The college football offseason is an exciting time where teams, coaches, and fans can reflect on the previous year, and plan ahead for their upcoming ties. Fans will speculate about potential changes right up to the season kicking off on August 24th, and some might even want to place bets on their college’s chances.
Unfortunately, it is not yet possible for sports fans to bet on college football with licensed operators in the state. However, there are options that provide a range of college sports betting markets for bettors. Betting expert Neil Roarty has compiled a list of betting sites for 2024 that is worth checking out. As an independent and impartial sports betting comparison site, consumers can enjoy reviews of the most secure sites with the best odds. Doing a bit of research before placing a bet is advised, and there are lots of sites dedicated to providing college ball fans with pre-season information that will help them make up their mind.
ESPN’s SP+ Explained
Most fans will have a pretty good idea of their team’s quality and depth as the start of the season approaches. But it doesn’t do any harm to get some expert advice along the way. The ESPN SP+ rates college teams by taking into account a variety of factors including the team’s recent history, recruitment, and returning production. The team’s returning production refers to the returning starters for the team and the previous years’ SP+. Allowing for adjustments due to squad changes helps get a better idea of team quality.
The team’s offseason recruitment strategy will play a big part in how well the team is projected to do. As well as looking at the direct replacements, it also considers previous seasons’ recruitment. The recent history of a team can help to determine which teams consistently perform well against those that have only had recent good form.
Driving to score in the ‘Shoe, only now it moves to Autzen. (Screenshot from Fox Sports Video)
The Big Ten Rankings
1. Ohio State Buckeyes – SP+: 32.7
2. Oregon Ducks – SP+: 30.8
3. Michigan Wolverines – SP+: 27.5
4. Penn State Nittany Lions – SP+: 26.8
5. USC Trojans – SP+: 13.6
6. Iowa Hawkeyes – SP+: 13.2
7. UCLA Bruins – SP+: 11.3
8. Wisconsin Badgers – SP+: 10.8
9. Washington Huskies – SP+: 9.1
10. Nebraska Cornhuskers – SP+: 7.1
11. Maryland Terrapins – SP+: 5.0
12. Minnesota Golden Gophers – SP+: 4.8
13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights – SP+: 3.9
14. Illinois Fighting Illini – SP+: -1.3
15. Purdue Boilermakers – SP+: -3.0
16. Northwestern Wildcats – SP+: -3.4
17. Michigan State Spartans – SP+: -4.9
18. Indiana Hoosiers – SP+: -5.7
Oregon Ducks 2024 Season Preview
Second only to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the SP+ rankings, Oregon Ducks will be confident that they can compete this season and bring home some silverware. Exploring some of the best casinos not on Gamstop will help fans find the best college football betting markets, and there are lots of reasons why the Ducks could be a great bet.
With QB Bo Nix moving on to the Denver Broncos, the Ducks will be kicking off the new season with a new starting QB. Losing someone with the quality of Nix would usually hinder the team’s chances, but the acquisition of Dillon Gabriel is the perfect move. Gabriel should slot nicely into Head Coach Dan Lanning’s plans, and last season’s 3,660 yards and 69.3% completion rate were a personal best for the talented player. At 23 years of age, Gabriel is ready to step up.
Dante Moore had extended experience in 2023, and thus can help this year. (Screenshot from On3 Video)
But the Ducks were not satisfied with one exciting QB addition, and 18-year-old Dante Moore can be eased into the lineup as Gabriel’s long-term successor. Signing two quarterbacks from the off-season’s top five is a transfer coup that could instill the confidence needed for success in 2024.
OregonReigns
Lakeside, Oregon
Top Photo by Tom Corno
OregonReigns is an occasional contributor to FishDuck and loves his Ducks!