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There can certainly be value in betting the Over/Under Win Totals on NCAA Football as the season approaches. Below we have picked out three situations that we strongly feel offer up some great value as the 2006 NCAA Football Season approaches. Take a look at these three win totals below and consider a long term investment as we point out some factors that contribute value to these teams' win totals.

California Over 9.5 Wins

Head coach Jeff Tedford has compiled a solid 33-17 record in his four previous seasons on the Berkley campus, good for an average of just over eight wins per year. What make the record even more impressive is that this year's squad may be the best one yet. The squad is void of any big time superstars but is extremely deep and experienced on offense and defense. Cal returns 53 lettermen this year (25 each on offense and defense as well as three on special teams.) The schedule starts and ends with the Bears only true tests for the season. They open up in Knoxville against a Tennessee team looking to rebound from a very disappointing '05 campaign. Even a loss to the Volunteers should not make or break their season as they won't have another real test until a week 11 contest with USC at the Coliseum. They will not play back to back road games until they play Arizona in week 12 after the USC game. The Bears have been in serious hibernation in regards to the national media the past couple of years. This year's squad reaching double digit wins should wake everyone up.

Georgia Over 9 Wins

The Georgia Bulldogs have had four straight 10 or more win seasons and 2006 should make it five in a row. Like many of the elite college football teams in the country, the plan each year is to just reload and this should not be a problem for the Bulldogs this year. Their will be plenty of talent to replace the 22 lettermen lost off last years team. The only potential problem is that the players expected to fill in the voids will be inexperienced. Fortunately, the Dawgs schedule should allow them to gain the experience needed by the time they face what should be their first real test in the World's Biggest ****tail Party against the Florida Gators. Prior to the ****tail Party, the only team they will face that could present a problem would be Tennessee and the Vols come to Athens. The ****tail Party will then start a string of three games in a row that will take them to Kentucky and Auburn. A tough row to hoe but based on the recent success of the program winning two out of three of those games should not be a problem. As a result getting ten wins this season shouldn't be a problem either.

Wisconsin Under 8 Wins

The 2004 and 2005 Wisconsin Badgers won nine and 10 games, respectfully. Reaching eight wins in new head coach Brett Bielema's first year might elevate Bielema to the lofty status that his predecessor, Barry Alvarez, attained. This year's Badgers will have to rely on senior quarterback John Stocco more than ever before. Gone is top running back Brian Calhoun and a talented group of wide receivers. The added responsibility on Stocco may not sit well for the Badgers as in the past Stocco has been asked to not lose games, now he will be looked at to win games. The ranks are not completely bare but they are very young and inexperienced on both sides of the ball. The schedule maker did not help Bielema in his first campaign. Wisconsin travels to Michigan, an improved Indiana, Purdue and Iowa. All games they will probably go in as underdogs. The home schedule is not much better as visits from Minnesota and Penn State will make for a very uncomfortable first year for the new coaching staff. Getting wins in their four non-conference games and then somehow finding a way to win three out of four conference home games may be as much as can be expected for the first year of the post-Alvarez era. As a result, six or seven wins will likely be all the Badgers can get this year.

About the Author

Scott Rickenbach is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at www.procappers.com/Scott_Rickenbach.htm