In another couple of months, or perhaps even earlier (it seems to get earlier every year) futures will come out for the various division and conferences championships, and total number of wins for the season. It does not take a seer to predict who will be favored in most of these division and conference races. Alabama will be favored in the SEC West, and favored to take the SEC Crown. Florida will be favored in the SEC East. Virginia Tech will be favored in the ACC Costal division and to win the ACC Conference. Florida State (as usual) will be favored in the Atlantic. Ohio State will be the favorite in the Big 10. Texas will be favored in the Big 12 South and favored to win the Big 12 Conference. Nebraska will be favored in the Big 12 North. With the problems at Oregon, USC will once again be favored in the Pac 10. The Big East may be a little more wide open, but Pitt will most likely be the favorite.
Before you go wagering on your favorite team, I strongly suggest that you look closely at the schedule that your team plays. A perfect example is Alabama. They play South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas on the road this season. Their games at Arkansas and South Carolina are sandwiched in between a home game against Florida. Not only that, 6 of their conference opponents have bye weeks before they play 'Bama. Maybe not the lock that everyone thought, right?
Everyone knows that Ohio State plays a pretty soft schedule. I mean, 8 home games, three cream puff non-con games and one with iffy Miami (FL) makes for a nice sechedule. The only problem is that Ohio State must play their two potential toughest opponents in the Big 10 (Iowa and Wisconsin) on the road. Maybe their schedule is not that easy.
Now look at Oregon State. Boy, they are really in for it this year, or so it seems. Opening at TCU (O.K, a neutral site game played across the street from TCU) and then going to Boise State a few weeks later. On top of all of this, they play in the Pac 10. A tough schedule, right? Eh, yes, but maybe not quite as tough as it looks when you consider that Oregon State plays Arizona, Cal, USC and Oregon at home. Now maybe that schedule is not quite as tough as it looks, as far as winning the Pac 10 is concerned. Maybe those nice odds that you will get with Oregon State may be worth a closer look.
I can go on and on, but I think I have made my point. The schedule plays a critical part of anyone's season. Get the right schedule and your chances really improve. Iowa plays 4 Big 10 games at home this season. Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State are three of them. Not bad. If you have to play the tough teams, it really helps if you play them at home. Nebraska is in the same boat. Study the schedules guys. You can find some real gems by doing this, especially if you wager on futures like divisional and conference champioships, and total wins (over or under). A lot of those numbers are based on name recognition and perceived strength, with very little attention to the schedule. Use the schedule as part of your strategy. It can pay off nicely.
Before you go wagering on your favorite team, I strongly suggest that you look closely at the schedule that your team plays. A perfect example is Alabama. They play South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas on the road this season. Their games at Arkansas and South Carolina are sandwiched in between a home game against Florida. Not only that, 6 of their conference opponents have bye weeks before they play 'Bama. Maybe not the lock that everyone thought, right?
Everyone knows that Ohio State plays a pretty soft schedule. I mean, 8 home games, three cream puff non-con games and one with iffy Miami (FL) makes for a nice sechedule. The only problem is that Ohio State must play their two potential toughest opponents in the Big 10 (Iowa and Wisconsin) on the road. Maybe their schedule is not that easy.
Now look at Oregon State. Boy, they are really in for it this year, or so it seems. Opening at TCU (O.K, a neutral site game played across the street from TCU) and then going to Boise State a few weeks later. On top of all of this, they play in the Pac 10. A tough schedule, right? Eh, yes, but maybe not quite as tough as it looks when you consider that Oregon State plays Arizona, Cal, USC and Oregon at home. Now maybe that schedule is not quite as tough as it looks, as far as winning the Pac 10 is concerned. Maybe those nice odds that you will get with Oregon State may be worth a closer look.
I can go on and on, but I think I have made my point. The schedule plays a critical part of anyone's season. Get the right schedule and your chances really improve. Iowa plays 4 Big 10 games at home this season. Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State are three of them. Not bad. If you have to play the tough teams, it really helps if you play them at home. Nebraska is in the same boat. Study the schedules guys. You can find some real gems by doing this, especially if you wager on futures like divisional and conference champioships, and total wins (over or under). A lot of those numbers are based on name recognition and perceived strength, with very little attention to the schedule. Use the schedule as part of your strategy. It can pay off nicely.