Last week I took a look at some NCAA season win totals that looked like good ‘Over’ bets. This week I will look in the other direction with the NCAA Unders.

The totals I am posting are from one sportsbook and could very well not be the same number you get at another sportsbook. The key is to shop around and remember that the best over/under numbers do not necessarily mean they are the best bets as juice can play a significant role in the future betting as well.

Under 9 Oregon Ducks +125 (BEST BET)

The Ducks have put together back-to-back 10-3 seasons so expectations are once again high with 17 starters returning. Oregon is the popular pick to win the Pac Ten title for a second straight season and it has been put into some preseason polls as a top 10 team. The talent is there for it to happen but there are some questions, some big questions, that could prevent a repeat.

Head coach Chip Kelly started right where former coach Mike Bellotti left off and he did so with only 10 starters returning last year. He had the benefit of a strong offensive attack led by potential Heisman candidate quarterback Jeremiah Masoli but an opening loss at Boise St., which was marred by the after-game altercation, looked to derail the Ducks. Instead, they came together to win their next seven games and eventually made it to the Rose Bowl.

This year, they must replace Masoli who was kicked off the team and transferred to Mississippi and this is the biggest concern. Oregon’s passing attack was below average to begin with and it will be up to injury plagued Nate Costa to turn it around. He has the entire offensive line back as well as stud LaMichael James at running back but the passing game will have to pick things up as defenses will focus on the run.

The defense brings back eight starters but that defense was average as it finished 51st in the nation in scoring, yielding 23.8 ppg. The linebacking corps is loaded and the unit will depend on its speed as it is very small up front. The secondary returns all four players so the defense should be better but the Pac Ten is loaded with offense. A huge concern is at kicker with walk-on Rob Beard and specialists can make or break close games.

While Oregon has improved, the conference as a whole has done the same. The Ducks get only four conference home games and all six road games are far from easy. The first true test is in the second game against Tennessee and while the Volunteers are a middle of the pack SEC team, it is difficult. The final four games are all against likely bowl teams.

Predicted Finish: 8-4