NCAA Football – Early Look at the Teams to Beat

Texas Looks Like the Team to Beat This Year in College Football

It’s time for Sportsbook betting fans to take a look at some of the schools who are going to be making noise this season.  Football is the main time for gamblers to make profits and, luckily, the off-season is getting shorter and shorter.

The BSC National Championship 2010 odds are already being offered by the sportsbook.  Let’s look at some of the early favorites.

Team to Beat

Texas Longhorns +800 – - The Longhorns return Colt McCoy, their superstar quarterback, and three starters on the offensive line.  That’s enough for a team that finished 2008 ranked 3rd in the nation, to take the next step and beat the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Shoot-Out and win the BCS National Championship.  Oh, they also return all three starting linebackers in their 4-3 defense and 3 out of their 4 starters in the defensive backfield.  The only question?  The D-Line where Lamarr Houston is the only returning starter.

Yes, They’re Good, But…

Florida Gators +175 – - The odds on the Gators to repeat are just ridiculous right now.  I can’t endorse at +175 but true believers have every right to think that this team keeps the good times rolling with Tim Tebow returning at quarterback and 11 guys returning on the defensive side of the ball.  The big question surrounding the Gators will be offensive tackle where they have to replace both starters from last year’s BCS Championship team.  That and their usually treacherous SEC schedule make them an overlay at +175.

Best Long Shot

Notre Dame +2500 - - Sure, they have to play USC this season, but after USC there’s nobody else on their schedule that they really have to deal with.  Michigan State?  Maybe.  But Michigan they should beat.  They should also beat Purdue, Washington, BC, and Connecticut.  Why?  Because they return 9 starters on offense and 7 starters on defense.  Their quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, returns as well as their entire offensive line save for one player.  That makes them a serious contender at nice odds.

Best SEC Team After Florida

Georgia Bulldogs +5000 – - That’s right!  I’m taking a stand early.  Okay, my mind might change but Georgia returns five starters on their offensive line and replaces Knowshon Moreno with a running back that could be just as good.  They also return 7 starters on the defense.  This team could really surprise in the SEC this year.

Best Big-12 Team After Texas

Oklahoma State +7000 – - Did I miss something or do the Cowboys return WR Dez Bryant, quarterback Zac Robinson, and most of their offensive line?  Really?  70 to 1?

Bounce Back Team

Ohio State Buckeyes +1000 - -  QB Terrelle Pryor should be exceptional this season and the Bucks return 3 starters on the O-Line.  They will need to develop a wide receiver during the off-season, but the defense, with 8 returning starters, will be as strong as ever.     

Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid From These Teams

USC Trojans +550 - - The offensive line will give Mitch Mustain plenty of protection, but the defense is in trouble with only 2 returning starters.  Yes, USC is a football winning machine, but the machine has crumbled late the last few seasons.  Why not again this year?

Oklahoma Sooners +450 – - Zero returning starters on their offensive line means that they have no shot.  Oh, they’ll win a lot of games, but when it comes to winning the BCS Championship, they just aren’t going to do it with five new starters on the O-Line.  Their defense should be very good, but it’s never good enough for the Sooners.  They will be exposed again.  This time I’m thinking by Texas in the Red River shoot-out and then in the Big-12 Championship Game.