2024 College Football Futures
2024 College Football Futures
We are less than a week until Week 0’s official kickoff to the 2024 college football season. Week 0 has just four games, with the highlight coming in Dublin, Ireland as #10 Florida State takes on Georgia Tech. But before we consume hours of meaningful football this Saturday, let’s take a look at some college football win totals and a College Football Playoff odds. Here are my favorite 2024 college football futures.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of 8/19. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
More: The WORST Pick In Every Round Of 2024 Fantasy Football Drafts
Northwestern Under 4.5 Wins (+100)
No one had as crazy of an offseason entering the 2023 season than the Northwestern Wildcats. Long time head coach Pat Fitzgerald was let go in mid July after news broke of a hazing scandal under his watch. David Braun was hired as defensive coordinator after the 2022 season, and by default due to no connection with the program during the scandal, was promoted to interim head coach. A 5-5 start helped him earn the permanent job. With that said, I think it could be a rude awakening in his second season.
Northwestern was 5-1 in one possession games in 2023. A large portion of this could be contributed to a +13 turnover margin, the 3rd best mark in the country behind Michigan and Penn State. Quarterback Ben Bryant graduated, and Brendan Sullivan, who started for a month, transferred to Iowa. It appears there is a current quarterback competition between junior Jack Lausch and Mississippi State senior transfer Mike Wright. I think this team will regress in the turnover luck and one possession games. Pairing that with a new signal caller, it could be a long Big Ten season for Northwestern. I’m on their under 4.5 wins for the 2024 college football futures.
Liberty Over 10.5 Wins (-125)
Liberty returns quarterback Kaidon Salter and running back Quinton Cooley, the duo who helped Liberty lead FBS last year in rushing (293.3 YPG). The conference is abysmal; only two of the other nine are expected to make a bowl game according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Both of those teams – Arkansas State and Western Kentucky – have to travel to Lynchburg to play Liberty. The Flames outscored conference opponents by 16.4 PPG last year.
Their nonconference schedule is a cakewalk outside of a trip to Boone, North Carolina to take on Appalachian State. Outside of that, Liberty will likely be a double-digit favorite in their remaining 11 games. I believe Jamey Chadwell will have the Flames flirting with a perfect regular season, similar to 2023.
More: 2024 Running Back Value: RB1 Without the Premium
Miami (FL) Under 9 Wins (+105)
The Hurricanes added some big names in the transfer portal, including former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward and Oregon State running back Damien Martinez. This top-10 transfer class has built up the hype around ‘the U’ as Miami is ranked in the AP Preseason Poll for the first time since 2020. However, I have my concerns about Miami being back to national relevance.
This is Mario Christobal’s third season in Miami, and they have entered each year with at least a top-12 transfer portal class according to 247Sports. Yet, they have been 12-12 in the first two regular seasons under Christobal. In both years, Miami has finished 3-5 in ACC play. This includes an inexcusable loss to Georgia Tech, where the head coach neglected to take a knee to win the game and eventually surrendered a game-losing touchdown with two second remaining. This also happened when he coached at Oregon.
Yes, the talent is there in Miami across all positions. But can Christobal put together a double-digit win season in Miami? Until I see it, I’ll still question his coaching decisions. That is the largest reason I’m on the under for Miami’s win total for my 2024 college football futures.
SMU Over 8.5 Wins (+120)
As SMU enters the ACC, they are not a typical Group of Five program jumping to a power conference. SMU is coming off an 8-0 AAC where their average margin of victory was 28.9 PPG. This team returns 14 of 22 starters from a team that went 11-3 in 2023, including starting quarterback Preston Stone and six of their top seven receivers.
The defensive side of the ball should stay solid in 2024. SMU finished 12th last year in YPG allowed (299.5) and scoring (17.4). They return six starters on that side of the ball and return defensive coordinator Scott Symons. SMU did lose a pair of corners and part of the defensive line, but transfers will look to fill the void.
SMU has a favorable schedule in nonconference, with the only road trip coming at Nevada. The Mustangs are a 27-point favorite in their Week 0 road contest. They will look to avenge one of their two losses in 2023 when they host TCU in Week 4. Florida State and Louisville will be tough opponents to start ACC play. But the Mustang’s last six games in conference play come against the bottom eight of the conference, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
More: Zero RB Targets for 2024 Fantasy Football
Oklahoma Under 7.5 Wins (+100)
Oklahoma has the defense Sooner fans expected when Brent Venables arrived in Norman two years ago. They return 11 of their 13 top tacklers from a year ago. Oklahoma recorded 24 sacks last year; returning players account for 17.5 sacks. The 19 interceptions on the defensive side of the ball was second most in 2023; they return players who accounted for 17 of interceptions.
My concern with Oklahoma is the offense. Dillon Gabriel transferred to Oregon, leaving former five-star Jackson Arnold to replace him. He will play behind an offensive line with plenty of question marks. The biggest one being the jump from a conference in the Big 12 not known for defense, to the SEC that produces first round talent across all defensive positions annually. Oklahoma will start Gavin Sawchuk at running back. He got hot late in 2023, but has just 122 carries under his belt. Outside of returning Jalil Farooq at receiver and adding Deion Burks from Purdue in the transfer portal, Arnold’s supporting cast has plenty of question marks.
My last point against Oklahoma: their conference play in the SEC is a massive jump from the Big 12. The Sooners are one of nine SEC teams ranked in the Preseason AP Poll. Six of their eight conference games are against other ranked teams. Oklahoma has played just six ranked games (3-3) in Venables two years at Oklahoma. I believe the change in conference realignment, paired with the question marks on offense, could make it a long year for the Sooners in year one. For that reason, I have their under 7.5 wins on my 2024 college football futures card.
Tennessee to Make College Football Playoff (+170)
It’s officially the Nico Iamaleava era in Knoxville. The former five-star prospect played well in his first start in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa. Tennessee returns their lead receiver Squirrel White, another starter in Bru McCoy, and Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell II. The Volunteers also return three starters from last year’s offensive line.
While the Tennessee offense could be great, the defense could be one of the best in the SEC. James Pearce Jr. leads the charge; he recorded 9.5 sacks last season. The Volunteers led the SEC with 101 tackles for loss and finished second with 41 sacks. They return three starters on their defensive line, but their secondary could be a concern. Tennessee lost 10 players to the transfer portal or NFL Draft last offseason.
If Tennessee can get the secondary up and running in nonconference play, this team can compete with Georgia atop the SEC. Playing in a conference that is expected to receive multiple College Football Playoff invites, I believe Tennessee will have the opportunity to prove they belong. I like the Tennessee Volunteers to get an at-large invite to the College Football Playoffs at plus money for my 2024 college football future.
What is your favorite future play ahead of the 2024 college football season? Let me know on X!
Follow @drewroberts_ and let’s discuss any football topic you’d like
RANKINGS | REDRAFT | DYNASTY |
Fantasy Football Season Is NOW At Underdog. Sign up and draft now! Use Promo-Code: YARDSPER to claim your Special Pick + First Time Deposit offer up to $250 in bonus cash!
