College Football Odds: Cal a Threat in Pac-10
Just like Reggie Bush, former USC coach Pete Carroll took the money and ran to the NFL instead of hanging around to be part of the penalty phase of the program's wrongdoings.
Pay no attention to the athletic director behind the curtain.
If only college football betting was that easy. The Information Age has given us a new and deeper understanding of how the world really works, whether we want it or not. Following the money has never been easier.
In the case of the USC Trojans, the money went from agents and marketers into the hands of Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, in the form of “improper benefits” like expensive cars, clothes and jewelry. And it all happened in broad daylight on the watch of athletic director Mike Garrett and coach Pete Carroll.
After a four-year investigation into the Trojans athletic programs, the NCAA stepped in earlier this month and nailed USC with a two-year postseason ban. Carroll has already made a timely exit to coach the Seattle Seahawks. Bush could lose his Heisman, but he still has his Super Bowl ring. This is how champions are made.
With that in mind, here are my outsider candidates – but not too far outside – to win each of the six BCS conferences this year.
Pac-10: California Golden Bears
The Bears have struggled to meet high expectations under coach Jeff Tedford. They were ranked No. 12 in the 2009 preseason before finishing 8-5 (6-7 ATS) and losing to Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl. Expectations are dimmer now, although Tedford still has a potent offense with QB Kevin Riley (18 TDs, eight INTs in 2009) playing behind a brick wall of linemen. Defense should be their undoing yet again, but at 100-1 betting odds to win the BCS championship, this is the best choice to surprise Oregon in the Pac-10.
Big 12: Texas A&M Aggies
It was all offense and no defense last year at College Station, as the Aggies went 6-7 SU (6-6-1 ATS) in Mike Sherman’s second year at the helm. His pro-style offense should continue to put up big numbers in 2009, and the defense is one year older if not one year more talented. Texas A&M is also 100-1 to win the BCS title, but unlike the Bears, the Aggies have stiff competition in the form of Texas, Oklahoma and resurgent Nebraska.
Big Ten: Wisconsin Badgers
Here’s our best outsider of the bunch at 40-1 to win the championship. Ohio State is the runaway football betting favorite in the Big Ten, while Iowa and Penn Sate are still expected to make some noise. The Badgers, meanwhile are coming off a 10-3 campaign (7-6 ATS) that ended with a win over Miami at the Champs Sports Bowl. This is Bret Bielema’s fifth season in charge; he has almost all of his key players returning from last year, including breakout QB star Scott Tolzien (16 TDs, 11 INTs).
Big East: South Florida Bulls
Even with USC’s lame-duck status, the Big East is by far the weakest of the BCS bunch. That leaves the door open for the Bulls (8-5 SU, 6-6 ATS), who couldn’t quite get over the hump under coach Jim Leavitt. Skip Holtz has been parachuted in from East Carolina as Leavitt’s replacement. Holtz is a superior X’s and O’s man, and he gets to work with the stout offense Leavitt left behind. The defense needs remodeling, but without quality competition, the Bulls are worth consideration at 150-1 title odds.
ACC: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
College football handicappers will be familiar with coach Paul Johnson and his flexbone offense, which raked in the cash at Navy before he made the leap to Atlanta for the 2008 season. Johnson had limited resources to work with due to NCAA sanctions, but the Jackets went 9-4 (7-3-1 ATS) in 2008 and 11-3 (8-5 ATS) in 2009. Very nice. However, Georgia Tech is only 50-1 to win the BCS title. Virginia Tech, Miami and Florida State cast very long shadows over the rest of the ACC.
SEC: Georgia Bulldogs
Remember the Dawgs? They’ve been eclipsed in the SEC by Alabama, Florida and LSU, who have won five of the last seven BCS titles. But at 50-1, this could be Georgia’s year. The Dawgs (8-5 SU, 5-8 ATS) have been one of the nation’s best programs this past decade under Mark Richt, and he’s got the talent to win the conference while the Gators and Crimson Tide try to reload quickly.
Just like Reggie Bush, former USC coach Pete Carroll took the money and ran to the NFL instead of hanging around to be part of the penalty phase of the program's wrongdoings.
Pay no attention to the athletic director behind the curtain.
If only college football betting was that easy. The Information Age has given us a new and deeper understanding of how the world really works, whether we want it or not. Following the money has never been easier.
In the case of the USC Trojans, the money went from agents and marketers into the hands of Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, in the form of “improper benefits” like expensive cars, clothes and jewelry. And it all happened in broad daylight on the watch of athletic director Mike Garrett and coach Pete Carroll.
After a four-year investigation into the Trojans athletic programs, the NCAA stepped in earlier this month and nailed USC with a two-year postseason ban. Carroll has already made a timely exit to coach the Seattle Seahawks. Bush could lose his Heisman, but he still has his Super Bowl ring. This is how champions are made.
With that in mind, here are my outsider candidates – but not too far outside – to win each of the six BCS conferences this year.
Pac-10: California Golden Bears
The Bears have struggled to meet high expectations under coach Jeff Tedford. They were ranked No. 12 in the 2009 preseason before finishing 8-5 (6-7 ATS) and losing to Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl. Expectations are dimmer now, although Tedford still has a potent offense with QB Kevin Riley (18 TDs, eight INTs in 2009) playing behind a brick wall of linemen. Defense should be their undoing yet again, but at 100-1 betting odds to win the BCS championship, this is the best choice to surprise Oregon in the Pac-10.
Big 12: Texas A&M Aggies
It was all offense and no defense last year at College Station, as the Aggies went 6-7 SU (6-6-1 ATS) in Mike Sherman’s second year at the helm. His pro-style offense should continue to put up big numbers in 2009, and the defense is one year older if not one year more talented. Texas A&M is also 100-1 to win the BCS title, but unlike the Bears, the Aggies have stiff competition in the form of Texas, Oklahoma and resurgent Nebraska.
Big Ten: Wisconsin Badgers
Here’s our best outsider of the bunch at 40-1 to win the championship. Ohio State is the runaway football betting favorite in the Big Ten, while Iowa and Penn Sate are still expected to make some noise. The Badgers, meanwhile are coming off a 10-3 campaign (7-6 ATS) that ended with a win over Miami at the Champs Sports Bowl. This is Bret Bielema’s fifth season in charge; he has almost all of his key players returning from last year, including breakout QB star Scott Tolzien (16 TDs, 11 INTs).
Big East: South Florida Bulls
Even with USC’s lame-duck status, the Big East is by far the weakest of the BCS bunch. That leaves the door open for the Bulls (8-5 SU, 6-6 ATS), who couldn’t quite get over the hump under coach Jim Leavitt. Skip Holtz has been parachuted in from East Carolina as Leavitt’s replacement. Holtz is a superior X’s and O’s man, and he gets to work with the stout offense Leavitt left behind. The defense needs remodeling, but without quality competition, the Bulls are worth consideration at 150-1 title odds.
ACC: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
College football handicappers will be familiar with coach Paul Johnson and his flexbone offense, which raked in the cash at Navy before he made the leap to Atlanta for the 2008 season. Johnson had limited resources to work with due to NCAA sanctions, but the Jackets went 9-4 (7-3-1 ATS) in 2008 and 11-3 (8-5 ATS) in 2009. Very nice. However, Georgia Tech is only 50-1 to win the BCS title. Virginia Tech, Miami and Florida State cast very long shadows over the rest of the ACC.
SEC: Georgia Bulldogs
Remember the Dawgs? They’ve been eclipsed in the SEC by Alabama, Florida and LSU, who have won five of the last seven BCS titles. But at 50-1, this could be Georgia’s year. The Dawgs (8-5 SU, 5-8 ATS) have been one of the nation’s best programs this past decade under Mark Richt, and he’s got the talent to win the conference while the Gators and Crimson Tide try to reload quickly.
