Best Bets for College Football Win Total Matchups

by Mike Allen - 8/19/2024

The start of the 2024 college football season, or Zero Week as they call it, is just days away. We get our first look at the Florida State Seminoles as they travel along with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to the Emerald Isle of Ireland.

That should be a lot of fun. And after this game, we enter Week 1 of the CFB season. This year will be the first in which NCAA football has a 12-team playoff. Hopefully, we expand even further in the future, but this is plenty of fun for now.

Today, we are diving into some CFB win total betting odds, but it isn't the over/unders, like you think. We have best bets for matchups, including one between two CFB Championship contenders.

I like these odds for a few reasons, one being that a push and a return of our money is one of the outcomes, and, in some cases, the more likely outcome. So, we have a safety net of sorts for these matchup betting odds.

There are a lot of these matchup bets available. I went through as many as I could to find the hidden value. Let's dive in now to our best bets for CFB win total matchups.

Doc’s Sports offers college football expert picks for every game on our college football predictions page.

CFB Regular Season Win Total Matchup Best Bets

Penn State (-120) vs Notre Dame (-110)

Getting things started for us today is a couple of CFB Championship contenders. The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Penn State Nittany Lions are ranked 7th and 8th, respectively, in the AP Poll to start the 2024 season. The Football Power Index has the Nittany Lions slightly ahead at 6th, with the Irish 7th.

A lot has changed for Penn State. To start, the Big Ten is no longer 10. It is now made up of 18 football programs, including the additions of USC, Washington, and the Oregon Ducks. Thankfully for them, though, they don't have to play Oregon, who is ranked 3rd this year.

Penn State does, however, have to play the 2nd-ranked team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes. It will be in Happy Valley, though. As of now, this team will likely be favored in every game other than this one, even on the road against the USC Spartans. The Nittany Lions have an easy schedule.

Many people feel the same about Notre Dame as well. They also travel to Southern Cal. So those two games cancel out. The Irish start the season with a trip to College Station, where they are currently (+128) underdogs.

Thankfully, there won’t be any Duck hunting until potentially the playoff for Penn State, and they cash this bet for us.

Pick: Notre Dame

Virginia Tech (-175) vs Iowa State (+145)

I love my Hokies, but the hype they're receiving this year is a bit much. I would love to see it, but Virginia Tech is not the program they used to be. They have one 10-win season in the past decade, and in that time averaged only 7 wins per season.

Tech does have a very light schedule this season. That can’t be denied. Last year, though, they lost to Purdue, Marshall, NC State, Louisville, and Rutgers. Yes, Rutgers. The Hokies lost that game 35-16.

On the other side, we have Iowa State. The Cyclones beat everyone they were supposed to last season, minus a Week 3 10-7 loss to Ohio. At least the defense showed up.

Iowa State has too many tough road games, though, for me to pick them over the Hokies. Trips to Utah, Kansas, and Iowa could be three losses. Hosting the Kansas State Wildcats at the end of the season won't be easy either. Add in a hiccup of their own, and the juice for the Hokies becomes worth the squeeze.

Pick: Virginia Tech

Boise State (-140) vs Memphis (+110)

Nobody is talking about Boise State to secure a spot in the CFB Playoff this season. Experts do have them to win nine games, though, this year. The Broncos kick off the season with a trip west to Eugene to play the Oregon Ducks.

As long as they walk out of Week 1 without any significant injuries, they are likely to be the betting favorite for the remainder of their schedule. Let's give them one hiccup. That makes 10 wins.

The Memphis Tigers have a similar schedule. They travel to Tallahassee, which will most likely be a loss, and don't have a lot of challengers left after that. The Tigers didn't smash everyone, though. They had close wins over Charlotte, Navy, South Florida, and North Texas. They have to play all these teams this year in potential revenge spots. This one is close, but give me the proven program.

Pick: Boise State

Appalachian State (-150) vs North Carolina (+120)

Wow, I guess the word is out on Appalachian State this season. Their odds of winning more games than the Tar Heels have soared to (-150). That's quite the investment for a team that opens the season in Death Valley opposite the Clemson Tigers.

Things calm down considerably after that, however. Outside of hosting the Liberty Flames, App State has a pretty easy schedule. They are a 10-win team this year, and I don’t know if the Carolina Tar Heels can match that.

UNC lost their starting quarterback to the New England Patriots in the NFL Draft. Drake Maye will be missed. However, with the ACC having a potential down year, Carolina could make a push. The schedule looks easy now.

I can’t imagine the team is better this year after losing their quarterback to the 3rd pick in the draft. They lost their final three games of last season with the guy. I am fading the Heels here opposite App State.

Pick: Appalachian State

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Best Bets for College Football Win Total Matchups

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