COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING FOR NEXT SEASON ALREADY UNDERWAY

They may still be celebrating Florida's BCS title in Gainesville but college football betting fans across the country already are looking to next season, eyeing a future book on whether the Gators will repeat or whether some other team will end the 2009 campaign ranked No. 1.

 

Florida, which earned its BCS title with a 24-14 victory over Oklahoma, opened as a 3/1 favorite to repeat but dropped to 7/4 when 2007 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow announced he would return for his senior year. The Gators have eight starters back on offense as well as all 11 from their outstanding defense.

 

There's a similar question surrounding another quarterback at another college football powerhouse, Mark Sanchez and USC. The Trojans opened at 5/1 to win the 2010 BCS crown, a future book number that could rise or fall, depending on whether Sanchez returns to Troy or opts for the NFL. USC has everyone else of consequence returning on offense but the stingy defense returns just two starters, though one of them is All-America safety Taylor Mays.

 

Florida and USC may seem like good bets to meet in the BCS title game but in a sport where a single loss (ask Texas, Alabama, Penn State or USC) can knock you out of contention, other squads are worthy of future book betting consideration.

 

Texas, with QB Colt McCoy one of nine offensive starters scheduled to return, is listed at odds of 8/1 while red River rival Oklahoma, with Heisman Trophy quarterback Sam Bradford expected to call Norman his home for a final season, is offered at odds of 12/1. The Longhorns won last year's encounter but the Sooners wound up in the BCS title tilt so this year's game won't necessarily be decisive.

 

At odds of 10/1, Ohio State is nestled between Texas and Oklahoma on the future book. The Buckeyes return 14 starters.

 

Alabama, with a young but aggressively effective defense that returns nine regulars, will try to stop Florida from advancing out of the SEC. The Crimson Tide seems an attractive choice at odds of 30/1.

 

Three more SEC schools, Mississippi, Georgia and LSU, also could be in the title hunt. The Rebels, who return 17 starters, upset Florida in the Swamp and beat Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. Ole Miss is 50/1. Georgia, also 50/1, looks to rebound after a disappoint 10-3 season. LSU, 20/1, with 15 returning starters, also is eyeing a return to prominence.

 

Texas and Oklahoma are the teams to beat in the Big XII but watch out for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys, 60/1, return 16 starters and have game-breakers at quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

 

Virginia Tech, 15/1, probably is the best team in the ACC. The Gobblers return 16 starters for their early season test against Alabama, in Atlanta, Sept. 5.

 

Sunshine State rivals Florida State, at 18/1, and Miami, at 20/1, also should be forces in the ACC and, possibly, nationally.

 

Utah was the only undefeated team in the nation last season and still didn't play for the BCS title so you can get 175/1 on a Ute team that retains the basis of a strong defense but has holes to fill at several skill positions.

 

Penn State, which came within a point of playing for the BCS title, returns QB Darryl Clark and RB Evan Royster but 12 starters must be replaced.

 

For many gamblers, a future book wager on the BCS title winner will be their first—-but certainly not their last—-wager of the off-season. In the following weeks, in addition to BCS futures, many sportsbooks will offer prices on the champions of a number of conferences, including such high-profile leagues as the SEC, Big XII, Pac-10, Big Ten, ACC and Big East.

 

What's more, ambitious sportsbooks will post over/under regular season win totals for almost every team.

 

College football may not kick off for another seven months but college football betting already is in the first quarter.

 

 

This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com