Best Pac-12 win totals bets ahead of the 2021 college football season

Between the lack of 2020 games played, the irregular offseason and the many COVID-19 outbreaks, bettors and bookmakers alike enter the 2021 college football season without any clear information on the quality of each Pac-12 team. And because of that, win totals for this season are based more on projection than actual performance on the field from a season ago.

Pac-12 North Overview

Only three teams have won the Pac-12 North division since the inception of the Pac-12 championship game in 2011. In fact, the Pac-12 North has dominated the South division to the tune of 9-1 in Pac-12 championship games, beating their opponents by an average of over 18 points.

The Oregon Ducks are two-time defending Pac-12 Champions and lead the North with an expected win total of 9. The Washington Huskies, winners of the 2016 and 2018 Pac-12 championships, are right behind them by a difference of half a game.

Both California and Washington State went 1-3 last season and have win totals that would take them to a bowl game. The Beavers have a win total of five, the same number they did last year.

Lastly, Stanford is 3-0 in Pac-12 championship games but has not made it since 2015. The Cardinal have managed four wins each in the last two seasons, so it is only right that their win total of 4 matches that streak.

Pac-12 South Overview

Four teams in the Pac-12 South boast a win total of at least 7, and three of them stand above the rest at 8.5.

Herm Edwards and Arizona State appeared to have high hopes for this season until the coaches were placed on administrative leave for reported recruitment violations. Still, they remain one of the teams who enter the season with that 8.5-win total.

Colorado has 11 Power Five schools on its schedule, so growing pains could be in store for Karl Dorrell’s second year. Lastly, the Arizona Wildcats have moved on from the Kevin Sumlin experiment after going winless last year — three wins is all they need to hit the over on their win total.

As always, shop around for the best line available — it could be the difference between losing or pushing on a bet.

Pac-12 North Best Bet: Washington State under 6 games, -120

Home games: UTAH STATE, PORTLAND STATE, USC, OREGON STATE, STANFORD, BYU, ARIZONA

Away games: UTAH, CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA STATE, OREGON, WASHINGTON