Defending National Champion USC is an even money future book favorite to win a second straight BCS title. This season's final No. 1 ranking will be decided next January in the Rose Bowl, a home field advantage for the Trojans if they qualify for the championship game.
Given that there are 119 Division 1-A teams with a shot at the title, the oddsmakers at
The Greek Sportsbook either are off their gyros or USC is as much a lock to win back-to-back titles as you are to find feta cheese in a Greek salad. Call us partial, but we think the second explanation is far more plausible.
Remembering that beyond their own value future book wagers also have benefit because they can be utilized by bettors to hedge and manipulate games later in the season, let's look at the major contenders. (Last year's records are in parenthesis):
Southern Cal (13-0): Not only are the Trojans 37-2 straight up the last three seasons but USC also is an impressive 28-11 against the spread. With 13 starters returning to the team that humiliated Oklahoma, 55-19, in last season's Orange Bowl, you can expect the Trojans to again excel on the field and, perhaps, be an excellent bet too. The offense, which is directed by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Matt Lienart and features the return of the top four running backs and top five receivers from a year ago, should be lethal. The defense has some holes to fill but with 20 of 29 lettermen returning from that unit and a manageable schedule, USC has a solid chance to win it all again this season.
Miami (9-3): Every spring the Hurricanes ship a ton of talent to the NFL and every autumn they replenish their losses and take aim at the national title. That scenario won't change this year. Miami's strength is on defense where nine starters return from the team that ended the season by beating Florida, 27-10, in the Peach Bowl. The Hurricanes will be tested by two difficult road games, the season opener at Florida State, Sept. 5, and a November visit to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech.
Florida (7-5): New Head Coach Urban Meyer inherits a team with 15 returning starters, including quarterback Chris Leak, who led the SEC in total offense last year. There's far more talent than the heralded Meyer ever had at Utah but a schedule that includes Florida State and Tennessee at home, road trips to LSU and Alabama, and the traditional meeting with Georgia in Jacksonville, is very challenging.
Ohio State (8-4): With 18 starters back from the team that closed out last season with a 37-21 thrashing of arch-rival Michigan and a 33-7 victory over Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl, there's warranted optimism in Columbus this year. Possible potholes on the road to a national title include a Sept. 10 meeting with vaunted Texas and a season-ending journey to Ann Arbor to renew hostilities with Michigan.
Florida State (9-3): The Seminoles lost eight players to the NFL draft but FSU still is the team to beat in the Atlantic Division of the newly expanded ACC. The challenges remain the same: Get some consistency at quarterback, find someone to kick a winning field goal under pressure, and beat Miami - something Florida State hasn't done in its six previous meetings - in the season opener, Sept. 5, all tough, but not impossible tasks.
Oklahoma (12-1): Following an embarrassing 55-19 blowout to USC in the Orange Bowl, the loss of 10 players to the NFL draft and the return of just nine starters, (fewest in the Big 12 Conference) you would think that Oklahoma would be in for a rough season. Think again. The Sooners still have running back Adrian Peterson and a schedule that will have them favored in 10 of 11 games. The lone exception will be the Oct. 8 bloodletting with Texas in Dallas. While the Sooners likely will be an underdog versus the Longhorns, Oklahoma has beaten Texas five straight years.
Texas (11-1): Having lobbied hard to get into the BCS then backed it up with a 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl, the Longhorns may have the guns to make a run at the BC title this season. Begin with the return of 16 starters, including QB Vince Young, a threat passing or running the ball. To get to the title game, Texas probably will need to win on the road at Ohio State and/or beat Oklahoma for the first time this millennium, as well as capture the Big 12 title game.
LSU (9-3): Nick Saban has fled to Miami but new Head Coach Les Miles has 16 starters back, four winnable road games and an opportunity to accomplish something special in his first season in Baton Rouge. The Tigers lose just 13 lettermen from last year's team but must settle on a quarterback. Games against tough SEC foes Tennessee, Florida and Auburn all are at home.
Iowa (10-2): The Hawkeyes won five games by a touchdown or less last year and, with a difficult schedule, will have to win the close ones again to make a title run. Iowa does have the top returning passer in the Big 10 in Drew Tate and the conference's leading receiver in Clinton Solomon. Road trips to Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin will test the Hawkeyes.
Michigan (9-3): The two-time defending Big 10 champion should be potent on offense where quarterback Chad Henne, who made 12 starts as a true freshman last season, and running back Mike Hart, the conference's rushing leader, both return. The offensive line boasts three first team All Big 10 selections, and the defense is sturdy as well, particularly up front. The Wolverines get both Notre Dame and Ohio State at home this year.
Tennessee (10-3): The Vols have 17 starters returning, the most in the SEC, and should have some momentum off their 38-7 thumping of Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Tennessee's strength should be in the trenches, with quality personnel on both lines. As usual, the schedule is brutal with trips to Florida, LSU and Notre Dame, and a home contest against Georgia.
Virginia Tech (10-3): The Hokies surprised most folks by winning the ACC title in their inaugural season in the league and now have a chance to repeat. Marcus Vick, younger brother of Falcons' QB Michael, must display consistency but the defense is solid and the schedule, which calls for Miami to visit chilly Blacksburg in November, by and large, is accommodating.
Louisville (11-1): The Cardinals move to the Big East this season but should be favored in all 11 of their games, including six conference tilts. With the Big East getting an automatic BCS bid, Louisville has a chance to run the table and stake a claim for a title shot. Coach Bobby Petrino has only 11 starters back from the team that outscored foes by an average of 30.1 points last season, but there should be little drop off in dominance.
Georgia (10-2): The Bulldogs lose only seven starters and just 15 lettermen from the team that beat Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl but will have to find a quarterback and a pair of reliable receivers to fend off Florida in the highly competitive SEC East this season. On the positive side, all five interior linemen are back, as are the top four rushers. The season could come down to a pair of games, October 8 at Tennessee, and Oct. 29, versus Florida, in Jacksonville.
Virginia (10-3): Quarterback Marques Hagans leads a Cavalier attack that turned the ball over just 10 times last season and had little difficulty moving the football. Second team All-America linebacker Ahmad Brooks leads the defense, which like the offense returns six starters. A soft non-conference schedule will help.
Texas A&M (7-5): Were it not for a brutal schedule that forces the Aggies to visit Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Clemson - not to mention playing Texas at home - A&M might have a better chance of surprising people this season. With 17 starters returning, including QB Reggie McNeal, that still could happen.
In addition to posting a future book on which team will win the BCS title,
The Greek Sportsbook also offers futures on a number of conference championships, as well as a future book on which player will be honored with the Heisman Trophy this season.
