College Football Futures: 4 Best Bets Based on Recent Trends

(Editor’s note: This article is from The Spun by Athlon Sports’ 2025 Football Betting Guide — the perfect preseason reference companion for new bettors or sharps alike. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.)

Luke Fickell was hired to change things at Wisconsin. As it turned out, he did, taking a boring-but-winning program to one that is currently non-competitive.

If there was a betting market available for the first coach fired in 2025, the Badgers coach would be near or at the very top of the list.

But that’s not the Wisconsin bet we’re targeting here. Instead, it’s the team’s win total, which sits at an embarrassing 5.5 – one less than the 20-year low the Badgers were projected for in 2024 when they finished 5-7. In 2023, they had a win total of 8.5, but like last season, they missed hitting the Over by two games.

While it’s only a two-year trend, Fickell has shown a confounding nature to underachieve. The Under has strong appeal here, especially when you consider the Badgers lost several key parts to the portal, are transitioning to a new offense, and own the nation’s third-most difficult schedule.

Best bet: Wisconsin Under 5.5 wins (-164)

Liberty to go undefeated in the regular season (+700)

Over the last three decades, an average of one team per season has gone unbeaten in the regular season. The Flames have a chance to do it twice in three years.

Liberty’s slim hopes for the College Football Playoff hinge on an unblemished résumé. That’s all the motivation needed for a squad that is just two years removed from going through a regular season undefeated.

In 2025, no team in the country has an easier slate of games than the Flames, who don’t have any P4 opponents scheduled in non-conference play.

Jamey Chadwell’s biggest challenge will be finding a new quarterback. The likely candidate is Coastal Carolina transfer Ethan Vasko, whose unique skillset as a runner and passer should play in Conference USA.

Texas A&M Under 7.5 wins (+134)

While returning all five starters on the offensive line, Texas A&M is a team in transition on both sides of the ball. The Aggies lost their top five receivers, and on defense they will have to find a way to replace three game-wreckers who were taken in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.

The schedule does them no favors either. Besides the SEC gauntlet, they also play at Notre Dame and finish conference play with four of their last five on the road, including a date with Texas in Austin in the finale.

The Aggies have gone Under their win total in six straight seasons. Plus-money odds adds value to seven.

Nebraska Under 7.5 wins (+110)

Nebraska hasn’t hit the Over on its win total in eight years, missing by an average of 2.5 wins per season.

It might seem reasonable to believe this year could be different for the Cornhuskers, who finished 2024 bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016. Matt Rhule has a special quarterback in Dylan Raiola, and did a great job adding talent in the offseason.

However, the schedule still feels closer to seven wins than eight, and with history working against the ‘Huskers, give me the Under at plus-money.