Best College Football Picks: Win Total plays for three teams for 2024

The 2024 college football season got underway with a limited slate last Saturday, but most teams open the season this week. (College football odds courtesy of DraftKings.)

YouBet.com has identified three win-total plays for the college football regular season

Clemson: Under 9 Regular-Season Wins (-105)

Clemson won six consecutive ACC titles from 2015-20 and a pair of national championships in 2016 and 2018, but the program has felt the departure of defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who left to be Oklahoma’s head coach after the 2021 season. Dabo Sweeney has never embraced the transfer portal or the name, image, and likeness process, putting Clemson at a disadvantage; the Tigers exit a 9-4 campaign. 

They will not take a big jump forward in 2024, with eight wins looming as a realistic win total, so the Tigers are overvalued. 

They lack depth at wide receiver, relying too heavily upon a pair of freshmen, and quarterback Cade Klubnik won’t carry them to double-digit wins. 

Along with adding top-ranked Georgia to the schedule, Clemson faces difficult assignments versus Louisville, NC State, and Virginia Tech — and don’t be surprised to see them stumble elsewhere.

Oklahoma: Over 7.5 Regular-Season Wins (-120)

One of the great defensive coordinators of the modern era, Brent Venables finally has the pieces in place defensively after a couple of seasons at the helm in Oklahoma. 

Look for a big jump forward on the stop side of the ball, while quarterback Jackson Arnold and running back Gavin Sawbuck lead an explosive offense. The Sooners will be 3-0 when Tennessee visits on Sept. 21, and watch out if they record an upset in that spot. Eight regular-season wins is more than viable in 2024.

Colorado: Under 5.5 Regular-Season Wins (+110)

Colorado figures to make some strides after fielding one of the worst offensive line in college football last year, but protection will still be an issue for its star quarterback. 

Depth is another major concern considering the difficulty of the schedule. Colorado will play the top five teams in the preseason Big 12 poll (Utah, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Kansas, and Arizona) and faces a difficult assignment at Nebraska in Week 2. 

Colorado must avoid being tripped up by FCS powerhouse North Dakota State in Saturday’s opener. The Buffaloes will be fortunate to finish 5-7.