COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING HAS OKLAHOMA ON TOP FOR 2012
They may still be celebrating a second consecutive Bowl Champions Series national title in the heart of Dixie but college football betting fans already have moved past this year's top team, Auburn, and last year's winner, Alabama, to fix their wagering gaze on Oklahoma, the early 5/1 future book favorite to capture the 2012 BCS National Championship.
The Sooners, who wound up ranked sixth in the polls with a 12-2 record that included a 48-20 thrashing of Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl, are loaded, returning 18 starters, nine each on offense and defense, to the re-configured Big 12. Quarterback Landry Jones will be operating behind a veteran offensive line and the Oklahoma defense should be the best in the conference. Yes, there are plenty of reasons to like the Sooners.
Oddsmakers have SunshineState rivals Florida and Florida State each at odds of 8/1 to win it all next January but the price looks a little light to us. The Gators return 14 starters, including QB John Brantley, but the offensive line must be rebuilt and Urban Meyer will not be on the sidelines. The Seminoles, who return 16 starters, look stronger, especially at running back and in the secondary. Interestingly, Florida and FSU meet in The Swamp, Nov. 26.
BoiseState, which is 71-6 under Head Coach Chris Peterson, is 10/1 in futures, a price that reflects the return of 14 starters, including QB Kellen Moore. The Sept. 3 opener at Georgia and a road trip to TCU will test the Broncos ability to stay undefeated, the only way they have a chance to play for the national title.
PennState and Nebraska each are 12/1 in early futures which, quite frankly, is crazy; neither is a top 10 team. Of the two, we prefer the Cornhuskers, who have 13 returning starters, including a playmaker in quarterback Taylor Martinez. The defensive front also is solid. The Nittany Lions do welcome back 16 starters and could be vastly improved if sophomore Rob Bolden makes strides at quarterback. But ending the season with back-to-back road games at OhioState and Wisconsin won't make things any easier.
SEC stalwarts Alabama (15/1), LSU (20/1), Auburn (50/1) and Arkansas (100/1) are among the teams that could give the conference its sixth straight BCS National Championship. The Crimson Tide, which welcomes back 20 starters, has only one question, albeit a big one: Who will play quarterback? LSU will have 18 regulars returning, can run the football and stop the pass. The price on Auburn depends on whether Heisman winning quarterback Cam Newton returns (we doubt it) for his senior year, something you should know by the time you read this. With Newton, the Tigers again will be dynamic; without him, much less so. As for the Razorbacks, they'll be tough as well if their quarterback, Ryan Mallet, decides to return.
Oregon's high-octane offense has most of the key players in place for another outstanding season so 15/1 in futures seems a fair price.
At Stanford, Andrew Luck returns at quarterback but Coach Jim Harbaugh does not. Odds of 30/1 tell you that sportsbooks think the Cardinal will miss their sideline leader.
TCU joined Auburn as the only major undefeated team last season and the Horned Frogs are 20/1 future book prospects to keep things going but they'll have to break in a new signal-caller and six fresh defensive starters.
Texas seems highly regarded at odds of 15/1 but, in addition to Oklahoma, we prefer Missouri (100/1), Texas A&M (40/1) and OklahomaState (30/1) over the Longhorns. The Tigers lose just one starter on offense (and just four on defense) while the Aggies are in a similar situation (10 returnees on offense, eight on defense). The Cowboys have 10 returning starters to an offense that was second nationally in passing. It should be a very interesting year in the Big 12.
Other teams that could challenge for a BCS title include Ohio State (20/1), which will begin the 2011 season with four suspended starters, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor; Wisconsin (30/1), which can run the ball and has a strong defensive front but lacks experience at quarterback; Michigan State (30/1), which has a veteran backfield but some holes to fill on defense; and Virginia Tech (30/1), which as a terrific tailback tandem and is solid on defense but must replace a four-year starter at quarterback.
The memories of the 2010 season linger but college football betting fans, with open wallets, already are looking ahead to next year's BCS National Championship game.
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 college football betting and 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
