Oddsmakers have released win totals for the 2016 college football season.
I’ll take a look at each power conference and pick the teams with the best chances to earn the over and the under. Here’s my look at two teams in the ACC destined for the over in 2016.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, over/under 6.5 (+100 over/-120 under)
Something doesn’t quite add up with this win total. It’s juiced to the under, despite many experts having the Yellow Jackets in the top-25 and expected to compete for a divisional crown.
Maybe I’m too sold on Georgia Tech bouncing back from a three-win, but I don’t see this over as a problem. Georgia Tech’s season snowballed downhill last year after losing to Notre Dame in week 3.
But the Yellow Jackets should be back in full this season with Justin Thomas returning at quarterback.
The offense is never the problem. It’s the defense that has had its issues in the past. This year’s unit can’t possibly be any worse than last year’s squad, so I have to believe the defense will feature an upgrade.
Overall, though, I’m a big believer in good coaches making a difference in college football. Paul Johnson has shown in the past to be the difference-marker for Georgia Tech, so I’ll follow his lead with a much-improved campaign.
Hammer the over for the Yellow Jackets and thank me later. — Over
North Carolina Tar Heels, over/under 8.5 (-125 over/+105 under)
North Carolina feasted on a weak ACC last year and should reap the same benefits this year.
Other than two road games against Miami and Florida State and neutral field game against Georgia, the Tar Heels should be favored in every game this season. The offense will be good again, with an experienced offensive line and quarterback Mitch Trubisky ready to be a solid contributor in his first year as a starter.
The defense shouldn’t be any worse than last season, in which it improved mightily from 2014 to 2015.
Larry Fedora has created a consistent machine in North Carolina that shouldn’t stop this season. It would be a major disappointment if the Tar Heels aren’t on the field for the ACC Championship at season’s end. — OverÂ