Spring forward to title chase
Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:30 AM
Although to little fanfare, the odds for the next college football national champion come out in mid-January, a week or so after the crystal football gets hoisted into the air. As you can see, betting on “futures” waits for no one, however, we prefer to wait at least until after spring ball wraps up to take a look.
According to Bodog, here are the current odds to win the next BCS title:
Florida -- 2/1
You will never see a team with more defensive starters back. You will never see a more accomplished college football quarterback. I promise you.
Oklahoma -- 9/2
If these guys are right, we’ve got a rematch on our hands in Pasadena on Jan. 7.
USC -- 6/1
Since when has replacing eight starters on defense been this easy?
Texas -- 7/1
It has been proven that the Longhorns can beat the Sooners and not get any credit for it, so you’d be silly to take a stab here. However, we’ve been known to be silly.
Ohio State -- 10/1
A few hundred among the 95,722 who watched the Scarlet and Gray game might be willing to bet their Bucks. They might as well tack on a wager on Terrelle Pryor winning the Heisman.
Virginia Tech -- 16/1
The Hokies represent probably the best value on the board. If they are able to open with a victory over Alabama in the Georgia Dome on Sept. 5, they’ll have as good a shot as anybody outside the SEC.
Alabama, Florida State and LSU -- 20/1
Don’t worry . . . if you strike it rich with the only non-Saban team of this bunch, you won’t have to give anything back if the Seminoles are forced to vacate victories a couple years down the road. Here’s to hoping that the same holds true for Bobby Bowden.
Miami (Fla.) -- 22/1
If every team was limited to just playing sophomores and freshmen, the Hurricanes would be a strong contender. Miami, which opened at 60/1 a year ago, is on its way back.
Notre Dame -- 25/1
How soon before Lou Holtz proclaims that the Fighting Irish will win at least 10 games and just need to upset USC in South Bend to earn a shot at it?
North Carolina -- 30/1
This line was posted before quarterback T.J. Yates got beat up playing frisbee.
Clemson, Nebraska, Oregon and South Florida -- 40/1
I’d post the same odds on Jim Leavitt beating Dabo Swinney in a 40-yard dash. Bo Pelini would be a heavy favorite over Chip Kelly, as well.
Penn State -- 42/1
This might look juicy, considering how close Joe came to having a 60-minute shot at it last year, but even if the Lions didn’t slip on Iowa’s banana peel, they would have still been a 42/1 shot in the title game.
Georgia, Georgia Tech and West Virginia -- 50/1
Oh what a difference a year makes . . . Matthew Stafford’s 2008 Bulldogs were 6/1 (same as eventual national champ Florida), while Pat White’s Mountaineers were 12/1.
Texas Tech -- 55/1
Taylor Potts is next in line to be ignored by the NFL after serving as the ringleader of Mike Leach’s circus.
California, Iowa, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and “Field” (any other team not listed) -- 60/1
With eight games in Stillwater, Zac Robinson at quarterback and Bill Young installed as new defensive coordinator the Cowboys have a ton of value here. We’d take “field,” which includes TCU, BYU, Connecticut and Baylor, over the Golden Bears, Hawkeyes, Panthers and Badgers.
Illinois, Kansas and Tennessee -- 70/1
We’d post the same odds on Lane Kiffin not being the most hated man in the SEC. FYI . . . Phillip Fulmer’s Vols opened as 30/1 last offseason.
UCLA -- 75/1
With Rick Neuheisel confident that Norm Chow will get the offense on the right track, he should let Ben Howland take a stab at fixing the Bruin defense.
Cincinnati, Colorado, Michigan State, Missouri and Wake Forest -- 80/1
The Tigers, who were 20/1 a year ago, tumble terribly without Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and both coordinators.
Michigan and South Carolina -- 85/1
Memo to Lane Kiffin: Seven Gamecocks were selected in the 2009 NFL Draft, delaying any possible careers at the gas station. We’re not sure if that makes Steve Spurrier look good or bad. It’s time to get results from all that talent he’s been collecting.
Arkansas -- 90/1
According to these odds, Ryan Mallett’s transfer from Michigan dropped him five units.
Arizona State, Boise State, Boston College, N.C. State, Oregon State, Rutgers and Virginia -- 100/1
Wait! Ian Johnson isn’t at Boise State anymore?
Auburn, Kentucky and Utah -- 125/1
The Utes earned their own slot this time around, after giving “field” a long-shot chance last year to cash what was only a 15/1 ticket.
Arizona, Kansas State, Louisville and Texas A&M -- 150/1
Being down in this neighborhood means that Steve Kragthorpe and Mike Sherman are halfway out the door. Good luck to Bill Snyder, who will need lots of it. The only thing tougher than making Kansas State a football powerhouse is doing it twice.
Maryland and Washington -- 200/1
How did the Terrapins get mixed up in this with the Huskies? Darrius Heyward-Bey must be as good as Al Davis thinks he is.
