Wager on these school soccer win totals forward of the 2024 season

Amid widespread adjustments within the school soccer panorama, the three groups underneath new management are almost certainly to win whole in 2024.

All three groups, all underneath first-year head coaches, have what it takes to advance and have favorable odds to take action.

Duke, 5.5 +150 (BetMGM)

A hanging tidbit contrasting Duke basketball’s success with Duke soccer’s inconsistency: With Manny Diaz taking the job in 2024, the Blue Devils have had extra head coaches since 2021 than The Blue Devils have had extra head coaches on the hardwood since 1980.

Mike Elko had a brief however profitable tour earlier than committing to Texas A&M, totaling 17 wins in 2022 and 2023. That is the second time in three seasons that the crew has gained greater than eight video games. Oddsmakers don’t love his possibilities: FanDuel and DraftKings every provide Duke at +140, eclipsing 5.5 wins, whereas BetMGM presents +150 odds. Caesars Sportsbook is providing +115 for wins over 5.

However Diaz is a defensive-minded coach who led Penn State to a median of 13.5 factors per recreation in 2023, and he inherited a Duke protection that allowed simply 19 factors per recreation final season. Linebacker Tre Freeman returns after making 106 tackles final season, and he is joined by FCS All-American Ozzie Nicholas from Princeton. Cornerback Chandler Rivers and security Terry Moore have All-ACC potential within the secondary.

Week 2’s go to to Northwestern may make the distinction, as Duke will host rival North Carolina on Sept. 28 with an opportunity to maneuver to the center of the convention schedule at 5-0.

James Madison, 8.5 wins, +135 (BetMGM)

In its second season of FBS play, James Madison is grabbing nationwide consideration with a 10-0 begin to 2023. However Duke nonetheless reached 11 factors to win for the fifth time since 2016.

Extra importantly, the long-term Soccer Championship Subdivision powerhouse program has confirmed its model of soccer can translate to the FBS and Solar Belt Convention. First-year Duke coach Bob Chesney acquired an identical alternative from Holy Cross Faculty.

Chesney coached the Crusaders to 4 straight playoff appearances. Over the previous two seasons, Holy Cross has averaged about 37 factors per recreation, which is on par with JMU’s common of 34.1 factors per recreation final season.

Chesney additionally continues not less than one space the place JMU has thrived underneath Signetti: discovering veteran playmakers by means of the switch portal.

A gaggle of skilled newcomers fills out Duke’s roster, together with Holy Cross All-American linebacker Jacob Dobbs and former Washington Huskies beginning quarterback Dylan Morris.

The faces could also be new, however the outcomes must be acquainted. Duke is predicted to be in competition for the Solar Belt title and the double-digit victory threshold when the common season ends at Appalachian State and takes on Marshall.

Washington, 6.5 wins +112 (BetRivers)

Huskies first-year head coach Jedd Fisch inherited arguably the worst crew within the energy convention when he was employed to Arizona.

By his third yr, the well-traveled Fish led the Wildcats to the most effective seasons in franchise historical past. Arizona State went 11-3 within the Alamo Bowl final season, beating Oklahoma State.

Fish takes over for Nick Saban’s job at Alabama vacated by Kalen DeBoer at 2024 Faculty Soccer Playoff nationwide runner-up Washington State. Though the Huskies’ 2023 roster already has big-name gamers departing, Fisch is clearly in a greater place in Yr 1 than he was final recreation. Fish and his workers made some key transfers from Tucson to Seattle, together with two-way operating again and receiving risk in operating again Jonah Coleman.

Washington’s big-name switch arrives from SEC Nation: Quarterback Will Rogers, a four-year starter at Mississippi State who arrived in Montlake with 12,315 passing yards and 94 touchdowns. If Fish and passing recreation coordinator Jimmy Dougherty can create the identical magic they did final season with Noah Fifita in Arizona, Rodgers may instantly set up himself as one of many Huge Ten’s prime quarterbacks.

Washington’s largest impediment to seven or extra wins is the division change.

In a brief turnaround, the Huge Ten scheduled a cross-country trek to Rutgers, a go to to convention champion darkhorse Iowa per week after a rematch with nationwide champion Michigan and a street journey to Penn State, a pair of Wisconsin Nothing good comes of it.

The primary month was manageable.

Sweeping a non-conference slate that features rival Washington State, adopted by wins over Northwestern and Rutgers to open Huge Ten play ought to give bettors a sense of confidence come October.