All the spring games have come and gone, and now it’s time to start looking at win totals for the 2023 college football season. There is a lot that goes into betting season-long win totals. Who’s coming in and replacing the players that left, serious injuries, new coaching staff, schedule? There’s so much. But I do have a few teams that I expect to go over their win total. So, let’s dive right into my picks.
2023 College Football Win Total Predictions
Georgia Over 11.5 Wins (+116)
Yes, I am projecting Georgia to finish undefeated and finish 12-0 for a third straight season. The only way you can bet this team is toward the over. The Bulldogs have the talent, the coaching staff, and their schedule isn’t difficult at all.
Georgia is once again the most talented team in the country. Even with all the players they lose in the NFL draft, the team just reloads. On offense, they’re returning Ladd McConkey and the best TE in the country, Brock Bowers.
A lot of people are worried about the defense, but to be frank, I’m not worried at all. Believe it or not, 2022 was a rebuilding year on defense. That’s clear to see when you look at the returning production this upcoming season. The Bulldogs are set at the linebacker position and probably have to lean on some younger pass rushers but their secondary returns three starters. One happens to be the National Championship MVP, Javon Bullard, who will move to safety.
Georgia isn’t going anywhere. The back-to-back champions are just as talented as the previous years, if not more. The one concern I have is the inexperience at the QB position, but I trust Kirby Smart and his coaching staff to guide whoever is back there with all the tools to succeed. I can’t find one game on their schedule where they aren’t double-digit favorites. With Georgia’s talent and easy schedule, I don’t think they will lose a game this season.
Michigan Over 10.5 Wins (-118)
The Wolverines are once again bringing back another talented roster. They bring back an above-average quarterback in J.J McCarthy, All-American running back Blake Corum, who should be healthy, and Cornelius Johnson.
They have easy non-conference games to balance out two tough road games at Michigan State and at Penn State. The Wolverines have now beaten their biggest rival, Ohio State, two years in a row, and now get the Buckeyes at the Big House.
Their defense is looking to build off a season in which they ranked sixth nationally in total defense. The Wolverine’s defense has also been in the top 14 in yards per play for two straight seasons, even with some of their talent being drafted into the NFL. This defense is experienced, deeper, and got better through the transfer portal.
Jim Harbaugh has proven he can win at Michigan and can also develop talent all over the field. Michigan should be the favorite to win the Big Ten and reach the College Football Playoff for a third consecutive season. I believe this offense will be just as physical, great on the ground, and efficient on third down. Their defense should be strong, if not better. Easy schedule, and they get Ohio State in Ann Arbor. All roads lead the Wolverines to have success and maintain their Big Ten dominance.
Colorado Over 3.5 Wins (+142)
Two words, Coach Prime. It will be very interesting to see what Colorado looks like in Prime’s first year in Colorado. Either he will be really good really fast, or it might take some time before they’re competitive. The Buffaloes have been very active in the portal, so it’s hard to see if this is hype or the real deal.
Colorado had one of the worst offenses in the country the past two seasons, mainly because they didn’t have a competent quarterback. That will all change with Shedeur Sanders, who was one of the top quarterbacks in the FCS the past two seasons at Jackson State. This offense will look completely different from what we have seen in the past. I love the OC they brought in, Sean Lewis, who was the head coach at Kent State for the past five seasons.
On offense, Sanders has some athletic pieces around him. Transfer enforcements include Travis Hunter (Jackson State), Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr (USF), tight end Seydou Traore (Arkansas State), and running back Kavosiey Smoke (Kentucky). Up front might have some growing pains, but Colorado did bring in six transfers who were all starters – all from lower levels.
As bad as you think their offense was last season, their defense was worse. It ranked last in the country, allowing 44.5 points per game. That will quickly change this year under new defensive coordinator Charles Kelly. Kelly has had a lot of success in his career, most recently at Alabama.
Leading the defense will be the No. 1 cornerback in the country from each of the past two recruiting classes, two-way star Travis Hunter and Cormani McClain. Seven transfers coming in on defense are expected to help Colorado become significantly better on defense.
Hiring Coach Prime as their new head coach gave this program the spark and energy that it needed. Merchandise sales and the amount of fan interest this program has have hit unprecedented levels that many forget this was a 1-11 team a year ago.
This isn’t near the same team as last season, but it will be a significant challenge for Sanders and his staff to win immediately. If his son, Shedeur Sanders, can live up to the hype and the defense just be 10-15% better, the Buffaloes could reach bowl eligibility.
Akron O3.5 Wins (-105)
Akron hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2017. Second-year coach Joe Moorhead is looking to revamp and restore this program after a tough 2-10 finish last season. Even though their record looks bad, Akron was extremely competitive in six of their ten losses. As the program’s culture grows stronger and there is more of an emphasis on conditioning, this should be a much better team.
I like senior quarterback DJ Irons. He is the ideal type of player for the position and can really open the offense up. The Zips will also lean on first-team All-MAC receiver Alex Adams and the depth at the skill positions.
On defense, senior linebacker Bubba Arslanian recorded 132 tackles last season, putting him on the All-MAC first unit. Outside of him, the rest of this defense needs to play smart and keep pace. They’re very thin on defense, and depth is something they lack.
The Zips will definitely be better than last season, as I have them winning at least four to five games. Now, I don’t believe they’re ready to challenge for the MAC East crown just yet, but they should better and leave the bottom of the division.
