Last season, the Arizona Wildcats emerged as one of the Pac-12’s most significant surprises. Following consecutive midseason losses to Washington and USC, the team rallied to win six consecutive games (5-1 ATS), ending a five-year bowl drought. In his third year as head coach, Jedd Fisch guided Arizona to its fourth double-digit win total in program history, culminating in a 38-24 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Alamo Bowl. The Wildcats finished with impressive 10-3 SU and ATS record covering the point spread in all three defeats, exceeding what proved to be a laughable win five-game win total by a wide margin. As they approach the 2024 College Football betting season, Arizona finds itself under new leadership after Fisch departed for Washington, where he succeeded Kalen DeBoer, now at Alabama. Brett Brennan, known for rebuilding San Jose State into a winning program over the last seven years, takes over amidst several holdovers and players added via the transfer portal with the team looking to exceed its win total a third straight season. Despite the coaching change, oddsmakers have raised expectations, setting Arizona's win total at 7.5, the highest since the 2018 season.
College Football Season Wins Odds
Arizona Wildcats 2024-25 Regular Season Win Total Odds
Arizona Over 7.5 Wins -110
Arizona Under 7.5 Wins -110
A Case for the Over: With Noah Fifita returning to navigate the offense, Arizona is poised to resume its potent form, particularly excelling in the passing game. Last season, Arizona ranked 12th nationally in passing offense, with Fifita demonstrating superb game management skills by throwing for 2,869 yards and 25 touchdowns, completing 72.4% of his passes with just six interceptions. His efficiency in moving the ball downfield contributed to Arizona boasting the No. 22 ranked scoring offense in the nation. Dino Babers, formerly head coach at Syracuse, joins as the new offensive coordinator, inheriting a talented group that includes a strong offensive line and skilled receivers. Tetairoa McMillan, standing tall at 6'5" and averaging 16.3 yards per catch through two seasons, is poised to challenge opposing defenses consistently. Additionally, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, coming in from New Mexico, aims to invigorate Arizona's rushing attack, which ranked No. 79 overall last season. He will run behind OT Jonah Savaiinaea, a promising NFL prospect. Despite the new coaching staff and new schemes, Arizona appears primed to field one of the more formidable offenses in the nation.
A Case for the Under: The back-seven appears to be Arizona’s defensive strength heading into the season. Jacob Manu and Justin Flowe form a formidable linebacker duo, among the best in the Big 12. Meanwhile, CB Tacario Davis anchors a secondary that saw him break up 15 passes and intercept one last season. Their return to the starting lineup, alongside new additions and depth from the transfer portal, should bolster the Wildcats' defense, aiming to improve upon the 229.6 passing yards allowed per game (No. 75) from a season ago. Last year's defensive strength came with an ability to stop the run, ranking No. 16 nationally by allowing just over 111 yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry (No. 37). However, the entire starting defensive line has either moved on to the NFL, graduated, or transferred. As a result, Arizona's defensive front will heavily rely upon last year's backups and new portal transfers to maintain their previous success. Despite Duane Akina's extensive 43-year coaching experience in college and professional football, 2024 marks his first full-time role as defensive coordinator. His challenge will be molding the defensive line into a cohesive unit that supports rather than hinders the secondary. Arizona's defensive performance will be pivotal in determining whether the team meets or exceeds expectations set by their win total odds.
2024-25 Arizona Wildcats Schedule
| DATE | OPPONENT |
| Aug 31 | vs. New Mexico |
| Sep 7 | vs. Northern Arizona |
| Sep 13 | at Kansas State |
| Sep 21 | OFF |
| Sep 28 | at Utah |
| Oct 5 | vs. Texas Tech |
| Oct 12 | at BYU |
| Oct 19 | vs. Colorado |
| Oct 26 | vs. West Virginia |
| Nov 2 | at UCF |
| Nov 9 | OFF |
| Nov 16 | vs. Houston |
| Nov 23 | at TCU |
| Nov 30 | vs. Arizona State |
Currently favored by 30.5 points in their season opener against New Mexico and likely to be installed significant favorites again the following week against NAU, Arizona's early schedule sets them up for two probable victories according to the current college football betting lines. This means the Wildcats would only need to win six of their remaining ten games to surpass their win total for the third consecutive season. The pivotal Week 3 matchup in Manhattan against Kansas State, both teams currently ranked in the AP Top-25, will serve as a crucial test. A win there would position Arizona favorably, followed by a visit to Utah whom they just snapped a six-game losing streak to last season. Avoiding regular season matchups with Oklahoma State and Kansas, and considering the K-State match is of the non-conference variety, enhances Arizona's chances of going over their win total odds and vying for the Big 12 crown. Assuming key players are able to repel the injury bug, I’m confident Arizona can achieve at least eight wins this season. Therefore, I’m staking a position on the over regardless of the changes made within the coaching staff.
College Football Win Total Prediction: Arizona Wildcats Over 7.5 Wins
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