoff will not be forgotten in Tallahassee but hopefully, it’s turned into motivation. Mike Norvell is hoping to prove a ton moving forward and is hoping to get another chance at competing for a national championship.
You have to go back to the end of the Jimbo Fisher days to find Florida State winning at least 10 games three years in a row. Norvell has the program moving in the right direction and going over would be meeting the standard he’s set.
Kansas State Wildcats – 9.5
The new-look Big 12 is seemingly wide open but Kansas State is a popular candidate to have success during the 2024 season. Quarterback Avery Johnson certainly helps the cause, impressing during his first start vs. NC State in the Pop Tarts Bowl.
Kansas State was consistent in the conference even before Texas and Oklahoma left. Chris Klieman is now hoping to become the Class of the Big 12.
LSU Tigers – 9.5
LSU could not be worse on defense in 2024 if they wanted to. It was historically bad for the program and Brian Kelly brought in a completely new staff to clean up the mess.
But there is still confidence moving forward thanks to Garrett Nussmeier taking over the offense in place of Jayden Daniels. Kelly has impressed in his two seasons in Baton Rouge and has the opportunity to do so again.
Miami Hurricanes – 9.5
Mario Cristobal has not fully gotten the ball rolling quite yet, having a 12-13 record in two years at Miami. A big season is ahead of the Hurricanes and the positive results likely need to start stacking up.
Having a total of 9.5 proves the oddsmakers have some confidence in Miami, potentially having a breakout year.
Michigan Wolverines – 9.5
The reigning national champions will have to move forward without Jim Harbaugh. Sherrone Moore will be taking over after serving as the interim head coach for six games during the title run.
As of February, the current question surrounding Michigan is getting the coaching staff filled. Multiple guys have left with Harbaugh to Los Angeles. Once the Wolverines are settled, the title campaign will officially kick off.
Missouri Tigers – 9.5
Missouri was the SEC’s breakout team in 2023 but Eli Drinkwitz knows sustained success is going to be the goal moving forward. Momentum is certainly rolling in Columbia and at the right time.
There is some turnover taking place in the program, both on the roster and coaching staff. Expectations are still going to be high, though. Not just from the fanbase but the oddsmakers as well.
Ole Miss Rebels – 9.5
Hello, this is everyone’s sleeper pick to win the SEC next season. Lane Kiffin reestablished himself as the Portal King, building up the Ole Miss roster to a level it’s never been at.
Now, everyone in the Sip is hoping it can result in a first-ever SEC championship appearance. Not having divisions will certainly help the Rebels as the likes of Alabama and Auburn are not on the schedule.
Penn State Nittany Lions – 9.5
Penn State has been good hitting the over 9.5 recently, going 10-2 in three out of the last five seasons. Those two losses are what’s eating James Franklin inside though, continually falling to the Big Ten’s top programs.
Drew Allar returns and has the opportunity to be the difference for Penn State. A former five-star prospect will need to play up to his potential to take the Nittany Lions to a new level.
Utah Utes – 9.5
Like Kansas State, Utah is thought to be a team that can have success in the newly expanded Big 12. Success came in the Pac-12 and the Utes are positioned to have a nice transition.
Kyle Whittingham is thought to be one of the most underrated head coaches in college football due to his accomplishments in Salt Lake City. Most likely a popular pick to represent the Big 12 in the playoff next season.
Other notable win totals for 2024 season
- Arizona 8.5
- Kansas 8.5
- Louisville 8.5
- NC State 8.5
- Tennessee 8.5
- Texas A&M 8.5
- Texas Tech 8.5
- UCF 8.5
- Auburn 7.5
- Iowa 7.5
- Iowa State 7.5
- Maryland 7.5
- Nebraska 7.5
- Oklahoma 7.5
- Oklahoma State 7.5
- SMU 7.5
- TCU 7.5
- Virginia Tech 7.5
- USC 7.5
- Washington 7.5
The win totals can certainly change between now and late August. Spring practice still has to occur and there is another NCAA transfer portal window. Rosters are not completely set and a surprise is surely in store before the summer arives.