By Brent Bowden
Oklahoma State
7.5, O -134
OVER
The Cowboys finished last season with a 10-4 record and an invite to the Big 12 title game. With few changes to the roster or coaching staff, it’s logical to assume they can get there again. Mike Gundy remains one of the most consistent coaches across the sport and the program is returning its entire starting offense and most of the starting defense.
It doesn’t hurt that reigning Big 12 champions Texas and perennial powerhouse Oklahoma are both heading to the SEC, clearing a path for new programs to rise to the top of the conference.
UCLA
5.5, U -110
UNDER
The Big 10 schedule makers didn’t do UCLA any favors. First-time head coach DeShaun Foster and the Bruins play in three challenging environments (Penn State, Washington, Nebraska). On top of that, they play in Baton Rouge versus LSU very early in the season when conditions will be less than optimal.
The home slate isn’t any better. UCLA will host an ungenerous Iowa defense, a capable upstart in Fresno State, extremely talented and deep Oregon, and crosstown rival USC. Many have this schedule listed among the nation’s most difficult along with Florida and Oklahoma.
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Penn State
9.5, O -172
OVER
Teams like Penn State will benefit the most from the expanded playoff format. While this opens new opportunities, it comes at the same time that the Big Ten is growing by adding four Pac-12 programs. Michigan moves off the schedule, although a tricky trip to Los Angeles looms in October to face USC. Their toughest task by far will be hosting Ohio State at Beaver Stadium in early November.
In the last eight seasons, Penn State has finished the regular season 10-2 five times and ended 11-2 overall four times. That provides confidence for that number hitting again.
Tennessee
9.5, U -160
UNDER
Tennessee’s minefield schedule features an early test against NC State in Charlotte. If they can clear that, there’s still a visit to Norman later in September in a game where the Vols are widely seen as an underdog by most books.
Tennessee hosts Alabama in October and goes to Athens in November, but the schedule isn’t necessarily manageable beyond that. Florida and Kentucky will both likely get their punches in and Arkansas always seems to have athlete mismatches at pivotal positions when the two programs meet.
While the Vols only play four games away from Knoxville in 2024, they’ve only cleared 10 wins five times since 2000, making the under a smart bet.
Louisville
8.5, O -110
OVER
Despite losing their last three games in 2023, Louisville finished Jeff Brohm’s first year as head coach with a 10-4 record. A 7-1 conference run led to the program’s first-ever ACC Championship Game. It marked the Cardinals’ first double-digit win season since 2013.
Brohm and his staff have been incredibly active this offseason. Louisville not only brought in a Top 50 high school recruiting class but also had one of the premier transfer portal groups.
Since 2014, 18 of the 31 teams that entered the season with a win total of 8.5 ended up getting nine victories or more. Ten of those 31 teams finished the season in the Associated Press Top-25 poll. Could we see the same for Louisville?
Betting information all provided by fanduel.com
