Betting College Football Conferences

Just as NFL future book betting has evolved to include the winners of the AFC and NFC Championships as well as the league's eight divisions, college football betting has expanded to encompass future book wagering on which teams will earn titles in the six major BCS conferences.

Although some books even have odds on individual divisions within three of these six leagues, for now, we'll just examine the conference odds:

SEC

Florida 2/5

Alabama 7/1

LSU 7/1

Mississippi 8/1

Georgia 9/1

Auburn 12/1

South Carolina 22/1

Arkansas 25/1

Tennessee 28/1

Kentucky 75/1

Vanderbilt 150/1

Mississippi State 200/1

The Skinny: With 18 returning starters, including 2007 Heisman Trophy winning QB Tim Tebow, Florida isn't just the best team in the SEC but the top squad in the nation. College football betting fans will have to determine if they can tolerate the short price. Alabama could be 12-0 heading into the SEC title game. LSU plays Georgia and Florida back-to-back and is at Alabama. Ouch! Mississippi avoids Florida and Georgia this year and gets both LSU and Alabama at home. Georgia will have to beat Florida to win the SEC title.

BIG 12

Texas 7/4

Oklahoma 2/1

Kansas 9/2

Nebraska 5/1

Oklahoma State 9/1

Missouri 10/1

Texas Tech 14/1

Colorado 20/1

Baylor 25/1

Texas A&M 35/1

Kansas State 40/1

Iowa State 100/1

The Skinny: The Big 12 South Division and ultimate league title likely will be decided on Oct. 17 when Texas and Oklahoma clash in Dallas. Both squads are loaded. Kansas benefits from being a member of the Big 12 North Division but the Jayhawks face both Texas and Oklahoma this season. Nebraska has a shot to reach the title game but probably will have to beat Kansas on the road to do it.

ACC

Florida State 5/2

Virginia Tech 13/5

Miami 11/2

Clemson 5/1

North Carolina 13/2

Georgia Tech 7/1

NC State 8/1

Wake Forest 18/1

Maryland 20/1

Virginia 25/1

Duke 66/1

Boston College 80/1

The Skinny: Clearly, this looks like a race between Florida State and Virginia Tech, although other teams have ACC title aspirations as well. Led by its solid defense, FSU may have to beat a pretty good Clemson team on the road to claim the ACC Atlantic Division crown. With the second most returning starters (16) in the league, Virginia Tech is the team to beat in the ACC's Coastal Division. The Hokies even get to play tough Miami at home this year. North Carolina and Georgia Tech also are contenders. The Tar Heels lose just 14 lettermen (fewest in the ACC) while the Yellow Jackets return 18 starters (most in the ACC).

BIG TEN

Ohio State 8/5

Penn State 11/4

Iowa 5/1

Michigan State 6/1

Illinois 7/1

Wisconsin 9/1

Michigan 10/1

Minnesota 22/1

Northwestern 22/1

Indiana 66/1

Purdue 80/1

The Skinny: The Big Ten title could be decided Nov. 7 when Ohio State visits Penn State. In fact, the teams each could be undefeated when they meet, although OSU must get past USC at home, Sept. 12, for that to happen. Iowa finished 9-4 last season, losing games by one, three, three and five points so the Hawkeyes have a shot, although playing at both Penn State and Ohio State doesn't help their chances. Fifteen returning starters should make Michigan State be a league contender while Illinois could use its explosive offense to surprise a number of teams.

PAC-10

USC 1/4

Oregon 11/2

California 6/1

UCLA 12/1

Oregon State 14/1

Arizona State 20/1

Stanford 35/1

Arizona 35/1

Washington 100/1

Washington State 125/1

The Skinny: The Trojans defense must be rebuilt and USC faces top contenders such as California and Oregon on the road but there is so much talent in Troy that USC (82-9 straight up the last seven seasons) figures to keep on winning. There's talent at quarterback but Oregon has only nine returning starters and breaks in a new head coach. Cal has 15 returning starters and gets USC at home this year. UCLA should be much better in Rick Neuheisel's second year in LA.

BIG EAST

West Virginia 9/4

Pittsburgh 11/4

South Florida 11/4

Rutgers 5/1

Cincinnati 8/1

Connecticut 8/1

Louisville 16/1

Syracuse 40/1

The Skinny: This is the most balanced of the featured conferences with as many as six teams, including West Virginia, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Rutgers, Cincinnati and Connecticut having a shot at the Big East title. We'll take Rutgers because the Scarlet Knights get West Virginia, Pittsburgh and South Florida at home.

College football betting enthusiasts should welcome the added option of wagering on conference winners.