×

Three over plays for SEC win totals in 2026

Mar 14, 2026 | 3:01 PM

Stephen Lew

By Chris Marler

Spring football is underway. Magazine season is just around the corner.

In the college football calendar, you are here – the season of hope. 

On Friday, FanDuel posted their early 2026 SEC win totals for all 16 teams in the SEC. Here’s a look at the totals for each SEC team in the upcoming regular season and the three locks. 

South Carolina Over 5.5 Wins 

What’s wild about the South Carolina total is that if it was one win higher, I would feel a lot less confident. Opening at 5.5 wins is free money. Few teams retain as much talent as South Carolina. There’s a case to be made that they have the most physically talented offensive player and defensive player in America in LaNorris Sellers and Dylan Stewart. They retained all their key pieces with the highest ceilings. They have several top 20 recruiting classes on the roster, and they brought in a new OC, new offensive line coach, and a top ten player in the portal, Jacarrius Peak.

What I love most about South Carolina this upcoming season though is the schedule. They don’t play Texas or LSU. They get Alabama early in the season, and seven of their 10 Power Four opponents are breaking in a new quarterback. It’s the first time in over five years that they don’t begin the season with a top 10 strength of schedule in the country. 

LSU Over 8.5 

Lock of the year. If for no other reason than Lane Kiffin better win more than eight games or the locals will be more than restless in his first offseason. LSU has one of the most talented rosters in America. They definitely have the most expensive roster. There’s talent everywhere, and there’s elite talent everywhere at that. LSU’s biggest failure, among several, a season ago was its offense. That won’t be a problem for Kiffin whose offenses haven’t ranked lower than 13th in the country in total yards per game. 

The biggest pushback on LSU being a contender this year is the schedule, but I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as people think. It may look like a gauntlet with teams like Texas, Texas A&M, Clemson, Alabama and Ole Miss on the docket. The good news is that four of those five games are at home. The better news is that Clemson, Alabama, and Texas A&M will all most likely take a step back from last year. 

Tennessee Over 6.5 

I should not have this much confidence in a team that didn’t have a win over a ranked opponent a season ago and lost its starting quarterback. There are two reasons I feel a wave of confidence. One, I’m not very smart. Two, Tennessee is going to take a big step forward this season regardless of who is at quarterback. I think Tennessee is a dark horse for the College Football Playoff because of its offseason moves. Josh Heupel is one of the brightest offensive minds in the country. He will now be paired with Jim Knowles, one of the best defensive minds in the country as the Vols new defensive coordinator. 

Tennessee will have to break in a new quarterback, but quarterbacks always put up big numbers in Josh Heupel’s offense. Both quarterbacks are former elite recruits and there are plenty of weapons around them including former five star WRs Mike Matthews and Tristen Keys. They brought in Chaz Coleman, the No. 2 EDGE rusher in the portal, from Penn State. The schedule is more than manageable. Their most difficult games are Texas, Alabama, and LSU and all three are at home. 

Chris Marler

More SEC News

Three over plays for SEC win totals in 2026
FanDuel released its SEC football win totals for 2026. Chris Marler feels good about Tennessee, LSU and South Carolina this fall.
3h ago
Three best bets for Saturday at the SEC Tournament
Chris Marler is struggling. But Saturday is another slate, and he's got his best picks for the SEC's Final Four.
7h ago
SEC Baseball Weekend Preview: Conference play begins
SEC baseball conference play begins with eight key series. LSU-Vanderbilt headlines a pivotal weekend while Arkansas-Mississippi State and Ole Miss-Texas bring elite matchups.
Mar 13, 2026
LSU's SEC schedule primer
A look at how LSU's SEC weekend stack up in terms of difficulty. A fast start is imperative.
Mar 13, 2026
MARLER: Best Bets for SEC Tournament Day Three
Best bets for Day 3 of the SEC Basketball Tournament in Nashville, including picks on Vanderbilt, Alabama and Oklahoma as teams fight for NCAA Tournament momentum.
Mar 13, 2026
Legion LA sports