BetUs.com has recently posted over/under odds on season win totals for a number of college football programs this season. We will be doing a series of articles in which we briefly preview each team that has been posted and provide a prediction of whether they will go over or under the posted number of wins. The articles to come will be grouped by conference for reference sake. We will start with three teams out of the SEC.
Florida Gators: Over 11 Wins -105 , Under 11 Wins -135
Everyone has the Gators posted as their pre-season pick to win the National Championship in ’09 and so do I. This is an extremely talented team that went 13-1 last season, won the National Championship, and returns 18 starters. That’s right, 18! Tim Tebow, college football’s Mr. Everything has returned and the entire defense is back along with all 11 back ups. This is a very dangerous team and I think will land right on the number 11. LSU has huge revenge set for the Gators this season after being blown out 51-21 last season. That one loss pulls the Gators to 11-1. Every thing would have to go perfect for the defending champs in order for an UNDER bet not to cash. I just do not see perfection on the menu 2 years in a row for Urban Meyer and the Gators. Take the UNDER on Florida.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Over 9½ Wins +120 , Under 9½ Wins -160
I think the odds makers have pinpointed this line right on the money. The Crimson Tide only return four starters on offense and will be extremely inexperienced at the quarterback position as John Parker Wilson has graduated. The defense will be very stout as they return nine starters from a unit that was very good a season ago. Make no mistake about it, Nick Saban will be relying on his defense this season to win games. I have them penciled in for 9 regular season wins. They start out the season against a very good Virginia Tech team who could spoil the season opener for Alabama. I also think they will lose at Mississippi. The next two toughest games are both at home which I think they will spit against Tennessee and LSU. They will beat Tennessee and possibly let down the following week and lose at home to LSU. I’ll take the Under -160 as a potential lack of offensive cohesion may stifle Alabama early on in the 2009 season.
Auburn Tigers: Over 7½ Wins +170 , Under 7½ Wins -230
Auburn lost six of their last seven games last season and finished just 5-7 overall. I expect them to be better this season as they return 15 starters. However, new head coach Gene Chizik has his work cut out for him. The Tigers will face four teams likely to be rated in the Top 15 this year. They are at LSU and at Georgia. Meanwhile, they will face both Mississippi and Alabama at home. Throw in a non-conference game against West Virginia and you’re looking at a pretty tough road to 8 wins. I think they could win 7 but not 8. I say they stay under the posted total of 7½ wins as they have to find an identity on offense.
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